Press Archive

Beith wins awards for Community Life and Older People at Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards

Beith and District Community Council has won the Community Life category and been highly commended in the Older People category of the Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards 2004, at a ceremony in Edinburgh today (Friday 26 November).

Members of the Community Council were presented with the awards during the ceremony held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), which was also attended by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay.

Nineteen shortlisted communities attended the annual event, which this year attracted over one hundred entries from communities spanning the length and breadth of Scotland. The ceremony was also captured on film as part of the six-part television series 'Rising to the Challenge', based on the awards.

Now in their seventh year, the awards encompass every aspect of Scottish life, providing communities with an opportunity to gain recognition and reward for their efforts. Their aim is to stimulate local people to take responsibility for their communities and enhance them for common good.

In determining the outcome of the awards, the judges sought best practices within communities, which could be used as examples for other communities throughout Scotland.

Commenting on Beith's success, Gavin Tomlinson, Calor Scottish Community of the Year Manager said, "Beith has a truly remarkable community spirit.

The range and diversity of community-led initiatives is outstanding, and the pride felt within the community tangible. The Beith Christian Action Thrift Shop's ability to raise over £30,000 each year, with shoppers only paying what they can afford, sums up the generous spirit of the town. Communication is a key ingredient in making a community work, Beith demonstrates this fantastically through newsletters, websites and good old chatter ".

In addition Beith and District Community Council were also commended in the Environment, Young People and Business categories.

The Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards were launched in 1998, and since then more than one third of all Scottish communities from the Borders to Shetland, and all the country's major urban areas have taken part.

The awards include environment, business, young people, old people, community life and community website. Judging the awards were representatives of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) and The Robert Gordon University and a Community Information Officer for a local authority.

For further information regarding the awards visit www.communityoftheyear.org.uk

November 26, 2004

For further information contact:

Ashley Ross
Awards Co-ordinator
tel 01224 588900
e-mail ashley@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF CALOR SCOTTISH COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR BY THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD
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