Village halls across Bedfordshire will open their doors next week as part of a week-long programme of national events that aim to shine a light on the enormous positive impact that community buildings have on the lives of people living in rural areas.
The seven-day celebration in Bedfordshire, which comes as countless other local communities up and down the country join forces to mark Village Halls Week 2026, will see residents get together for a joyous week of socialising, fundraising and awareness-building.
Now in its eighth year, Village Halls Week is the flagship campaign of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), which is the only national charity that works to enhance the lives of people living and working outside of big towns and cities.
The 2026 instalment, which runs from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March, is set to focus on health and wellbeing, and the pivotal role that community buildings, such as those in Bedfordshire, play in helping rural communities connect to the people and services that make a real difference to everyday life.
Deborah Clarke, Rural Evidence and Village Halls Manager at ACRE, said: āVillage Halls Week has been a permanent fixture on our countryās rural calendar for eight years now, and weāre certain that 2026 is going to be the biggest and best celebration yet.
āEvery year, hundreds – if not, thousands – of community groups from right across England pull out all the stops to stage a week of fun-filled events, and itās humbling to see that residents in Bedfordshire have stepped up to the challenge yet again.
āVillage Halls Week is all about bringing rural communities together, and itās this sense of connection and togetherness that we aim to celebrate across the seven days, as we know that spending time with others, even just for ten minutes over a cup of tea, can have significant benefits to a personās overall physical
and mental health.ā
All events for Village Halls Week 2026 have been planned to align with the five steps to wellbeing – connecting, being active, taking notice, giving and continuing to learn – all of which have been recommended and approved by experts within the National Health Service.
The following halls will be hosting events during Village Halls Week:
- Stanbridge and Tilsworth Village Hall
- Dunstable Community Halls
- Woburn Village Hall
- Westoning Village Hall
- Flitton and Greenfield Village Hall
- Henlow Parish Hall
- Arlesey Village Hall
- Wootton Community Centre
- Orchard Community Centre
- Stuart Memorial Hall
- Carlton Village Hall
- Sharnbrook Village Hall
- Potton Club
- Wyboston Village Hall
Beds RCC is naturally delighted to be celebrating Village Halls Week once again. This annual fixture, eagerly anticipated by communities across our area, has the power to unite and reconnect people. When communities feel connected, individuals are happier, healthier and far more engaged.
Although village halls may appear to be a modest part of rural life, Beds RCC recognises them as far more than bricks and mortar. They are true community spaces that support and enrich people at every stage of their lives.
Sponsorship for this yearās Village Halls Week has been generously supplied by Utility Aid, which provides energy help and advice to communities up and down the country, as well as Hallmaster, whose innovative venue booking system enables teams working in rural buildings to easily manage their calendars of events.
Further details about the events taking place in Bedfordshire can be found on our website, while more information on ACRE is available here.