I am very pleased to announce that Dorset Community Action and the Dorset Village Halls Association have come together to create the Dorset Halls Network which is a web based service to expand the amount of support we can provide to our member halls and to extend the times at which support is available. You will now have access to a library of infomation when you want it, not when the DCA offices are open or when the Halls Adviser is at work.
You can access this new service at:
The username and password needed to access the secured member pages are the same as we advised to you for accessing the DCA website. If you need reminding of these please email me and I will gladly forward then again for you. Any member of your hall management committee can use the service using the same username and password.
We have your email address as the main contact point for your hall and will be depending on you to share the information we make available with your colleagues. If you would rather someone else on your committee fulfilled this purpose then just let us know and we will redirect communications accordingly.
Once you access the site and log on you will find the ADVISORY SERVICE menu link and under that you will find all the ACRE Information Sheets to read on line, search or download for printing if appropriate. The ACRE model documents are there too as well as information on the Capital Grants Scheme we administer for the Councils.
You will also find the KNOWLEDGE BASE where other articles and briefing papers will be posted on all aspects of hall management. If you have suggestions for other things you would like to see added please let us know.
As and when new material is added to any section of the site you will be advised by a weekly email of updates so you will not miss out on anything new posted.
Finally, if you are also members of the Dorset Village Halls Association you will shortly receive information about the Association pages, including the Q&A forum, the classified ads facility, the events diary and the fact finding polls. There will also be information too about the Venue Finder and Activity Finder facilities designed to raise awareness and bring new bookings to your hall.
So, welcome to the Dorset Halls Network [www.dorsethalls.net] - we hope you find it an invaluable extension to the Village & Community Halls Advisory Service and to your Dorset Village Halls Association membership.
Peter Orchard
Village and Community Halls Adviser
Dorset Community Action