Project Lead
Kerry Prowling, Coordinator, Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Alliance
Project Title
Strengthening Community Cohesion Through Mediation
Location
North Lincolnshire
Focus Areas
- Voluntary Sector Collaboration
- Mediation Training
- Advocacy
- Volunteer Support
Project Overview
Carol Foster is the Village Hall Advisor at Humber and Wolds Rural Action (HWRA), where she has been leading a series of engagement sessions to help North Lincolnshire’s community venues prepare for Martyn’s Law - the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
With many village halls run entirely by volunteers, Carol’s work focuses not just on legislative awareness but on volunteer development and future planning, ensuring these vital spaces are protected and sustained for years to come.
Her sessions, delivered in village halls across the region, aimed to raise awareness of the upcoming legislation while also exploring how local communities can strengthen their volunteer networks and become more resilient and prepared.
“It’s all about being proactive. We don’t want these communities to be caught off guard. We want them ready, not rushing.” – Carol
Project Highlight: Martyn’s Law Awareness Sessions
At the heart of Carol’s engagement programme were her Martyn’s Law awareness sessions, designed for trustees, church reps, volunteers, and local residents who help keep village halls running.
Martyn’s Law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The tragedy revealed serious gaps in venue safety, particularly the absence of formal risk assessments. The new law, granted royal assent and expected to come into force within two to three years, will require all events with over 200 attendees to have robust risk assessments and safety protocols in place.
Carol’s sessions gave volunteers early insight into these requirements. While formal training is not yet available (as guidance is still in development), her workshops offered vital pre-emptive education, reducing fear and confusion and helping communities start preparing now.
“It’s about painting a picture of what these spaces mean to a community — the value of giving back, of being part of something.” – Carol
Outcomes and Insights
The sessions provided far more than legal updates - they became spaces for reflection, storytelling, and community-building.
- Raising awareness early meant communities were less likely to panic when the law comes into full effect.
- Volunteers felt seen and valued, with many sharing personal stories about why they choose to support their local halls.
- Village halls were reframed not just as buildings, but as hubs of connection and shared responsibility.
- Skill-sharing and dialogue emerged organically, as attendees discussed their own experiences of volunteering and leadership.
The sessions were a chance to reinforce the idea that being involved in a community space isn’t just a duty - it’s a source of belonging, purpose, and local pride.
Challenges and Learnings
While the initiative sparked great conversations, Carol and the HWRA team identified several ongoing challenges:
Volunteer recruitment: Many current volunteers are older or already involved in the community sector. Reaching younger, working-age volunteers remains difficult.
Perception of roles: Terms like “trustee” can feel intimidating or formal. HWRA is now promoting volunteer opportunities by skills, not titles, making roles feel more accessible.
Employer-Supported Volunteering (ESV): Discussions highlighted the potential for local businesses to encourage volunteering by allowing staff time off to contribute.
Tailored messaging is essential. At one open day, only ten people attended — a reminder that outreach needs to be engaging, clear, and community-specific.
Vision Moving Forward
Carol and HWRA are committed to ensuring village halls are ready for the legal, cultural, and generational shifts ahead. Their goals include:
Continuing early engagement so that volunteers and venue managers are not caught unprepared when Martyn’s Law is fully implemented.
Advocating for formal training once the final guidance is released.
Expanding outreach to build a broader, more diverse network of volunteers.
Embedding long-term support to help communities understand their obligations without becoming overwhelmed.
Carol’s vision is about more than compliance - it’s about sustaining the spirit of these spaces. It’s about ensuring the next generation feels just as connected to their local hall as those who’ve served for decades.
“If we get the support right now, we can make sure these spaces thrive for the next generation.” – Carol
Outcomes and Insights
The early results of the mediation training initiative and the wider work of the Alliance have already demonstrated:
Enhanced capacity for local organisations to manage community conflict internally.
Greater inter-group collaboration, with increased willingness to share knowledge and resources.
Elevated visibility of the voluntary sector’s role in creating social cohesion.
Development of new, transferable skills for volunteers and staff - giving them tools that benefit both their organisations and the broader community.
While the Alliance itself doesn’t deliver frontline services, it plays a crucial role in amplifying the sector’s collective voice and offering strategic tools, like mediation, that help groups move from reactive to proactive support.
Challenges and Learnings
The Alliance doesn’t shy away from confronting the real issues its members face. During recent assemblies, organisations shared common concerns:
Volunteer shortages: Many groups struggle to recruit and retain volunteers. Austerity and changing attitudes have made unpaid commitment harder to sustain.
Operational pressures: Rising costs are threatening the sustainability of many small organisations.
Power imbalances: Many voluntary groups feel shut out of key decision-making structures, leading to frustration and burnout.
To protect sector integrity, statutory services are deliberately excluded from Alliance meetings, allowing space for voluntary voices to speak freely and without influence.
Vision Moving Forward
Kerry and the VCFSE Alliance are committed to building a voluntary sector that is resilient, skilled, and collaborative. Their goals include:
- Expanding mediation training, with a broader cohort of volunteers across all corners of the community.
- Creating a network of community mediators, embedded in spaces like youth hubs, community centres, and village halls.
- Championing sector-wide advocacy, pushing for more investment in volunteer support and sustainable infrastructure.
- Continuing to host assemblies and learning events that foster honest dialogue and shared action.
The Alliance believes that conflict doesn’t have to divide us - it can be a pathway to stronger relationships when handled with care and skill
About Kerry
As Co-ordinator of the VCFSE Alliance, Kerry Prowling brings clarity, energy, and strategic focus to the sector she serves.
With a background in community development and a passion for grassroots collaboration, Kerry understands the unique challenges facing voluntary groups - and more importantly, the powerful role they play in social cohesion.
Her work is grounded in the belief that local solutions work best when they come from within - and that training, empowerment, and cross-sector solidarity are the foundations of stronger, more united communities.
