Village and Community Halls in the Cotswolds / Forest of Dean encouraged to complete survey ahead of grant scheme launch

Click here for the online survey

Village and Community Halls / Buildings are being encouraged to complete an energy and digital audit survey, developed by GRCC (Gloucestershire Rural Community Council).  The data from the survey, commissioned by Forest of Dean and Cotswold District Councils, will help to inform the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant scheme to be launched this autumn, and also the Councils' climate emergency targets and strategies.  The REPF aims to support works to create new sustainable community infrastructure and safeguard existing facilities to serve local communities in the future.

Photovoltaic panels on a community building at Stoke Orchard, Gloucestershire.

GRCC was commissioned to undertake this piece of work due to its extensive expertise in working with and supporting Village and Community Halls and buildings across Gloucestershire, and the district councils are hoping the results will help them gain an understanding of how community buildings have adapted to meet the challenges of climate change as well as their digital and technology provision and needs.

GRCC has sent the survey direct to the halls via email link and they are being asked to complete it by Friday, 29 September 2023.  It can also be found by clicking this link or the link in the box to the right.  If you have any queries about the survey, please contact Barbara Pond at bpond@grcc.org.uk or call GRCC on 01452 528491 to receive a hard copy of the survey.

Barbara Piranty, GRCC's CEO, said: "This is a really important audit for community halls and buildings in the Forest and Cotswolds.  It will allow the district councils to assess the current energy and digital provision, as well as plans and aspirations to address access issues, the climate emergency and sustainability of communities for the future.  We encourage all halls and buildings to complete the survey, as their responses will help to inform the scope and criteria of the forthcoming REPF grant fund launching this autumn."

Councillor Johnathan Lane, Cabinet Member for Economy at Forest of Dean District Council said: "We are delighted to be working with GRCC once more to get a better picture of the energy set-up and digital access within the many and varied village, community and memorial hall facilities across the Forest.  Helping others make plans to switch to renewable energy and bring energy bills down is a key aim for this project."

Councillor Tony Dale, Cotswold District Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy and Council Transformation added: "The Council has allocated over £100,000 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund for improvements to village halls and community buildings, which play such an important part in the life of towns and villages throughout the Cotswold district.  This survey will help us to ensure the funding is used to best effect and we would urge relevant organisations to complete it so we have as full a picture as possible when we make decisions."