Step 1: Self Assessment

The first step is to establish whether your hall is ready to apply for accreditation. 

There is a Hallmark Visitors Checklist for each level attached to this page below, which you may download by clicking on it and then print.  This will help you decide whether your hall is ready for Hallmark Assessment.  Spend a little while considering each of the numbered points, and make your own notes in the Comments column or tick all those you believe to be be compliant.  When you have finished, check that all the points in bold type are satisfied,  and at leat 70% of the remainder (excluding those which are not applicable to your Hall).  

Look at the results to see how you fared:

• If you pass on both counts then you are almost certainly ready to apply for Hallmark at that level
• If you have less than 70% of the remaining points, then there may some issues to look at first before you apply
• If you cannot tick any of the points in bold, then that indicates that your hall has some major issues to address and you may want to seek help with this from the DVHA Visitors.

It may be stating the obvious but state it we will! There is no point in giving your hall the benefit of the doubt with any of the points on the Checklist. At some point you will need to provide evidence to a visitor that you comply with a standard and so it is best to not tick a box unless you are certain that your hall complies. It is better to sort the issue out now than have it come back to haunt you later.

Once you  pass on the points, you can review the List of documents required which the Visitor will want to see when they come to you.  There is a list for each level, which can be downloaded from the Attachments below.  Check that you have these documents, and then you are ready to proceed to step two.  

If you have queries and need guidance on exactly how to comply please contact the Visitors who will either help you directly or put you in touch with a Hallmark mentor. This service is provided free of charge to DVHA Member halls.  The current Visitors are:

Baird Oldrey    01202 877458 baird@oldrey.com

Mary Mathers    01929 459217  mary.mathers@btinternet.com

Mike Burt    01258 807697  mike@mbpa.co.uk