We’re Back for 2025! The Village Halls Inspiration Awards!
Total Prize Fund: £5,000
1st Place: £2,500 | 2nd Place: £1,500 | 3rd Place: £1,000
Get inspired by listening to the stories of our 2023 winners.
Want to stay up to date and hear when submissions are open? Sign up here
Village halls are the heart of rural communities, bringing people together and providing essential spaces for social activities, support services, and cultural events. The Village Halls Inspiration Awards, 2025 celebrate the remarkable efforts of village halls across the UK, recognising the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who keep them thriving.
Whether your hall has:
Introduced a new initiative to support the local community
Boosted engagement and participation in village life
Implemented sustainability efforts or improved financial stability
Overcome challenges to continue serving your area
Why Enter?
National Recognition – Share your village hall’s success stories on a
national platform.
Win Cash Prizes – Secure funding to support your hall’s future projects.
Inspire Others – Help other halls learn from your achievements.
By entering, your hall could win a share of £5,000 and be featured in The Village Halls Podcast, giving your work a platform to inspire and support other communities across the UK.
Who Can Enter?
Open to all village halls, community halls, and memorial halls within rural
communities across the UK.
Entries must be submitted with the permission of the hall’s governing body.
Each hall can submit one entry per year
This competition is designed to celebrate all village halls, regardless of size or funding. Whether small or large, new or long-established, if your hall has made a positive impact, we want to hear your story.
How to Enter
Step 1: Share Your Story
Submit a 600–800 word written entry detailing your hall’s achievements, including:
How your hall has positively impacted the community
Innovative initiatives or events you have introduced
Steps taken to improve engagement, financial stability, or hall usage
Challenges faced and how they were overcome
Future plans to sustain and enhance your hall’s success
Judging Process and Winner Announcement
All entries will be reviewed by an expert panel, including representatives from The Village Halls Podcast, Allied Westminster, and specialists in community development.
Entries will be judged based on:
The impact of the hall’s work on the local community
Creativity and innovation in engagement and operations
Efforts towards sustainability, accessibility, or financial stability
Winners will be announced via The Village Halls Podcast and will be featured on our website and social media channels.
“Winning this award helped us secure further funding and inspired other halls in our area to launch similar projects!” – 2023 Winner
Can I enter if we applied in a previous year?
Yes. If your hall has undertaken new initiatives or made further improvements, we
encourage you to enter again.
Can we apply for multiple projects?
Each hall can submit one entry per year, so choose the initiative that best represents
your achievements.
When will winners be announced?
Winners will be notified within four weeks after the competition deadline.
Who runs the awards?
The awards are organised by The Village Halls Podcast and sponsored and funded by Allied Westminster, the UK’s leading village hall insurance provider and Ecclesiastical, part of the Benefact Group.
Get Involved and Spread the Word Help us celebrate village halls across the UK. Share this opportunity with your local community and encourage other halls to enter.
Brought to you by: The Village Halls Podcast
Sponsored and Funded by: Allied Westminster & Ecclesiastical