The annual campaign is set to return next March on the theme of celebrating, encouraging and supporting the army of volunteers who run rural community buildings.

Community buildings across Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to put 17-23 March 2025 in their diaries so they can join in the celebrations.

Cambridgeshire ACRE hopes to use the week as an opportunity to spotlight the efforts of volunteers who keep these important venues open for the benefit of local residents, groups and rural businesses.

In Cambridgeshire alone, it is estimated that over 2,000 people regularly volunteer their time with village halls, from those on management committees who oversee the day-to-day use of the building and its finances, to those who organise events and group activities for the benefit of the local community.

Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Village Halls Advisor, Lisa Chambers said: “Village Halls Week has come a long way since we first trialled it as a way of raising an awareness of rural community buildings in 2018. Our last campaign which focused on what halls could do to ‘go green’ was a hit and resulted in a real buzz of activity on social media and a great local conference. We hope even more groups will want to get involved in 2025 as this will be an opportunity to celebrate, encourage and support the people who volunteer their time and make these community buildings such special places.”

Hayley Neal, Chief Executive said: “Everyone who has helped run a village hall knows how vital the building, and everything that goes on within it, is to their community’s survival. It is a remarkable contribution volunteers make, frequently against the odds, fuelled by laughter, ingenuity, determination and thousands of cups of tea. I’m very excited to take part in my first Village Halls Week as Chief Executive and to celebrate both the halls themselves and the volunteers that keep them going.”

Thanks to sponsorship from Utility Aid, rural community buildings are being offered free resources including bunting, badges and posters to help them hold local events and draw attention to their good work. A facility has been set up on the national ACRE website that village hall groups can use to register their interest in the campaign, receive news and updates as well as resources to help them get involved. Groups should register their interest in the campaign by Tuesday 10 December at the latest to request the free merchandise, which is being offered on a first come, first serve basis.