Welcome to LAVCH

A Village and Community Halls Association has been established within the country, in one form or another, for some 27 years. During that time LAVCH has worked closely in partnership with Community Futures, Lancashire and other county based voluntary sector agencies and organisations, together with Lancashire County Council and all District and Unitary Authorities.

The Association aims to:

  • Provide information, advice and support to the management committees of all member charitable halls and community centres within the Palatine County of Lancashire
  • Represent halls to local authorities & other decision makers
  • Promote and publicise halls within the county and beyond
  • Represent halls at regional and national forums

Benefits of membership

  1. Free general advisory service for Hall Management Committees, backed by the County Halls Advisor at Community Futures, Lancashire Community Matters and ACRE (the national body: Action with Communities in Rural England).
  2. Detailed Briefings and Workshops on all general information and legislation affecting halls, including changes as they occur.
  3. Co-ordinated action to protect & promote the interests of halls at local, regional and national levels.
  4. Provide access to hall information sheets and related publications produced by the Association, Community Matters and ACRE.
  5. Publicity and advertising of member halls through the production of our website & dissemination of the Association Halls Directory.
  6. Contact with other members from a wide range of Hall Management Committees, sharing experience & working in partnership.
  7. Bi-monthly Newsletter with interchange of matters of interest to management committee members. Sent by email or by post if requested.

How will you gain from LAVCH Membership

LAVCH provides a common point of contact where members are able to interchange ideas and find solutions to the constant challenges of running a Community Building.

The efforts of the committee and members have combined together to improve management and safeguard the finances of Halls by working to reduce costs and maximise income, providing a better and more effective centre for local communities.

Examples of recent successes in which LAVCH has been involved :

  1. An active campaign to reduce Excessive Drainage Charges.
  2. Assistance towards reducing Electricity Charges.
  3. Better negotiated rates fro Hall Insurance.
  4. Production of a LAVCH Health and Safety Manual.
  5. Provision of a LAVCH website with links to members own websites and so help to generate bookings and new user groups.