The Hallmark Quality Standard can help you run your community building smoothly, safely and with confidence.

 

The Hallmark Accreditation Scheme is a nationally recognised quality standard designed especially for volunteer-run village halls and community buildings. It helps trustees check that key areas of governance and operations are in good shape, giving your committee clarity, reassurance and a stronger footing for the future.

Rather than being a tick-box exercise, Hallmark is a supportive and flexible process that helps you celebrate what you are doing well, spot any gaps and get ideas and support from others. It’s all about giving trustees the tools and confidence they need to manage their building successfully.

 

The Scheme has three levels:

• Hallmark 1 looks at how your hall is run day-to-day, including your constitution, policies and procedures;
• Hallmark 2 focuses on health and safety, licences, insurance and premises management; and
• Hallmark 3 helps you think about your hall’s role in the community, forward planning and how you communicate your work.

Each stage involves a visit from two trained peer assessors – someone who knows what it’s like to be in your shoes, their aim is to support, not judge. Many halls find these visits a helpful chance to reflect, ask questions and share ideas.

 

Why take part?

• Boost your credibility with funders, insurers and the wider community
• Reassure your committee that you are meeting best practice
• Make it easier to recruit and induct new trustees
• Feel more confident in how your hall is being run
• Join a wider network of supportive community buildings across Cambridgeshire

Whether you are a brand-new committee or a long-established team, Hallmark gives you a clear framework to follow at your own pace. There’s no pressure, no timeframe, just friendly support from Cambridgeshire ACRE to guide you through.

 

Case study 1

Location: Witcham Village Hall, East Cambridgeshire
Hallmark Levels achieved: Hallmark 1 and Hallmark 2
Shared by: Joy Walker, Trustee

Witcham Village Hall successfully completed Hallmark Levels 1 and 2, marking a significant milestone in strengthening governance and operational standards. The trustees embraced the process as an opportunity to review and improve practices, and the results speak for themselves. We asked Joy three key questions:

Why does Hallmark matter to your hall?

• Updating information: The scheme helped ensure everything was current and compliant.
• Team building: It brought trustees together, encouraging discussion and collaboration.
• Confidence and pride: Trustees felt a real sense of achievement and assurance that all areas were effectively managed.
• Brings new ideas: Promoting future good practices you can explore ideas with the visitors.

How has your hall benefited as a result of achieving Hallmark accreditation?

Bookings continue to be good. People always say our hall is warm and welcoming with excellent facilities.

Would you recommend other halls take part in Hallmark?

“Yes, absolutely. It encourages good practice and supports hall development and improvement. Trustees felt proud of achieving the Hallmark and grew in confidence knowing all areas of compliance were effectively and efficiently managed on behalf of the community.”  — Witcham Village Hall

 

Case study 2

Location: Abbotsley Village Hall, Huntingdonshire
Hallmark Levels achieved: Hallmark 1
Shared by: Steve Scott, Trustee

Abbotsley Village Hall successfully completed their Hallmark Level 1 review visit in February 2025 marking an important step in their journey to continue strengthening their governance and operational standards. The Committee first embarked on Hallmark 1 in 2019 and have continued to build on their achievements. We asked Steve three key questions:

Why does Hallmark matter to your hall?

• Engaging new trustees: The process encouraged fresh involvement from people, building a stronger team.
• Confidence in procedures: Accreditation has reassured trustees that everything is in order.
• Commitment to progress: The hall is already planning to work toward the next level.

Were there any challenges in completing the Hallmark process?

Gathering the evidence was fine, it was just a case of making sure that it was all to hand, but once organised, the process was smooth.

Would you recommend other halls take part in Hallmark?

“Definitely. It is an excellent way of making sure all is in order. Take the plunge and sign up to Hallmark! It’s most reassuring to have compliments on the way your hall is managed.” — Abbotsley Village Hall

Hallmark is an excellent way to ensure your hall meets best practice standards while gaining credibility and support along the way.

 

 

Case study 3

Location: Offord Village Hall, Huntingdonshire
Hallmark Levels achieved: Hallmark 1, 2 and 3
Shared by: John Kirby, Trustee

Offord Village Hall has successfully achieved all three levels of the Hallmark Accreditation Scheme.

John, one of the trustees, said taking part in the scheme helped the committee focus on what really matters when managing the hall. “It built a sense of teamwork in the Trustee group and enabled us to share out areas of responsibility,” he explained.

 

Working through the Hallmark criteria took time especially reviewing and updating policies but the benefits were clear. The trustees gained confidence in how they run the hall, and now have better evidence to support things like grant applications and insurance renewals. John says:

“Hallmark is a challenging but rewarding process. It has provided us with insights into the way we can better manage our hall and a benchmark against which we can judge our progress. It has also given us a sense of achievement and confidence that we’re going in the right direction.”

John is clear that he would recommend Hallmark to other halls:

“It provides an excellent benchmark and basis for sound planning.”

 

 

Case study 4

Location: Folksworth, Washingley and Morborne Village Hall, Huntingdonshire
Hallmark Levels achieved: Hallmark 1, 2 and 3
Shared by: Andy Goodfellow, Trustee

The volunteers at Folksworth, Washingley and Morborne Village Hall have completed all three levels of the Hallmark Accreditation Scheme. The process brought fresh perspective and renewed confidence to their team.

“Having a set of independent eyes look over our documents and procedures was very useful,” said Andy. “It highlighted where we were lacking—and where we were excelling.”

While gathering evidence and checking procedures took time, the trustees felt that the effort paid off.

“We now have confidence in our team, our procedures and how the hall presents itself as a community facility.”

They particularly recommend Hallmark Levels 1 and 2 to other halls looking to strengthen their governance and operations. Their advice?

“Find your inner efficiency.”

 

Ready to get started?

If you would like to find out more about the Hallmark Quality Standard or are interested in working towards your first level, we would love to hear from you. Cambridgeshire ACRE is here to support you every step of the way. Just get in touch and we will help you begin at a pace that suits your committee. Simply contact Lisa Chambers, Community Development Officer, at lisa.chambers@cambsacre.org.uk or call 01353 865048.