Today sees the start of Village Halls Week 2023 (23 - 29 January 2023) which celebrates the role of local village halls, such as Emberton Sports & Social Club, in creating welcoming, warm and inclusive spaces.
It was at this hall that Ross Hockham was encouraged to share his love of astronomy with his community and which, in turn, gave rise to the UK Astronomy charity.
Ross Hockham, Founder of UK Astronomy, said: “I never would have imagined that the one time of watching the transit of Mercury at Emberton Sports & Social Club would have turned into something as amazing as UK Astronomy. Village halls are such wonderful places, and I am so thankful for the encouragement I received that day. I hope that our story can inspire others to get involved in local village halls and make a difference in their communities.”
UK Astronomy has continued to grow from strength to strength from that first day at Emberton Sports & Social Club and offers a range of activities and events to engage people of all ages in astronomy. These include stargazing events, educational activities for children and the charity have recently announced their new planetarium service which will be available from spring. For more information, please visit www.ukastronomy.org
This Village Halls Week, UK Astronomy is encouraging everyone to get involved in their local village hall and see how their ideas can shape the local community. For more information about Village Halls Week and how to get involved, visit the Action with Rural Communities in England (ACRE)website – www.acre.org.uk/village-halls-week-2023