Anyone who helps to run a village hall or community centre can now benefit from expert advice that could help them organise things more efficiently.

Community First Wiltshire is holding a free suppliers' fair for local committees, organisations and volunteers to advise people on both how to make their village hall more ‘green’ as well as on everyday running issues.

The event open to all and takes place at the Michael Herbert Hall, South Street, Salisbury SP2 OJS from 2-6pm on Friday, April 11.

Advice will be available on issues such as energy efficiency, insulation, the community oil-buying scheme, bio-mass boilers and even eco-friendly wildflower planting schemes for gardens, community projects, schools and corporate landscaping.

As well as green issues, there will also be information on remodelling work for village halls and schools, the Big Lottery, door entry systems, insurance, loan schemes for community buildings, building advice, online hall and venue booking systems, sound and lighting information, and representation from the South Wiltshire Credit Union and the Moviola rural cinema scheme.

Carol Southall, the village hall and community buildings advisor for Community First Wiltshire, is organising the event.

She supports over 250 village halls in Wiltshire and runs an advisory service that can help village hall and community building committees with information, advice and training.

She also carries out energy audits to help committees reduce the costs of running halls and to make them more energy efficient. 

“Finding good suppliers is sometimes difficult for people on voluntary committees so the suppliers' f air aims to help them by getting all the advice together in one place,” she said.

“The event covers a wide range of issues that committees need to know about and should help them with very useful information.

"This is the first of what I hope will be an annual event.”

Energy audits are available to village and community halls at a cost of £200 to £250 plus VAT. She also sends out regular newsletters and information bulletins on village hall issues.

To contact her phone 01380 732818 or email csouthall@communityfirst.org.uk