Call to cut red tape binding community hall volunteers

The future of community buildings is under threat warns the Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) and the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN), unless a more sustainable way is found to support hundreds of volunteers who run them.
Over 100 halls across the county provide a hub for community activity, social support and crucial services - such as pre school activities and nurseries - but are struggling with red tape, loss of funding and the increasing needs of users, according to Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) - the umbrella body of RCAN.
Figures provided by ACRE show that volunteers give up over 18 hours per week to manage community halls, more than a third of hall committees find it difficult to recruit volunteers and over a third exclude activities, due to red tape and lack of facilities.
David Kiggell, who for the last eight years has chaired The Ashampstead Recreational Trust, responsible for maintaning Ashampstead village hall, said obtaining grants had always proved difficult:
“It means filling in lots of forms and often requires drawings,” said Mr Kiggell, adding this was time-consuming.
However the lengthy process, he continued, ensured the cash was being handed out to the right people: “I don’t think there’s too much red tape,” he said.
“The people dishing it out want to make sure it’s going to a good place and the most needy. It’s hard work, but that’s the way it’s got to be.”
Despite the difficulties, he continued, trustees had gradually improved the hall, with replacement double glazing, a new front door allowing disabled access, modernised ladies toilets, including new disabled toilet, fire escape lighting and modern kitchen:
“The kitchen includes a special dishwasher to do the glasses at the end of one of our pub-nights, (when the hall becomes the village ‘pub’) , which celebrated their tenth anniversary on October 6,” said Mr Kiggell.
The Rural Community Action Network’s publication Community Assets, keep their future vibrant, was to be distributed to local councils, MPs and other decision makers, following the September 24 launch of the campaign.