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ERVHN News

VAT in Village halls

 
We often get asked if Village halls should register for VAT. This is normally because they are building an extension and want to reclaim the VAT.
The answer is always NO

If your village hall registers for VAT, you will generally be required to charge VAT at the standard rate (currently 20%) on taxable supplies. This commonly includes:

  • Hall hire charges (although some lettings may be exempt, these are very limited)

  • Bar sales

  • Ticket sales for events, unless a specific VAT exemption applies

Once registered, you must:

  • Submit VAT returns to HMRC, usually on a quarterly basis

  • Pay any VAT due to HMRC at the same intervals

It is important to note that de-registering for VAT can be difficult and is only possible if strict conditions are met.

 
Regards
Caroline Scargill
Treasurer
East Riding Village Hall Network
(Formerly ERA of RCB)
07961831673
Lloyds bank now charges for accepting cheques.
Internet says
But the man on the Lloyds telephone banking said 42p for each cheque using the mobile app and £1per cheque over the counter.
Regards
Caroline Scargill
Treasurer
East Riding Village Hall Network
(Formerly ERA of RCB)
07961831673

Digital Mapping Survey from Community Vision Team

The following message is from Community Vision who are seeking halls to complete a short survey if you provide digital services in your community. 

“We’re inviting organizations across the East Riding to take part in our 2026 Digital Inclusion Mapping Survey.

 We want to better understand who is providing digital inclusion support, what’s being offered, and where support is happening – so that we can identify gaps, improve collaboration, and strengthen local provision.

 If your organization:

  • offers digital skills training
  • provides devices or connectivity support
  • runs digital drop-ins or tech clubs
  • supports people to get online in any way

👉 we’d really value your input.

🕒 It’s quick and easy

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and helps build a clearer picture of digital inclusion activity across our area.

 Complete the survey here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2026-digital-mapping-survey/

 Your responses will help inform future planning, partnerships, and support for organizations working to reduce digital exclusion.

 Thank you for taking the time to support this work.”

Recruiting for ERVHN

 

Insuring your village hall

 

Under UK insurance law, you cannot insure something you don’t own or have a recognised financial or legal interest in the item or property. This is because a valid insurance contract requires what’s called an “insurable interest” — meaning the person arranging the insurance would suffer a financial loss or legal liability if the insured risk actually happened.

So the Parish Council cannot pay the invoice for the insurance unless they own the building and contents. They can however give you a donation or grant to cover the cost of the insurance.
 
All documents must have the exact same name:
-Insurance
-Lease
-Charity name
-Bank account
The insurers may refuse to pay a claim if the names are different as they can claim it is not the same organisation.

Expressions of interest (EOI) for EnergyEnergy Resilience Grant Round 7 are now open.

ERVHN is pleased to let you know that expressions of interest (EOI) for Energy Resilience Grant Round 7 are now open. Please see the message below from Northern Powergrid. Its worth giving it a go as several halls in the network have been successful with their bids.

“We’re changing how we do things at the Northern Powergrid Foundation. Instead of application windows, we will now operate assessment windows, meaning you can apply for an energy resilience grant at any time.

To get started, simply complete our eligibility quiz and receive instant results.

If you’re eligible, you’ll then be able to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to tell us a little about your project.

Our team will review your EOI within 14 working days and confirm whether you can proceed to the full application stage.

All full applications submitted will then be assessed during our assessment window which starts on the 15 April 2026, after which we will confirm the outcome of your submission once approved by our trustees.

Our Energy Resilience Grants offer up to £20,000 to support community resilience projects, such as installing solar panels with battery storage or generators, helping ensure communities have a safe, warm place with power during emergencies like power cuts or flooding.

Start the process today by logging in or creating an account and completing the quiz: https://www.grantinterface.uk/Home/Logon?urlkey=northernpowergrid

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the team at foundation@northernpowergrid.com

 Please feel free to share this email with any community groups that may be interested in applying for this fund.

Kind regards,

Honor Morton

Northern Powergrid Foundation Administrator

Please note – we have updated our email address recently. You will have previously received emails from thenorthernpowergridfoundation@northernpowergrid.com, but our new email address is much shorter (foundation@northernpowergrid.com). It doesn’t matter which one you send an email to, they will both make their way to us!

 
 
 

 

Did you know that if your raffle:

  • Raises money for a society or charity
  • Sells tickets in advance rather than only at a single event
  • Runs over multiple days
  • …then it will fall under the rules for a small society lottery, which means you must register it with your local council. Gambling Act 2005.

Village Halls Week - £100 grant available (members only)

Thanks to our grant from Future Communities, we are once again able to offer a £100 grant to support you in putting on an activity in your hall for Village Halls Week.
 
The theme is “health and wellbeing” and includes tackling isolation, so any social event you put on is likely to tick the box, regardless of the age of those coming to an event. 
 
So to apply, fill in the form attached and return it by the closing date FRIDAY 13 March, and make sure you are applying for an event to take place between 13 March and 22 March.
 
We include an extra weekend for activities as village halls week is advertised nationally as being from 16 March.
 
Please do not apply for something that supports another group eg WI, Scouts, U3A etc as this is all about you doing something for your hall. In the past we have had a range of activities such as a community lunch, live music night, a community spring clean the hall, an open day, quiz night, craft fair, fashion show, talks and more. The money can go towards anything you are doing that is social, existing or new, but it must take place in that week. Just give it a go or contact me if you want more information.
 
Please note the feedback and claim will be sent after village halls week and we need you to return by the closing date in order to be paid.
Good luck!
 

Congratulations for successful "Hallmark" Awards!

We would like to congratulate Hutton Cranswick Village Hall for completing “Hallmark level 2”, they are now proceeding to looking at “Hallmark level 3”, and Burton Fleming Village Hall for completing  “Hallmark level 1” renewal. Well done both!

Please look at “Hallmark” page for more details.

ERVHN AGM on the last Saturday 1st of November

Thanks to everyone who made it to Tickton Village Hall  for the ERVHN AGM on the last Saturday 1st of November, and a special thank to the speakers for very informative speeches and slides presentations. We would also like to thank to the management committee at Tickton Village Hall for their kindness and exceptional hospitality every year!

The following people were elected to serve as trustees for the forthcoming year and welcome Nigel Taylor from Wet Wang to the team:

  • Kay Parker, Chair of Trustees
  • Caroline Scargill, Treasurer
  • Anita Liley, Secretary
  • Elizabeth Branton
  • Sheila Copestake
  • Jenni Howard
  • Mie Mie Kyaing
  • John Newlove
  • Nigel Taylor
  • Rob Thompson

Please contact to Anita for a copy of slide presentation regarding “Social Value” from the speaker, Hannah.

Reminder message from the secretary regarding the forthcoming ERVHN AGM on 1st of November Saturday at Tickton Village Hall (members only)

 
A reminder that our AGM is coming up soon. Thanks to everyone who has let me know they are coming, or has sent apologies.
 
If you intend to come, please let me know so we can sort out the seating and catering. If you plan to stay for lunch, please let me know by Tues 28th October so we can get the order in. A great buffet from Leakes Butchers in Market Weighton, including veggie choices – they can also cater for special diets, just let me know. 
 
We have a workshop in the afternoon to help you with finding grants. 
 
Please see the attached the agenda for the AGM – again our guest speaker is helping us with grant information, this time how to include social value in your applications.to make them more appealing to funders.
 
Also, here is an attached form ( revised with the correct date) for anyone willing to come and join the committee as a trustee – its a great way of learning more about village hall stuff as well as helping your peers.
 
We can arrange for all your meetings to be by zoom if travel to meetings is a problem. If you want to know more, just ask Anita, the secretary, via the above email address.

ERVHN Press Release

               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1st October 2025

Contact : Rob Thomson 07944622276 robthomson1945@gmail.com

Anita Liley 01430827439 secretary.ervhn@gmail.com

Website with details of member halls www.ervhn.org.uk

As the October days shorten there is no better place to be than at your village hall. This Autumn the East Riding Village Hall Network (ERVHN) launches another Halls For All event but this time it is bigger and better. Forty-member village halls have been given £100 each to try out new events or approaches to engage their communities.  This has been made possible through an East Riding Future Communities grant funded by RWE Ltd Goole II Wind Farm and coordinated by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Along with the quiz nights and opportunities to meet over a tea or coffee village and community halls in the East Riding are offering a wide range of social activities. Music events include a Ukelele concert at Beeford, a Ninebarrow concert at North Ferriby and even a Last Night of the Proms at Burton Pidsea. Harvest events at Newton on Derwent snd Brough share the program with Find Out About Fossils at Holmpton and Wine Tasting in Shiptonthorpe. Obviously perhaps the end of the month celebrates Halloween with a treasure hunt in Hayton and Burnby, a disco night at Everingham and the scarier sounding Hollym Scream or Sancton’s Freaky Friday and Spooky Stroll.

Clearly, there is something for everyone – even techies are catered for in Welwick’s Interactive Electronics and Engineering Day and crafters should not miss Foxhole’s Wold Craft Day. Secretary of ERVHN Anita Liley says,” It’s lovely to see how many halls are taking part and the range of very imaginative projects. We hope communities will rally round their halls and give them their full support.”

ERVHN is a charity run by volunteers committed to helping village and community halls by sharing best practice, helping each other with issues and providing training and information.

Forthcoming ERVHN AGM on 1st of November at Tickton Village Hall (members only)

ERVHN would like to invite for the forthcoming AGM at “Tickton” Village Hall on 1st of November , Saturday. The  annual financial report, and approved minutes of 2023 AGM at the Governance page. Please see below for the agenda.
Most importantly, please see a trustee nomination form for any of you who would consider standing as a trustee. The committee stands down every year and we would welcome new active people to help us improve. We currently have a couple of vacancies and would love to have a full committee. If you want to know more, just get in touch.
 
This year our main speaker is to talk about “Social Value” – this is starting to feature in grant applications and also grant feedback so we thought it would be good to be up-to-date with this topic. It can be something that can help make your application stand out.
 
We have a workshop from “East Riding 4 Communities” in the afternoon for an hour, looking at how you can find funding for a project. You are welcome to have an individual chat with the speakers about sources of funding for any project you are considering. If you want an individual chat, please bring along a laptop.
 
Finally, we are again providing a buffet lunch – can you please let Anita, the secretary,  know if you intend having lunch and if there are any special requirements. Anita needs to know by 23 Oct in order to book the buffet. Please send Anita a separate email to confirm you are having the buffet.
 
We look forward to seeing you all there. If you have any query, please contact to Anita, the secretary via the above email address.
 

Clarifications for "Halls for All" project (members only)

 
Just to clarify the grant offer is for £100 to put on in October – here is an amended guidance (missed the pesky £50 in the guidance).
 
Good ideas are coming in and here are some examples. “An afternoon with Ukeleles”, “Autumn Produce Show”, “Last Night of the Proms”, “Harvest Supper” and a “Loctoberfest”! and more. Please keep you applications coming in.
For more information, please ask from the above email to the secretary (Anita).

Message regarding forthcoming level 2 Food safety Training ( members only)

 
 The training booking form for the level 2 food safety is now available via email to  “secretary.ervhn@gmail.com. 
The training is now booked at Bishop Burton VH. It is for trustees, staff and volunteers. Please complete 1 form for each person who wishes to attend. Places are limited to 12 so please book early if you want to go. Apologies for giving the incorrect date – it is booked for 11 Oct and the hall will be open from 9am.

More info for Emergency First Aid training and Food Safety Level 2 training (members only)

If you have applied for “an emergency first aid” slot then you are booked in for Sat 13th at Woodmansey. This is the last session on this topic. We will provide cuppas but please bring your own lunch.
 
“Food Safety” – a new session at Bishop Burton Village Hall 9.30 – 4pm Sat 10 Oct  delivered by FAB training. Anita will send an application form next week – it is suitable for any trustee/volunteer/staff directly involved in catering for you hall and gives a level 2 certificate. The first batch of students found it very worthwhile.
And finally – diary date: 1 Nov 10.30 registration, lunch buffet and workshop if you would like to stay. More details to follow.
 

More info for "Halls for All Project (members only)

Here are more information  for “Halls for All Project”. The value is £100 towards putting on a community hall to benefit your hall. It is not intended to help you raise funds for other good causes, and it is not for a third party to use. You can use it to enhance a regular activity, or to try something new. We have had lots of great ideas in the past few rounds, and great feedback from people who tried something new and then went on to try and embed it in their annual program. Halls tried a night of Irish Dancing, grin and tonic, a night of historic costume, pub games night and a death cafe just to give some ideas of the great range. October includes half-term and Halloween which might give food for thought. If you have a regular event that you could use the money to make even better, just say so in your application – good luck!
Please contact Anita for the Guidance, the application form and the template.

"Safeguarding Awareness" training (members only)

We have booked FAB training to deliver a session on safeguarding awareness as it was one of the topics asked for in our annual survey. Meet at 1.30pm Tues 23rd September at “Newbald Village Hall” for a cuppa and chat, followed by the session from 2.00-3.15 pm, with an opportunity for questions. Please share with your fellow trustees and any hall volunteers or staff. It is not for organisations that may hire your hall eg WI, cubs, etc, but for people who are directly involved with your hall. If you can give Anita an idea of how many will be coming that would be great. There will be an opportunity to network before and after the presentation. Please contact Anita via the email above for more information.

" Halls for All Project" (members only)

 
ERVHN is pleased to offer you that the “Halls for All” project which will be for any activity in October 2025, you put on by your hall – and you can claim £100, so, please  get thinking.
It is only for the events that you run that support your hall, not for supporting other charities, or run by others.
The application forms will be sent out to all of you in September when hopefully you have some great ideas. Good luck everyone!

Hall Mark Training News (members only)

John Newlove is intending to run some Hallmark visitor training by Zoon on Monday evening 22nd September. Starting at 7pm.
The training will include an overview of the Hallmark scheme, the application process and the different levels of Hallmark.
Then, to look at the current Hallmark 1 checklist to discuss how we apply the checks and what to look for.
Although September is quite a way off but please let John know if you will be able to attend. 
Contact John by email:
john.newlove@btinternet.com  if you are interested. 
Thank you.
 

More News for ERVHN members (30th July)

Congratulations to everyone who attended the recent level Food Safety training at North Dalton. The feedback from the course has been very positive. We are planning a second session in October, so watch this space.
 
Diary Date:
Early notice of our third conference – a full day event on Friday 13 March 2026 at Holme on Spalding Moor Village Hall. Save the date – it is a free event and we have great catering from Laveracks.
 
Emergency First Aid Training :
Wolf Medical will be delivering level 2 training at Woodmansey Village Hall on Saturday 13 September. Please contact Anita by emailing secretary.ervhn@gmail.com for further information. This course is suitable for trustees, your staff and volunteers.
 

Change of meeting date- 28th July, Monday instead of 23rd July, Wednesday.

Dear members, 
Our next network meeting is on Monday 28 July, instead of Wednesday 23rd July as previously advertised. There is now no meeting on 23rd of  July. Please accept our apology.
The meeting will be looking at ways you can work with your parish council, and also suggestions on increasing bookings, as well as an announcement about “Halls for All”. We look forward to seeing you over the internet.
Anita Liley has sent you the Zoom link via email and please join the meeting through that link please. You can also join via the link from the Facebook as per the invite.
 
 
 

More news for Level 2 Food Safety Training on 26th of July (members only).

The food safety training will be delivered by FAB Training. Please bring something with a photo on such as a drivers license or passport, a pen and notebook. We will provide a sandwich lunch, so please let me know if you have any dietary requirements. Tea/coffee will be available with biscuits, but you might want to bring water/soft drink with you. Looking forward to seeing you then.
Regards, Anita

Press Release - "ERVHN News for National Village Halls' Week 2025 celebrations "- please click here.

ERYC Rural Partnership Meeting on 12th December 2024 at Bishop Burton College - please click here.

ERVHN forthcoming meeting dates for 2025.

Food Safety training North Dalton Village Hall 9.30-4pm Sat 26 July – places available (members only).
The full day certified course on food safety at North Dalton Village Hall on 9.30-4pm Sat 26 July still has a few places available. It is designed for you , staff or volunteers who are involved in food handling catering on your site so please pass the message on if you have a volunteer who would benefit.
Please complete and return by 20 July if you want a place.
For more information, please contact Anita, Secretary,
East Riding Village Halls Network.
 
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