Community buildings news round-up – Oct 2019

Free support on property issues

Land Aid offer free support to non-profit organisations on issues to do with property. They ‘arrange for skilled property professionals from our network of supporters to give free property expertise to UK not-for profit organisations supporting disadvantaged young people, families and communities, including those experiencing homelessness’.

Community halls and associations are generally not their highest priority but get in touch to make your case if you need their input. You could say that your organisation and building contribute to strengthening your local community, which benefits everyone in the area including those experiencing disadvantage.

On the application form note that your organisation’s main contact and alternative contact can both be charity trustees (i.e. management committee members). Just make sure all charity trustees and staff know that an application is being made – Land Aid want to avoid the situation of a trustee applying for support without telling the staff at their organisation!

Clothing donation bank

The Children’s Air Ambulance are looking to widen the coverage of their clothing banks so please contact them if this is a cause you would like to support – see their website.

Many other organisations also provide clothing banks; Traid are just one example.

Another online booking system

There are several bookings / calendar systems you can use to manage bookings and show potential hirers when your facilities are available. A new one to me is Skedda – used by Swanmore Village Hall.

Two other systems designed for use by community venues like yours are Hallmaster and Avalon. Comments on these systems and suggestions of others are very welcome – please email our community buildings officer or call 01962 857358.