Press Archive

Durham Villages Called to Action for New Competition

Villages throughout Durham are being offered the opportunity to participate in the newly established Calor Building Community Life competition. Information and entry forms have gone out to villages across the county to encourage them to enter the competition, which is being organised by Durham Rural Community Council (DRCC) and funded by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

The competition has a £500 prize fund and 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.

Competition organiser on behalf of Durham Rural Community Council, Sara Jane Stobbs, hopes that the competition will encourage villagers to get together and find out more about the communities they live in. She commented: “We hope the prize money on offer will persuade villages to give the competition a go. But, more than that, it’s the benefits participating can bring about that should really motivate them. The competition is a great way of finding out more about a community. It’s an opportunity for residents to celebrate all the positive aspects of life in their village and to consider any issues or opportunities that become apparent following their 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 in Durham will also be nominated by DRCC to go forward and represent the county in the prestigious national English Calor Village of the Year^® competition, which this year has a 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).

Sara Jane Stobbs concluded: “This is a great opportunity for villages to learn more about themselves whilst also possibly benefiting from some quite substantial cash prizes. Do not miss out on the chance to celebrate your community. If you’re proud of your village – give the competition a go!”

Further information and entry forms are available from Durham Rural Community Council on 01207 529621, email sarajane@durhamrcc.org.uk. The deadline for entries is 22nd July and judging will take place week commencing 24th July. The winning villages will be presented with their prizes at DRCC’s AGM on 13th October.

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