History of Beech Village Hall

The original building which became Beech Village Hall started life in 1894 as a printing works operated by Messrs Vaus and Crampton. In 1909 a private buyer acquired the premises, and in 1931 sold the property, by then known as “Hedge Grove”, to Beech resident Nellie Asser for £450. A year later, Mrs Asser transferred the property to the village for use as a village hall. The original structure housed a bar-lounge, kitchen and cloakrooms. Around 1960, General Morgan Owen bequeathed the recreation ground to the village. Both amenities are managed on behalf of the village by the Beech Village Hall & Recreation Ground Charitable Trust.  

Timeline

Please note the dates refer to when the project was finished…

2026

January 10

The Wellhouse

In 2025 we totally refurbished the old Annexe to create the Wellhouse. Our new health and wellbeing space, The Wellhouse was opened in January 2026.  

• 
  One to one therapy, coaching or counselling
• 
  Floor work with no furniture
• 
  Lobby waiting area
• 
  Setup for group work
• 
  Theatre style setup for talks
• 
  The Wellhouse at Beech Village Hall - entrance

Thanking Our Funders We are incredibly grateful to our funders, whose support has helped turn the dream of the Wellhouse into a…Read More

2025

December 17

New shed

As part of the Wellhouse project we had to radically review our storage. In the background of the photo you can see our old 10 x 20 foot shed which is quite old, dark, difficult to get into and not really fit for purpose. We took the opportunity to build…Read More

2024

December 9

The Culture hub

In 2025 the Charity established the need and built the business case for a major upgrade to our sound and vision system in order to deliver high quality film and National Theatre screenings… bringing the West End to Beech. The gained funding from EHDC under the Rural Grant iniitative and…Read More

2021

September 9

Beech Coffee and Cake

The coffee and cake shop opened at the Village Show in late September and has become a weekly feature on Fridays. A team of volunteers now bakes cakes and serves coffee weekly, and around 30 people typically come along to take the opportunity to socialise during the day in an…Read More

February 15

Nicks copse

Our second outdoor project was much bigger and was also inspired and led by Nick Sorby. We realised that 30 ash trees, mostly on the Rec but including a large one on the village green, were suffering from ash dieback disease. For safety reasons, and following a consultation with villagers,…Read More

2020

October 1

Online booking

The hiatus in normal Hall activity during the pandemic provided us with an opportunity to prepare ourselves to take advantage of future opportunities, and to make improvements to the Hall itself. With most people now searching for venues online, we upgraded our website and put in place an online booking…Read More

July 23

Kitchen refurbishment

In 2020, the kitchen was refurbished with a new range, cupboards and taps and the WiFi was updated with high-speed Internet access.

July 14

Our new library

For several years, the old telephone box has lain unused and unloved until one of the young villagers, Katie Smallman, suggested “doing it up” as a book exchange. Nick Sorby managed this project with a band of able volunteers.

2015

December 30

Children’s play area

Children’s play equipment has been added to the village green, including swings, a slide and a climbing frame, the latter funded by Veolia and EHDC. The toilets have been refurbished and a new sound system installed. Sunday (18 December 2016) saw the official unveiling of an early Christmas present for…Read More

2011

July 28

Refurbishment of the toilets in the old annexe

Since the “big build”, improvements have continued. In 2011, the old toilets and storerooms were updated to create a meeting room, unisex toilet and kitchenette in the Annexe. A couple of years later, the car park was resurfaced and lighting installed.

Safeguarding commitment

All Beech Village Hall Management Committee members and volunteers have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users of the Hall and its premises, and those who may come into contact with vulnerable users. They will respond to any concerns they may have regarding the physical, sexual, emotional or psychological safety of a vulnerable person or concerns relating to discriminatory or financial violation or exploitation of a vulnerable person

Scope

This policy is in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith. Vulnerable users could include:

• children
• young people under the age of 18
• adults with learning difficulties or physical disability
• frail, elderly people
• carers

Principles

The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone.  All children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect.  Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and racism towards children or vulnerable adults will not be permitted or tolerated.

Policy Statement

1. No member of the Management Committee, nor its volunteers nor contractors will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
2. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child and vulnerable adults will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately by the Vulnerable Users Representative.
3. All Management Committee members and volunteers will be made aware of this policy and child protection and vulnerable adult issues.
4. The Management Committee will nominate a Vulnerable Users Representative/ Safeguarding Officer to be responsible for vulnerable persons’ matters, and to whom any suspicions or concerns should be reported.
5. The Trustees will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults.  The Trustees recognise that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled children and adults.
6. Any organisations or individuals hiring the Hall or meeting room (Hall users) for the purposes of holding activities where Ofsted registration is required, should have the appropriate DBS clearances and their own Child Protection Policy.  Safe recruitment processes should be used by the Hall users to appoint staff who will be working with children or vulnerable adults in any kind of activity.
7. The Management Committee will ensure that Hall users are made aware of their obligations under the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 18.   The Management Committee will ensure that Hall users are aware that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film or show.  No entertainment of an adult or sexual nature shall be permitted on the premises.
8. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate in the interim period.

Procedures

1. All Management Committee members and volunteers will be given information about child protection and will be encouraged to attend appropriate Child Protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults training where possible.
2. An annual review will take place following the AGM to allow for any required up-date of policies and or procedures.  New Management Committee members and volunteers will be made aware, by the Vulnerable Users Representative, of this policy and their associated responsibilities.
3. A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in the Village Hall, on the Village Hall website and be made available on request to Hall users.
4. Organisations hiring the Hall for activities for children and/or vulnerable users will be contractually required to have the appropriate clearances and child and/or vulnerable user protection policy.  Other organisations or individuals hiring the Hall whose activities may involve vulnerable adults will be made aware of this policy.
5. A hiring agreement which includes appropriate clauses will be entered into for all hiring of the Hall for licensable activities.  The Trustees will ensure these provisions are observed when holding licensable activities themselves.
6. Contractors engaged to carry out work at the premises must not be allowed unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.  Appropriate supervision will be arranged if necessary.
7. If the premises are used by more than one Hall user, attention will be drawn to the need to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are supervised when using toilets.
8. Any images of children can only be published, for example on the website and on the Village Facebook site, with the written consent of parents.
9. Safeguarding process to help identify and effectively manage potential concerns and the appropriate recording and sharing of information
10. Designated Vulnerable Users Representative: Karen Littlewood

About our Charity:

Our policy is to:

1. Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our Contractors, Volunteers, committee members, Hirers and Guests
2. Keep the village hall and equipment in a safe condition for all Users
3. Provide such training and information as is necessary to Committee Members, Contractors, Volunteers, Hirers and Guests.

It is the intention of the Beech Village Hall Management Committee (BVH MC) to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.

BVH MC considers the promotion of the health and safety of its employees at work and those who use its premises, including contractors who may work there, to be of great importance.

The management committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends as much on a committed attitude of mind to safety as on the operation and maintenance of equipment and safe systems of work.  To this end, it will seek to encourage employees, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.

Volunteers, Contractors, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise that there is a duty on them to comply with the practices set out by the BVH MC, with all safety requirements set out in the hiring agreement and with safety notices on the premises and to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves or others.

Overall process management

It is the duty of all Users (Contractors, Volunteers, Hirers and Guests) to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities and to cooperate with the BVH MC in keeping the premises safe and healthy, including the grounds. 

The BVH MC has overall responsibility for Health and Safety on BVH Premises.

• BVH MC delegates the day-to-day responsibility for the implementation of this policy to a committee member as set out in the BVH MC meeting minutes.
• Contact details are published on the BVH notice board in the village hall and all via our website.

In case of Fire

Emergency contact details and the emergency evacuation plan are posted in each room of the Hall.

In case of Accident, Injury or Safeguarding concern

Emergency contact details are posted in each room of the Hall.

Problem reporting

In the event of any incident the appropriate

Should anyone using the hall come across a fault, damage or other situation which might cause injury and cannot be rectified immediately they should register the problem, as soon as possible so that the problem can be dealt with by completing the online form at:

About our Charity:

The objectives outlined in our Constitution are “the provision and maintenance of a village hall and recreation ground for the use of the inhabitants of Beech and the neighbourhood without distinction of sex, religious or other political opinions and in particular for the use of meetings, lectures and classes and for other forms of recreation (including physical recreation) and other leisure-time occupations, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitant.”

In carrying out these objectives, the Management Committee and all its members and sub-committees make the following commitments:

• We run the Hall and recreation ground on behalf of the community living in the parish of Beech, according to the Constitution.
• We follow all relevant laws, regulations and guidance from the Government and Charities Commission, including compliance with the requirements of the 2006, 2011 and 2016 Charities Acts.
• The Trustees comply with their legal duty to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance and regulations on public benefit, and the public benefit requirement informs the activities of the Charity.
• We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. We do not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), disability, religion or belief, or other political opinion.
• We seek feedback from villagers wherever practical, both at the AGM and as required throughout the year.

Purchasing and external suppliers

• In making decisions about purchasing and external suppliers, we aim to achieve an appropriate balance between all relevant factors, including safety, cost, quality, durability, reputation, timeliness, and volunteer workload.
• For work which cannot be done by volunteers, we employ trusted local contractors wherever possible, as long as they can demonstrate that they are qualified to perform the work, will do so in a timely manner to a high standard, and offer a fair price for the job.
• If a member of the Management Committee or their close family member are quoting for paid work for the charity, that member shall withdraw from voting about such a decision.
• External contracts for higher value goods and services will be put out to tender when the Management Committee considers it to be appropriate.

Support from villagers

We rely heavily on volunteers to undertake the many tasks required to operate the hall and recreation ground, and to run village social events. Anybody who wishes to contribute ideas, constructive advice or help in any form is asked to contact any member of the Management Committee.  

Abusive behaviour

We will not tolerate any form of abuse, bullying, harassment, intimidation or threatening behaviour directed against the members of the Management Committee, sub-committees, paid employees or volunteers. We reserve the right to take appropriate action against anybody who demonstrates such behaviours, verbally, in writing, or on social media. This may include a ban on using Hall premises and refusal to engage in further discussions.

Disputes

In the event of a dispute involving the Management Committee, the complainant should address their concerns, supported by facts, initially to the Chair. The Management Committee will investigate and propose a solution. If the solution is not acceptable to the complainant, the Management Committee will offer to take the dispute to independent mediation. If mediation is accepted, the Management Committee and complainant shall use all reasonable endeavours and goodwill to resolve the issue through the efforts of the mediator, and the cost of the mediation shall be shared equally between the Village Hall and the complainant. If mediation is refused on these terms, the Management Committee decision on the solution is final. The Constitution allows for a referral to the Charities Commission “if any question arises as to the constitution of this scheme, or as to the regularity or the validity of any acts done or about to be done under this scheme”.

About our Charity:

About our Charity:

Our Charity is run by a team of over 50 volunteers. We have small team running the ‘management committee’ augmented by specialist providers helping us to run the our facilities.

About our Charity: