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Call to Action for Oxfordshire Villages

Oxfordshire villages are being reminded not to leave it too late if they want to enter the 2007 Calor Oxfordshire Villages of the Year competition. Villages and hamlets were invited to enter the competition back in March and they have until Saturday 30th June to get their entries in.

The Calor Oxfordshire Villages of the Year competition is organised by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) with sponsorship provided by Calor – the UK’s leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). Entries are invited from any organisation within a village and judges will be looking for active, caring and inclusive communities, rewarding community action and community spirit as well as taking into consideration the physical environment.

Competition co-ordinator Aimee Evans commented: “I want to encourage as many villages as possible to get involved in this competition, no matter how small. We’re not looking for ‘perfect’ villages so don’t be afraid to have a go. Entering the competition can be a very positive activity for a community because often villages don’t realise just how much they’ve got going on until they actually collect the information together. The closing date is approaching, but there is still plenty of time for villages to enter if they act now.”

Later in the year the village crowned the 2007 Calor Oxfordshire Village of the Year will have the added honour of being nominated to go forward and represent the county in the prestigious Calor Village of the Year® for England competition 2007/8. This will give them the opportunity of gaining recognition at national level as well as a share of a prize fund totalling more than £36,000. The county’s nominee to the 2006/7 national competition, Filkins and Broughton Poggs, has recently been visited by competition judges and will find out if it’s been awarded any prizes in the competition during October.

2007 marks a year of celebration in Oxfordshire, as the county celebrates its 1000th birthday. Festivals, special events and celebrations are planned throughout the county and everyone is being encouraged to join in. You can take the lead in your village and begin the Calor Oxfordshire Villages of the Year celebration by entering the competition. The closing date for entries is Saturday 30th June 2007. To request a competition entry questionnaire contact ORCC at Jericho Farm, Worton, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 4SZ. Tel: 01865 883488. E-mail: orcc@oxonrcc.org.uk. Web: www.oxonrcc.org.uk.

ORCC is a company limited by guarantee (no 2461552) and a charity (no 900560). Registered office: Jericho Farm, Worton, Witney OX29 4SZ.

Ends

Further press information available from: Emma Flinn, Connectpoint, tel: 0161 817 4221, email: emma.flinn@connectpoint.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

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 competition.

The Calor Village of the Year® for England competition, now in its eleventh 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. Every year, Calor sponsors the majority of the county village competitions – which this year total more than 40 – each of which is invited to nominate one village to take part in the 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 2007 national Calor Village of the Year® for England competition alone stands at over £36,000. 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 support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 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 competition:
email: info@calorvillageoftheyear.org or visit: www.calorvillageoftheyear.org

For all media enquiries relating the Calor Village of the Year® competition, please contact Emma Flinn:
email: emma.flinn@connectpoint.co.uk or tel: 0161 817 4221

For all general enquiries relating to the Calor Village of the Year® competition, please contact Brian Challis: email: b.challis@ntlworld.com or tel: 01962 629768

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