Regional Winners

Egerton - Regional Winner 2001

The small village of Egerton in Kent thrives on reciprocity, with residents of all ages helping and learning from each other, producing a vibrant, caring community.

To assist in teaching the younger generation about nature, villagers regularly allow school parties into their gardens to view pond life as well as assisting in various wildlife walks and outings. Another educational initiative, benefiting both old and young, is the innovative "Telecottage" which provides an IT base where villagers of all ages can take courses on Internet, word processing and general IT skills.

The village also has its own "games barn" which provides the setting for the village youth club. Run by a group of adult volunteers, the club provides host of activities ranging from five-a-side football and netball to quizzes and karaoke. A youth drama club frequently joins forces with the main drama society, the Egerton Players, and younger villagers also provide support for older members of the community through running shopping errands and providing a taxi service for less mobile residents.

Another example of generations working together is the planned skateboard park and BMX track. The idea was researched and put forward to the Parish Council by a group of young villagers. The mature members of the Parish Council have since applied for funding for the project while the younger members of the community concentrate on fundraising initiatives.

Egerton won the Calor Gas Village of the Year competition for Southern and South East England and also the Environment category for its region.

Judges’ Comments

"Egerton is a well integrated, vibrant community where all the age groups intermingle."