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.
- Purchase of straps for linking seating (requirement for 50+ persons) (January 2026).
- Repairs to potholes in the car park (January 2026).
- First Aid training for staff & hirers (February 2026).
- Upgrading of internal lighting to LED lights with additional sensors and dimmer switches (April 2026).
- Repairs to leaking windows (April 2026).
- Training – hall manager trained to undertake inspection & testing of electrical equipment (PAT Testing) (May 2026).
- Improved backstage lighting (May 2026).
- Plumbing repairs (essential maintenance) August 2026).
- The addition of LED ambient lighting strips in the main hall (January 2025).
- New tablecloths for use with 6′ round tables (March 2025).
- Plumbing repairs (July 2025).
- Additional electrical sockets on main hall balcony (August 2025).
- Upgrading of external lighting to PIR LED Floodlights (September 2025).
- Roofing Repairs (October 2025).
- Improving Wi-Fi coverage throught the building (October 2025).
- New projector in main hall (January 2024).
- Essential electrical work (February 2024).
- New microphone system for main hall (May 2024).
- New Football Goals (June 2024).
- A new gas boiler for the heating in the main hall (September 2024).
- New blackout blinds for main hall (December 2024).
- High-level floodlights in main hall upgraded to LED floodlights (March 2023).
- New electric water heater for communal kitchen (June 2023).
- New floor scrubber (November 2023).
- New blackout blinds for community office & small hall / meeting room (December 2023).
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.
- Hole Park kindly supports the hall with the donation of a large Christmas tree each year.
- 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 & donation would be appreciated include:
- Upgrading the fire alarm system (essential maintenance).
- Replacement of the 8 x Velux windows & blinds in the main hall (essential maintenance).
- Replacement of glazing in the small hall / meeting room (essential maintenance).
- Replacement of glazing in the communal kitchen (essential maintenance).
- Repairs to main entrance doors to improve opening / closing.
- Installation of an additional door in foyer / lobby to improve heating insulation and sound proofing.
- Football pitch improvements.
- Upgrading of the hall’s sound system.
- Improving baby changing facilities – provision of baby changing items (nappies, etc.)
- Provision of sanitary products.
- First Aid training for staff, hirers & local residents..
- Upgrading stage lighting.
- Provision of a water cooler in the communal lobby / foyer.
- New noticeboards in the communal lobby / foyer.
- New external community noticeboard.
- Improved CCTV & security.
- Painting & decorating.
- Improvement of acoustics in main hall.
- Installation of a defibrillator at Benenden Village Hall.
- Purchase of a ‘short throw’ projector for the main hall stage.
- New ‘Benenden Village Hall’ sign for above main entrance.
- New door & blind for community office.
We are hoping to stock a supply of baby changing items (nappes, etc.) and sanitary products for our hall users to access. Donations of any products are appreciated.
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.
