Benenden Village Hall is an asset of the Benenden Village Trust (Registered Charity 1176351) and welcomes support and sponsorship from individuals and companies to help keep the hall an important part of daily life in the village.
We are a busy village hall and despite being a popular local venue for regular clubs, classes, events and parties with activities at the hall every day, the high running costs make the venue increasingly difficult to maintain, undertake repairs, and invest in improving the facilities for our hirers and users of the hall. Sadly, the income from hire charges does not cover the running costs.
Benenden Village Hall was officially opened in December 1977 and many of the fixtures, fittings & equipment now needs updating or replacement.
- Plumbing repairs (essential maintenance) August 2026).
- Improved backstage lighting (May 2026).
- Training – hall manager trained to undertake inspection & testing of electrical equipment (PAT Testing) (May 2026).
- Repairs to leaking windows (April 2026).
- Upgrading of internal lighting to LED lights with additional sensors and dimmer switches (April 2026).
- First Aid training for staff & hirers (February 2026).
- Repairs to potholes in the car park (January 2026).
- Purchase of straps for linking seating (requirement for 50+ persons) (January 2026).
- Improving Wi-Fi coverage throughout the building (October 2025).
- Roofing Repairs (October 2025).
- Upgrading of external lighting to PIR LED Floodlights (September 2025).
- Additional electrical sockets on main hall balcony (August 2025).
- Plumbing repairs (July 2025).
- Replacement of the facial-recognition door entry system control panel (May 2025).
- New tablecloths for use with 6′ round tables (March 2025).
- The addition of LED ambient lighting strips in the main hall (January 2025).
- New blackout blinds for main hall (December 2024).
- A new gas boiler for the heating in the main hall (September 2024).
- New Football Goals (June 2024).
- New microphone system for main hall (May 2024).
- Essential electrical work (February 2024).
- New projector in main hall (January 2024).
- New blackout blinds for community office & small hall / meeting room (December 2023).
- New floor scrubber (November 2023).
- New electric water heater for communal kitchen (June 2023).
- High-level floodlights in main hall upgraded to LED floodlights (March 2023).
- Replacement of the fire alarm system control panel.
Our Sponsors & Benefactors
Benenden Parish Council have helped considerably with funding for the new heating boiler and the upgrading of our internal lighting and grounds’ maintenance of the Hall and the Recreation Ground.
The Football Foundation provided funding towards the new football goals.
Staplehurst Monarchs Football Club helped fund the new football goals, installed them and maintain the football pitch & markings.
- Headcorn Football Club (Wayne Totterdell) marking and maintaining the football pitch.
- The Arts Society sponsored the purchase of a new microphone system for the main hall.
- St. George’s Church donated 40 folding chairs.
- Benenden Hospital delivered first aid training at the hall for some of our hirers.
Benenden Players have helped with some of the repairs at the hall.
South East Water completed a free water efficiency inspection and updated the flushing system in one of the toilets as part of their water efficiency programme.
Local individuals have also supported us with donations and sponsorship of some of the above projects.
Other projects and improvements under consideration for which sponsorship, funding & donations would be appreciated include:
The smoke & heat detectors installed throughout the building as part of the hall’s fire alarm system are now reaching the age where they need to be replaced. New combined smoke & heat detectors should also reduce any false alarm activations.
The 8 high-level Velux windows in the main hall are at the end of their serviceable lifespan. The frames are rotting, most of the windows no longer open and some of the blinds do not operate. It is hoped that they can be replaced with solar-powered remote control Velux windows and blinds that will greatly improve lighting and ventilation for hirers and visitors to the hall.
Some of the double-glazed windows in the small hall / meeting room have condensation between the panes. This is not only unsightly, but also affects the insulation properties of the windows.
The double-glazed windows in the kitchen have condensation between the panes. This is not only unsightly, but also affects the insulation properties of the windows.
The main entrance doors to the building do not always latch properly and require a new latch / adjustment.
The balcony area in the main hall is accessible from the foyer / lobby and a full height door would assist with controlling access and improve insulation by reducing heat loss, and noise from the foyer / lobby.
The football ball pitch on the recreation field would benefit from improved drainage and maintenance.
The hall has a 4-speaker sound system that can be hired for events for use with microphones or music. The sound system is outdated, has limited connectivity (no Bluetooth / Wi-Fi) and sound quality could be better.
There are two baby changing units at the hall. The baby changing unit in the accessible toilet has been moved to a more convenient and hygienic position and a shelf added. It is hoped to provide nappies and other related products in both locations for people to use. Donations of suitable items would be appreciated.
The government scheme for providing free sanitary products to schools and colleges does not include public building or village halls. It is hoped that supplies will be donated so that products can be offered to users of the hall.
Benenden Hospital kindly provided basic life support / first aid training at the hall for staff and regular hirers. It is hoped that further sessions can be arranged in the future and extended to include local residents.
Benenden Village Hall has a professional stage lighting system with a lighting console, dimmer unit, DMX slitter and a selection of lights. Most of the lights are owned by Benenden Players. It is hoped that some of the older incandescent stage lights can be updated with more efficient, reliable and economic LED lights with greater functionality.
The addition of a mains-fed filtered water cooler in the foyer / lobby would encourage visitors to the hall to stay better hydrated by drinking more water and allow those taking part in exercise classes, physical activities, etc. to refill their water bottles.
It is hoped to replace the noticeboards in the foyer / lobby with tamper proof lockable noticeboards. These will be easier to keep organised and up-to-date. They would also prevent notices from being removed / unwanted posters from being added.
In addition to the Parish Council noticeboard outside the Community Office, it would be nice to have a large community noticeboard for promoting local events.
The hall’s wireless CCTV system can cause interference with audio equipment. It is hoped to upgrade to a system that with greater functionality that does not cause issues.
Feedback from users has highlighted that the dark brown colour scheme at the hall is outdated and brighter colours should be used. Many of the walls are in need of maintenance and repainting.
Consideration of installing acoustic panels in the main hall to improve the sound for live music and film nights.
The nearest defibrillators to the hall are at the primary school and village green. It is considered that the village hall is an obvious location for a defibrillator due to activities at the hall and on the recreation field. Due to the other nearby defibrillators, Benenden Village Hall is not eligible to apply for a free defibrillator and one would have to be funded or moved from another location. There are also running costs for having a defibrillator.
A ‘short throw’ projector installed on the stage would allow for scenery to be projected onto the back of the stage. This would allow for greater flexibility and variety for performances and productions.
There is a large ‘Benenden Village Hall’ sign of the end of the building nearest the main road but nothing over the main entrance. This would improve the aesthetics of the main entrance.
The hall manager and parish clerk work from the Community Office at the hall. A new door / blind would make it easier for visitors to see if the office is open / occupied which the current mirrored glazing does not. Due to the age of the door, some of the woodwork is starting to rot.
Suggestions
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for fundraising or improvements to Benenden Village Hall, its facilities or equipment.
Funding
Benenden Village Trust has hosted several film nights at the hall which have been well supported and helped raise much-needed funds. These have included ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ in December 2025, ‘The Italian Job’ in April 2025 and ‘Casablanca’ in November 2024. They are well attended but are only possible with the help and support from local individuals, companies and organisations.
If you, or your company, would like to support us with a donation, or sponsor one of our future projects, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the hall manager, John Betts, to discuss how you can help.
Benenden Village Trust
You can also support us by becoming a member of Benenden Village Trust. Membership is open to all aged over 18 living in the Parish and to representatives of organisations and businesses within the Parish. Membership is FREE!
Please go to the trust website for more information and an online application form.
Board of Trustees – if you feel that you have a particular skill or interest that you can bring to the Trust please contact the Trust Manager, or any trustee, for information about becoming a trustee.
