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“Overwhelming response” as volunteers prepare to champion the cause of Village Halls

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N77
Published: 28 Jun 2011

Village Hall (opens in new window)

Almost 200 members of the volunteering community who manage Scotland’s village halls and community facilities will gather in Birnam next week (5th July), at a national networking event being organised by SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) and the Scottish National Rural Network (SNRN). The response to the event has been described by the organisers as “overwhelming”, with every available place booked up well in advance.

Representatives from every part of rural Scotland will hear about some of the support currently available to them, including the launch of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation’s (SCVO) new Keystone quality award for the people who manage village halls and community buildings. SCVO Chief Executive, Martin Sime, will present the very first Keystone awards at the event.

Participants will also hear from Big Lottery Scotland, The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), and the Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) about the support they can offer, and Weymouth-based company ‘Jingle Tingle’ will provide some lunchtime excitement with a fun-packed presentation about a Christmas fundraising concept for village halls. In the afternoon there will be an opportunity for delegates to celebrate successes, share positive experiences and explore what else can be done to ensure Scotland’s community facilities continue to thrive.

SAC Senior Researcher Sarah Skerratt, who co-organised the event, said: “We’re delighted that so many people who are committed to their village halls are able to join in the event. We hope that by sharing practical examples and experience of how challenges have been overcome - such as building condition, management and business planning - vital messages can be learnt and exchanged.”

The event chair, and SCVO Head of Rural Policy, Norman MacAskill said: “Once again we have been genuinely overwhelmed by the high level of interest from across rural Scotland. We’ve even had to increase the event’s capacity to meet demand, showing the passionate commitment felt by people living in rural Scotland to the shared community spaces at the heart of their communities.”

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Sarah Skerratt
Senior Researcher
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4335

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News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

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