village hall
{{Short description|Public building used by a local community}}
{{About|the type of building|the historic building|Village Hall (Sheffield, Illinois)|the TV series|Village Hall (TV series)}}
File:Vihdin vanha kunnantalo.JPG]]
A village hall is a public building in a rural or suburban community which functions as a community centre without a religious affiliation.
United Kingdom
Image:BSH SW P1010018.JPG Social Hall, United Kingdom]]
In the United Kingdom, a village hall is a building which is owned by a local government council or independent trustees, and is run for the benefit of the local community. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 such village halls.[http://www.acre.org.uk/our-work/village-halls] ACT website Jan 2019 Most were built in the first decade after World War I (1919-1929) as part of a programme led by the newly-formed National Council of Social Service.{{cite web |title=Village Halls History |url=https://100ruralyears.uk/stories/village-halls/history/ |website=100 Rural Years |publisher=Action with Communities in Rural England |access-date=20 September 2023}}
Such a hall is typically used for a variety of public and private functions, such as:
- Parish council meetings
- Polling station for local and national elections
- Sports and exercise groups - badminton is typical
- Local drama productions
- Dances
- Jumble sales
- Private parties such as birthdays or wedding receptions
Village halls are generally run by committees, and if not already part of a local government body such as a parish council, then such committees are eligible for charitable status.[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/guidance/cc18text.pdf Use of Church Halls for Village Hall and Other Charitable Purposes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003071337/http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/guidance/cc18text.pdf |date=2012-10-03 }}, Charity Commission, United Kingdom, July 2001. They may have other names such as a Village Institute or Memorial Hall. In some localities a church hall or community centre provides similar functions.
Typically the hall will contain at least one large room, which may have a stage at one end for drama productions. There is often a kitchen for preparing food and toilets to one side. Larger halls may incorporate further smaller rooms to allow multiple simultaneous activities.Sport England Design Guidance Note - https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/village-and-community-halls.pdf?VersionId=NwtRYNuZMMWC5n9LvP_lB4RZ5DNeVUL7
=Wales=
The word neuadd (IPA: /'neiæð/) is used to refer to village halls in Welsh-speaking parts of Wales, as in {{lang|cy|Neuadd Dyfi}}, the village hall in Aberdyfi.{{cite web
|url=http://www.neuadddyfi.co.uk
|title=Neuadd Dyfi
|access-date=2 November 2009
}}
United States
Image:La Grange, Illinois Village Hall.jpg Village Hall]]
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a town hall or city hall.
See also
External links
[http://www.acre.org.uk/our-work/village-halls Action for village halls in England]