At the heart of Dorset communities, community centres, village halls and faith spaces provide vital social, educational and recreational spaces. We are also seeing the growth of new social spaces gyms in place of pubs, skateparks and climbing walls instead of youth centres, mosques serving communities where churches are no longer viable, soft play centres instead of children’s centres.
From playgroups and fitness classes to weddings and health clinics, these buildings are community lifelines, yet they are almost entirely run by dedicated volunteers. Managing a community space isn’t easy. Most are run by volunteers, over 80,000 nationwide, who juggle governance, compliance, funding, and community needs. Recruiting new committee members can be a challenge, and navigating modern legal and operational responsibilities can be daunting. That’s where we come in.
We support these volunteers with expert guidance, resources and training. Through our Hallmark quality standard scheme, we also help community spaces achieve recognition for excellent governance, safety, and community engagement. Whether you’re managing a small parish hall or a larger community centre, we’re here to help you succeed.
We are currently offering a free membership for Village Halls and community spaces.
Here’s why our clients trust us:
We’re part of the ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) network – a nationally recognised body with a long-standing reputation for supporting village halls (and other community spaces).
How Our Services Work
Whether you’re starting out or seeking to improve how your hall is run, we offer tailored support:
Our advisers are trained and connected, and our services are designed to make your volunteer role easier and more rewarding.
What is the Hallmark Scheme?
Hallmark is a nationally recognised quality standard for village halls. The scheme supports best practice and celebrates well-managed community buildings. Participation is entirely voluntary, but it brings real benefits.
The Three Hallmarks:
The Hallmarks are not “levels” but you will need to complete 1 & 2 before proceeding to 3 as it builds on the previous work.
The checklists and materials can be used to help you review your systems and paperwork as they form an action list. Optionally, you can then apply for an assessment to be awarded one or more of the Hallmarks. Each one is valid for 3 years from the date of the award.
Participation in the Hallmark Scheme is entirely voluntary and is beneficial to halls in many ways including:
Show grant-makers your hall is well run with a recognised standard.
Make it easier to recruit with documented policies and procedures in place.
Some insurers offer discounts for halls with Hallmark accreditation.
Hallmark is a nationally recognised quality standard for village halls. The scheme supports best practice and celebrates well-managed community buildings. Participation is entirely voluntary, but it brings real benefits.
The Hallmarks are not “levels” but you will need to complete 1 & 2 before proceeding to 3 as it builds on the previous work.
The checklists and materials can be used to help you review your systems and paperwork as they form an action list. Optionally, you can then apply for an assessment to be awarded one or more of the Hallmarks. Each one is valid for 3 years from the date of the award.
Participation in the Hallmark Scheme is entirely voluntary and is beneficial to halls in many ways:
No, you can begin with Hallmark 1 and progress at your own pace. You do need to have completed 1 & 2 before progressing to 3 as this builds on previous work. Doing Hallmark 1 and 2 together is cheaper than doing them separately.
The resources are completely free for community spaces and can be found online at DCA’s training Academy; Hallmark Resources.
The assessment and award are charged for. These are discounted at 50% for community spaces members as follows:
Typically, preparation takes 3-6 months, depending on the results of the initial self-assessment and how much needs doing. When the Hall is ready, we can usually book you in with 4-6 weeks and, depending how much time the Hall needs to pull the portfolio together, the assessments take a further month or so, depending on the availability of the assessors.
Common Concerns:
“We’re just a small hall – is this for us?”
Yes! Small halls benefit just as much, if not more, from having clear systems and recognition.
“We don’t have time for another project.”
We work at your pace. Many halls find that the process actually saves time in the long run.
“We’re not sure we’d pass.”
That’s what we’re here for, to help you meet the standard, not to catch you out. You can go for assessment only when you are confident. The checklist helps you work through all the bits you need.
Contact Caro Hart, Village Halls & community spaces adviser for Dorset:
📧 caro.hart@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
📞 07827 996905
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