Connecting Communities in Berkshire: Strengthening Village Halls
Chieveley Hosts Event on Strengthening Village Halls Across Berkshire
Chieveley Hosts Event on Strengthening Village Halls Across Berkshire
Community representatives from across Berkshire met at Chieveley Village Hall last week (28/01/26) for Connecting Communities in Berkshire’s (CCB) Annual General Meeting and a special event highlighting its 21st Century Community Halls project.
More than 50 guests braved a bright but chilly morning to attend. Representatives from village halls, parish councils, partner organisations and funders joined CCB’s staff and Trustees for what proved to be one of the charity’s most engaging events to date.
Tim Parry, CCB’s CEO, said: “These conferences are a great way of bringing like‑minded people together and are a genuine highlight of our year.
We were delighted to share the progress of 21st Century Halls project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, and to hear directly from partners and volunteers who are making a real difference in their communities.”
One of the main sessions featured Chieveley Village Hall trustee Neal Courtney, who outlined the hall’s recent development work and the role of community engagement in shaping its future plans.
The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) also presented new research on village hall modernisation, with case studies from Shaw‑cum‑Donnington, Arborfield, Farley Hill and Speen.
A key part of the morning was an update on CCB’s Rural Housing Enabling work. Rural Housing Enabler Maria Kelly explained how the programme supports parishes through careful consultation, evidence gathering and long‑term planning. She shared examples of current work in Beenham, Compton and Waltham St Lawrence, and demonstrated the data tools used to assess housing need and local stock.
Attendees also enjoyed an uplifting contribution from Debbie Medlin of Moveability, who has been working with CCB to bring seated exercise classes to rural communities across West Berkshire.
As well as outlining the wellbeing benefits of her sessions, Debbie led a lively taster class that brought the room to life.
Her work highlighted a key theme of the day: how seemingly small activities can combat isolation, boost confidence and create social connection in communities that need it most.
The event closed with reflections on the importance of long‑term projects, collaboration and community voice.
From rural housing needs to local social activities, guests left with renewed energy and a sense of shared purpose.
Feedback on the day was overwhelmingly positive.
One attendee summarised the mood: “It is great to see what others are doing and how CCB is supporting improvement projects.
The event was just what we needed.”
CCB (Connecting Communities in Berkshire) is a community development charity that supports communities in Berkshire, with a particular focus on rural areas. We help to build people’s skills and confidence, enabling them to play a bigger part in community life. CCB exists to support people who are interested in bringing about a better quality of life for their friends and neighbours. These are the people that serve on parish councils, help to run their village hall or get involved with groups and clubs that bring people together.
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