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Deadline Extension for Village Competition

Cumbria’s vibrant villages are being given more time to enter the 2006 Calor Cumbria Village of the Year Celebration with the closing date for entries extended to Monday 4th September.

Lorrainne Smyth from Voluntary Action Cumbria, which organises this Calor sponsored celebration commented: “We’re giving villages this extra time to submit their entries so that as many as possible have the opportunity to share their experiences. With a plaque for every entrant and an invitation to the presentation event later in the year, communities really have nothing to lose by taking part. There is also the chance of winning a share of £500 provided by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) specifically in support of the Building Community Life category.

“One entrant from the Calor Cumbria Village of the Year Celebration will also be nominated to represent the county in the prestigious Calor Village of the Year® for England competition, with the opportunity of gaining recognition at national level as well as a share of the prize fund totalling more than £39,000.”

Application forms can be obtained from the Voluntary Action Cumbria website at www.ruralcumbria.org.uk or by telephoning 01768 242130.

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Further press information from: Emma Flinn, Flent PR, a Connectpoint Company
tel: 0161 817 4200 / email: emma.flinn@connectpoint.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Voluntary Action Cumbria

Contact Lorrainne Smyth on 01768 869522 or Carl Glynn on 01768 869525 for more information on Voluntary Action Cumbria.

Voluntary Action Cumbria is the Rural Community Council for the County of Cumbria. It is a registered charity (No 1080875) responsible for the delivery of a wide range of advice, information and support services to rural communities. It was established 54 years ago and is part of a national network of Rural Community Councils across rural England.

Voluntary Action Cumbria’s statement of purpose is:
• To promote, in co-operation with statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and where appropriate, private enterprise a complete range of services, particularly in rural areas.
• To enable local communities to develop new initiatives in response to social and economic change.
• To develop policies which favour disadvantaged groups in rural areas.
• To promote voluntary service for any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community
• To organise VAC efficiently and cost effectively.

Calor Village of the Year®

Calor, the leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to those living and working in the countryside, has supported rural activities in England, Scotland and Wales for 20 years through its Rural Sponsorship programme, which includes the Calor Village of the Year® for England and Wales competitions and the Calor Scottish Community of the Year competition.

The Calor Village of the Year® for England competition, now in its tenth year, was founded and developed by Calor, and is organised and funded by the company on an annual basis.

Please note that Calor Village of the Year® is a registered trademark and should be referred to in full in all circumstances.

Entry to the Calor Village of the Year® for England competition is through the existing county competition network.

Following competition support in 2005, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is once again providing Calor with additional funding in 2006 to enhance the community life element of the competition through the Building Community Life category. Defra’s special aim is to encourage the inclusion of all groups and individuals into the fabric of rural community life - building cohesive and mutually supportive communities. Defra’s involvement means that every village in England has the opportunity to enter the 2006 Calor Village of the Year® for England competition.

The national Calor Village of the Year® judges look for well-balanced, pro-active, caring communities which, irrespective of size, have made the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all residents.

The prize money for the national Calor Village of the Year® for England competition alone stands at over £39,000. First prize is £7,000 with £2,000 going to each of five regional winners. In addition, there are five category prizes of £500 within each region (covering Business, Environment, Care for Older People, Care for Young People and Information Communications Technology), and a prize of £750 for the winner of the Building Community Life category in each of the five regions. The five regional winners of the Information Communication Technology category are judged to find an overall winner, the award for which is £1,000. There is also, thanks to the Defra support, a prize of £2,000 for an overall Building Community Life winner, which is selected from the five regional winners.

For general information on the Calor Village of the Year® for England and Wales competitions:
email: info@calorvillageoftheyear.org, tel: 01962 629768, or visit: www.calorvillageoftheyear.org

For more information on the Calor Scottish Community of the Year competition:
visit: www.communityoftheyear.co.uk

For more information on Defra:
visit: www.defra.gov.uk or for information specific to rural affairs visit: www.defra.gov.uk/rural/default.htm

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