How gigabit capable broadband can ensure the future of our village halls
For generations, village halls have been the beating heart of communities up and down the country - they were the centres where friendships were made, and society came together.
And even to this day, their important role in village life cannot be underestimated.
But are their futures guaranteed as the world moves at such a fast pace as we all jump on board the technological highway? Do we still need them when we can hold virtual gatherings and play games with friends online?
One way to secure village halls’ future is to enable them to help their community be part of this exciting digital world by getting them connected to ultrafast broadband.
Not only will this technology enable the halls to offer many more services, it will also mean much-needed broadband infrastructure is brought into rural areas for residents and businesses to tap into.
That’s why, with the help of funding from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Dorset Council and Wessex Internet is currently bringing gigabit-capable, full fibre broadband to village halls and community centres in the county.
And there’s a clear need for why we are doing this.
Without public subsidy, rural areas would be left behind in the digital revolution as bringing broadband to them is too expensive and not commercially attractive to suppliers.
However, we can jump start digital life in a village by pumping fibre into its very heart…
Why Wimborne St Giles is now in jolly good company with the rest of the digital world
When the country went into lockdown all activity at Wimborne St Giles Village Hall came to a halt.
The village hall had proven to be a lifeline for many people; especially for the members of its In Jolly Good Company group which provided companionship and social activities for many.
But total isolation was not the end result of lockdown thanks to the now good broadband coverage in the village.
In Jolly Good Company launched Jolly Good TV, making a series of films, which were uploaded on to YouTube and helped keep that connection with
members alive.
When lockdown restrictions eased, the members could return to the village hall and watch the films together – an option that would have been impossible just a few years ago.
In Jolly Good Company’s Director and Wimborne St Giles resident, Sarah Rampton, said: “Our village hall was connected about three years ago by Wessex Internet, using the government voucher scheme.
“Before then we had one BT cabinet serving the whole village and the further away you were from the cabinet, the more pitiful the broadband speeds were.
“Now we’ve all got a great connection and for the village hall it means we can do so much more.
“When we hold our ‘Jolly’ days here now we can have film sessions, including watching our very own Jolly TV. We could not have done this without the broadband.”
Wimborne St Giles is part of the Shaftesbury Estate, which prides itself on providing a sense of community and togetherness.
What lockdown has shown is that the online world can keep us together, even when we’re physically apart.
And the village hall committee realised that good broadband was not only a good way of connecting people, it also keeps people safe.
The village hall is famed for its weekly charity teas that attract people far and wide.
But there is little mobile phone coverage in the village, and this was a safety concern for the village hall committee.
Committee chair, Lissie Ashton, said: “Our teas are incredibly popular, often with people queuing right outside the gate.
“With no mobile phone coverage and no telephone line it was always a concern for us, with that many people, how could we contact someone in an emergency?
“When the option to get state funded full fibre broadband installed at our hall was offered it was a no brainer.
“We now have excellent WiFi and can use our mobile phones, plus a telephone line is now run through the broadband.”
The village hall is now better placed to support its many uses – from hiring out the hall to musicians and choirs to hosting private parties.
“We’re just a very small village hall but it’s already been of real benefit to us,” Lissie added.
“The monthly internet cost is reasonable, especially as we did not have to fund the set-up costs. 
“We don’t have a village pub so we’re now looking to see if we can have some bar nights for the community and undoubtedly the broadband will make that more attractive for people.
“I can only imagine the difference good broadband would make to larger village halls and the many different services they host for their communities.
“Having good broadband and being digital is the future and as village halls we have to make sure we’re not left behind.”
Wimborne St Giles fact file
- Wimborne St Giles is situated in the north east corner of Dorset
- It has a population of 366
- Many of the village’s premises is owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury.
- Wessex Internet was able to bring full fibre, gigabit capable broadband to this very rural part of Dorset using the government gigabit voucher scheme Gigabit Vouchers (culture.gov.uk)
I have worked in communications for 25 years, first as a journalist and then in public and private sector public relations. From Southampton originally, I have lived in beautiful Dorset for the last two decades. My passion for Dorset has also turned into a passion for landscape photography. My other great loves are my family and Southampton Football Club.