Press Archive

Search for Village with Outstanding Community Life begins

Villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire are being offered the opportunity to participate in a new competition this year. Information and entry forms have gone out to villages across the county to encourage them to enter the newly established Calor Building Community Life competition, which is being run by Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council.

Competition organiser, Helen Anglum, is hoping that villages will respond positively to the launch of this new event. She commented: “We are really excited about this competition. It is hoped that the prize money on offer will encourage villages to get involved. However, I must stress that, although that’s certainly one of the benefits of entering, it is by no means the only reason villages should take part.”

The competition, which is offering prizes of £500 and £300 for two successful villages, has been launched following support for the Calor Building Community Life competition from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Defra is providing funding in 2005 at both county and national level to enhance the newly established Building Community Life category. A total of £500 prize money is being provided by Defra for the Building Community Life competition in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The additional prize money is being provided by the Leader + Capacity Building Project.

Helen Anglum added: “We know this will get residents working together and encourage them to look at how everyone within the community is being provided for. It doesn’t have to be the parish council that puts together the entry. Any community group is welcome to take the lead. It’s an opportunity to celebrate all the positive aspects of village life and to consider any issues or opportunities that become apparent following a community’s involvement in the competition.”

The Building Community Life entry form consists of 14 questions covering many aspects of a village’s community life. The entry questions are designed to be thought provoking and encourage applicants to think about their village. For many villages not all questions will be relevant and therefore it is not compulsory to answer all or any of these questions. Applicants are also encouraged to include any additional information that they feel more accurately represents their village.

Following on from this competition, later in the year one village from the area will also be nominated by the RCC to go forward and represent the Humber & Wolds region in the prestigious national English Calor Village of the Year^® competition, which this year has a total prize fund of over £36,000 and a top prize of £6,000. The Calor Village of the Year^® competition judges communities on a total of six aspects of rural village life, one of which is Building Community Life. The other five categories cover Business, Young People, Older People, the Environment and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Helen Anglum concluded: “This is a great opportunity for villages to prove themselves as the well integrated and caring communities I know they are. The message is if you’re proud of your village – give the competition a go!”

Further information and entry forms are available from Helen Anglum at Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council on 01430 430904, email helen.anglum@hwrcc.org.uk. The closing date for entries is Friday 29th July and judging will take place in August. The winning villages will receive their prizes at a presentation event taking place taking place on 27th September.

Further press information from: Emma Flinn, Flent PR Ltd
tel: 01223 845781 (direct) / 0161 817 4200 (main office)
email: emma.flinn@connectpoint.co.uk