In a special blog for Trustees’ Week, Village Halls Advisor, Lisa, recognises the vital role that volunteer trustees play in running the county’s community buildings and looks at four questions village hall trustee boards can ask themselver to strengthen their governance.

 

As we mark Trustees’ Week 2025, it is right to pause and recognise the vital role of trustees in the voluntary sector across the UK. This year the national theme is “Celebrating the power of good governance”. At Cambridgeshire ACRE we support the many village halls, community buildings and rural organisations across Cambridgeshire. We know that good governance underpins their health, relevance and long-term sustainability.

Why governance matters for community buildings

In rural areas community buildings are more than bricks and mortar; they are the hubs where local people meet, services are delivered, connections are forged and resilience is built. Trustees of such buildings hold a responsibility to steer these assets for the benefit of their communities and ensure that they remain viable and responsive. Our online network for community buildings, Community Buildings Connect, emphasises that good local governance is vital to empowering people, enabling peer support and sharing learning. Without good governance the risks are higher. Use may decline, income may stagnate, maintenance may be deferred and the building may cease to serve its community in the way intended.

 

Four practical questions for village hall trustee boards

Here are four key questions trustees might ask themselves during this week and throughout the year to strengthen governance and ensure their building remains a valued community asset.

1. Does our board have clear roles, responsibilities and a shared purpose?
   Good governance means defining what you are here for, how you make decisions and who does what. With changes expected to the Charity Governance Code, boards are being prompted to revisit their governance framework and culture.
   Actions: Check your governing document, ensure all trustees have an induction, and refresh your purpose statement and meeting protocols.
2. Is our board made up of the right mix of skills, perspectives and local insight?
   A mix of experience and views helps boards to spot risks, seize opportunity and represent their community well. While this can feel harder in rural settings, it is worth investing time in finding new voices and thinking about succession.
   Actions: Map your current trustee skills, identify gaps such as finance or building management, and think about how to recruit or develop trustees.
3. Do we have strong oversight of finances, risks and the building’s future?
   Good governance is about asking what could stop this building thriving and how we are preparing. With rising costs, changing demand and fewer grants, rural halls need to be proactive.
   Actions: Review your budget plans, check your reserves, schedule regular reviews of the building’s condition, and ensure insurances and compliance are in place.
4. Are we listening to our community, adapting to changing needs and showing accountability?
   Effective governance in rural settings means trustees are not distant. They are connected, curious and responsive. The emerging governance code highlights the importance of stakeholder voice and inclusion.
   Actions: Run a community survey, invite hall users to speak at your meetings, ensure trustees use the hall themselves, and report back to your community on decisions and progress.

 

How Cambridgeshire ACRE can support you

We support community buildings through our advice service and by offering learning and networking opportunities. Trustees of rural halls are holding vital community infrastructure in trust for others. This Trustees’ Week is a chance to bring your board together for a governance check-in, reflect on these questions and agree one practical improvement to make over the next six months.

Thank you to all trustees

To every trustee who gives time, skills and care to your community building, thank you. Trusteeship is voluntary yet its impact is immense. You help your community stay connected, active, resilient and thriving. Trustees deserve celebration, support and inspiration.

Let this week be more than a moment of thanks. Let it be a catalyst for stronger governance, clearer purpose and renewed commitment to the places that hold rural communities together.