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Press Release: February 2006

Calor Calls All Welsh Villages for Annual Community Competition

Villages across Wales are being encouraged to enter the prestigious second annual Calor Village of the Year^® for Wales competition. Celebrating the richness of village life across the country, this is an excellent opportunity to mark the achievements of individual communities and entries are welcome from villages immediately.

The Welsh competition was launched by Calor last year with Clawddnewydd in Denbighshire being crowned overall winners for Wales. The competition had a positive response from communities throughout the Principality in 2005 and it is hoped that even more villages will benefit from participating this year. Suzanne Weir, Calor’s communications manager, commented, “This competition is a fantastic opportunity for local people to get together and evaluate as well as celebrate what they have achieved within their community. Most people we speak to are amazed at just how much goes on in their village and say that the competition in itself – regardless of awards – is a great way of pulling everyone together and making them feel proud about where they live.”

The bi-lingual Calor Village of the Year^® for Wales competition is open to all villages of 5,000 or under, and they can choose to participate in up to six different categories – Community Life, Business, Young People, Older People, the Environment and Information Communication Technology – all recognising local excellence. Cash prizes are available for category winners in North and South Wales, as well as an overall regional winner for North and South from which a winner for Wales will be chosen.

For a village to be considered for the overall title of Calor Village of the Year^® for Wales 2006, it will need to enter all six categories.

The judges are looking for: “Well balanced, pro-active, caring village communities which irrespective of size have made the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all inhabitants”.

Villages interested in entering should contact Calor on 01962 629768, or email info@calorvillageoftheyear.org to request an entry form. For further information about the competition please also refer to the competition website (www.calorvillageoftheyear.org).

Entries from villages are welcome immediately and the closing date for completed entries is April 30th.

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Further press information from: Emma Flinn, Flent PR, a Connectpoint Company
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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