Back in the 1990’s, once we’d ditched guidebooks and found ourselves lost, my partner and I discovered some of the most breathtaking plazas and palagios in Venice.
I stumbled across Broughton Village Hall in a similar way, having lost the sat nav signal and forced to make a diversion.
Broughton Village Hall and Community Store may not be a floating, architectural wonder (although very attractively converted in 2019) but it certainly has unique qualities. Most prominently, it has a heart.
A couple of weeks ago I made a return visit to find out more about this hub of activity.
Opening a door of opportunity
I expected the ‘you’re not from around here’ glare as I entered but was greeted with a generous smile. I was introduced to the shop manager who although looked busy, had time to share.
The Community Store and Village Hall has an extensive network of over 100 volunteers drawn from a community of roughly just 1000 inhabitants. The locals are clearly invested in the community and the atmosphere within the walls breathes pride and dedication. Today a team of helpers co-ordinates a deep clean and shifts wheeled shelving units around in preparation. Another busy volunteer collates and distributes the Saturday papers, greeting every customer with warmth and appreciation.
Caring for the environment
They’re environmentally conscious too with an eco-refill station which has become so popular that they are looking to expand it. The store also stocks a wide range of eco-sustainable products. Food supplies such as vegetables are sourced from local suppliers. Outside there is an electrical car charging point and a large expanse of landscaped green space at the back of the building.
Warm, welcoming, and inclusive
The Village Hall is a bright, welcoming, and comfortable space with friendly staff and volunteers all keen to provide the best hospitality. I was served a latte and then persuaded to buy a piece of local, home-made Lemon Polenta cake. The manager told me that recently, there were several planned power cuts in Broughton and the Village Hall opened its doors to the community, offering a warm space to congregate, log on, socialise and make use of the facilities.
A hub of activity
The building is home to a whole spectrum of activities. Posters about biking and gardening groups, an amateur dramatics society, Pilates classes, jumble sales cover the noticeboard. Events such as a Country and Western Hoe Down and a Call My Bluff Wine Evening breathing even more life into the lungs of the building. For a village with a relatively small population the opportunity to get involved and interact is breathtaking!
Playing an important role in combating loneliness
Like so many of our Village Halls across Hampshire the Village Hall and Store at Broughton is the lifeblood of the village. These thriving hubs play a huge role in tackling loneliness and isolation, a growing issue in today’s society.
Rural loneliness affects people living in our countryside. According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone and over half say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. Community hubs such as Broughton Village Hall and Community Store provide an opportunity for locals to interact, participate or maybe just enjoy a delicious piece of cake in a friendly atmosphere!
