Community venues have always played a vital role in shaping connected and lively neighbourhoods. Where ideas and partnerships form, and create a space where people come together to learn, celebrate, and support one another. At their best, these spaces become more than just buildings — they become trusted, well-used assets at the heart of community life.
The ripple effects of the pandemic have left lasting impacts. Bookings have slowed, volunteer engagement has declined, and the momentum that once kept these spaces buzzing has been difficult to rebuild. Some venues are still in recovery mode — operational, but not thriving.
What’s clear, though, is that the need for strong local gathering spaces has never been greater. With people spending more time in their community and seeking meaningful, nearby connections, community venues are uniquely positioned to respond.
The opportunity now is to reactivate these spaces — to reimagine how they serve, engage, and inspire those in the community. And with the right approach, they can once again become thriving, inclusive hubs that reflect and uplift the communities around them.
Community venues are still finding it hard to regain momentum after the pandemic. Habits have been disrupted, regular hirers have moved on, and the volunteers who once kept things running are often stretched thin and exhausted.
Even though restrictions have lifted, many venues are still operating below capacity. With admin overload, outdated booking systems, and limited resources, teams are stuck in survival mode — with little space to focus on growth or innovation.
At the same time, there’s a growing shift in how people live and work. More time is being spent locally — whether to build connection, find purpose, or simply stay closer to home. And that presents a powerful opportunity: your venue is perfectly positioned to meet those needs and become a vital hub for your community once again.
We’ve put together a practical guide on how to reactivate your community venues — but it’s not a checklist of cookie-cutter ideas.
We know every venue is unique, so instead of telling you what projects to run, we’ve created a flexible Community Venue Activation Framework to help you figure out what will work best for your space and your community.
🎣 Think of it as giving you the fishing rod, not the fish.
At the heart of the framework are two ideas: Lifters and Droppers. Lifters are the things that help your venue take off — like strong regular hirers, fun local programming, or partnerships that bring in new energy. Droppers are the things that hold you back — clunky processes, tired spaces, or not enough hands on deck.
Insights from 1000s of real venue bookings
The Activation Framework explained
A printable scorecard to evaluate your venue
Group activities to generate new ideas
Tools to define your venue’s purpose and pillars
Tips on how to crowdsource from your community
The guide includes real-world examples of activation ideas that are already working:
Community co-working: Local professionals want to escape their homes, not commute to the CBD. Offer a ‘quiet hustle’ co-working space with Wifi.
Pop-up food truck nights: Turn your car park into a buzzing Friday night hangout.
Counselling rooms: Offer calm, private rooms to mental health professionals.
Side hustle markets: Activate underused spaces with micro business markets.
Nomadic churches: Create long-term partnerships with congregations seeking flexible homes.
Reactivating your community venue isn’t just about increasing bookings (though that’s a great outcome too). It’s about restoring the role these spaces play in our lives.
An activated venue:
Becomes a home base for local initiatives
Sparks new connections between strangers and neighbours
Provides opportunities for learning, healing, and sharing
Attracts volunteers and changemakers
Builds financial sustainability for long-term success
In short, it transforms back into the vibrant hub for your community.
We’re excited to share our free, step-by-step guide on how to activate community venues. Whether you're a committee member, community leader, or simply someone who cares, this resource will help you think strategically, act creatively, and make a lasting impact.
💡 The popcorn effect starts with one spark. Let your venue be the first kernel to pop.