Press

Press Release: September 2005

Success for Gladestry in Calor Village of the Year^® for Wales Competition

The final results of the inaugural Calor Village of the Year^® for Wales competition have been announced at an awards ceremony held in Cardiff on Wednesday 28th September.

A total of eight villages, four from North Wales and four from the South, had been shortlisted for prizes in the competition which is organised and funded by Calor – the UK’s leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). The competition assesses communities on six aspects of village life, with categories in Community Life, Business, Young People, Older People, Environment and, judged separately, Information Communication Technology (ICT).

The village of Gladestry in Powys has gained a regional category award for Older People. Representatives of the village were presented with £500 prize money and a framed certificate in recognition of the community’s success.

Gladestry was presented with its prizes by Calor’s managing director, Howard Kerr and Sir Roger Jones OBE, Chairman of the WDA. The awards ceremony was also attended by representatives of all the shortlisted villages in the competition as well as members of the Welsh Assembly, representatives of Welsh non-governmental organisations and local dignitaries. Howard Kerr commented: “2005 marks the first year that a competition has been run solely for Welsh communities. This bi-lingual competition was launched with the aim of encouraging more villages to participate and benefit from competing in what can best be described as a ‘community fitness test’, and with the added benefit of possibly sharing in the competition’s £8,500 prize fund! With a total of 79 entries, we are extremely pleased with the response we’ve had from Wales’ villages. Some excellent communities have been highlighted and I would like to congratulate, as well as thank, every village that has participated, whether they have won an award or not.”

The competition 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. With a population of just 200, Gladestry impressed competition judges as a very lively small community. Older people in the village are involved in many of the local groups and organisations, including the WI and a book club. Gladestry is lucky to have many active older residents who are keen to be involved in village life, and both the community council and the church council make efforts to ensure that they are consulted on issues concerning the community.

Howard Kerr added: “I hope that Gladestry’s success will encourage even more villages to take part in the competition next year. Entering is an opportunity for villages to celebrate what they’ve got and to say ‘well done’ to residents who help to make community projects happen. We know what a great experience participating in the competition can be for villages and Calor wants as many communities as possible to benefit from working together for a common goal.”

For more information, please refer to the bi-lingual competition website at www.calorvillageoftheyear.org or call 01962 629768.

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

Notes to Editors:

2005 CALOR VILLAGE OF THE YEAR^® FOR WALES - FINAL RESULTS

Overall Winner for Wales:
Clawddnewydd, Denbighshire

Overall Winner for North Wales:
Clawddnewydd, Denbighshire

Overall Winner for South Wales:
Ffarmers, Carmarthenshire

Regional Category Winners for North Wales:

Regional Category Winners for South Wales:

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 English Calor Village of the Year^® competition, the Calor Scottish Community of the Year competition and, for the first year, a Welsh Calor Village of the Year^® competition. All three competitions are organised and funded by the company on an annual basis.

The Welsh Calor Village of the Year^® competition is open to rural communities throughout Wales with a population of 5,000 or under. Entry is open to all Community Councils or other community groups if they are in line with the following criteria:

• A ‘not for profit’ local organisation or trust set up to improve the social, economic or environmental health of the local community.

• A strong emphasis on the involvement of local individuals or groups active within the community.

• Partnerships, networks or forums acting within a localised community.

Please note that Calor Village of the Year^® is a registered trademark and should be referred to in full in all circumstances.

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 2006 Welsh Calor Village of the Year^® competition totals £8,500. First prize is £1,500 with £500 going to an overall winner for North Wales and for South Wales. In addition, there are six category prizes of £500 within North Wales and South Wales (covering Community Life, Business, Environment, Care for Older People, Care for Young People and Information Communication Technology).

For general information on the English and Welsh Calor Village of the Year^® competitions:
email: info@calorvillageoftheyear.org, tel: 01962 629768or visit: www.calorvillageoftheyear.org

For more information on the Calor Scottish Community of the Year competition:
visit: www.communityoftheyear.co.uk

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