Welsh Village Competition Gets Bigger and Better
The new look Calor Village of the Year® for Wales competition has just been launched for 2008 and in conjunction with OneVoiceWales we are hoping even more villages will be encouraged to enter this year with a higher chance of winning a regional award. The introduction of three regions North Wales, Mid and West Wales, and South Wales, replacing the previous North and South split, is open to all rural village communities with prizes for People, Business, Environment and Communications categories.
In line with OneVoiceWales regions judging areas are as follows:
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North Wales: Gwynedd; Ynys Mon; Denbighshire; Conwy; Wrexham; and Flintshire
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Mid and West Wales: Powys; Ceredigon; Pembrokeshire; and Carmarthenshire
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South Wales: Swansea; Neath Port Talbot; Bridgend; Vale of Glamorgan; Cardiff; Rhondda Cynon Taf; Merthyr Tydfil; Caerphilly; Torfaen; Blaenau Gwent; Monmouthshire; and Newport
So, if your village relishes a challenge, is proud of its thriving community and in need of a boost it should enter the 2008 Calor Village of the Year® for Wales competition.
By entering this national competition, villages have the opportunity to share thousands of pounds to use for their community and to participate in what is best described as a ‘community fitness test’. Villagers often acknowledge that the prize money is not the main benefit of taking part as the competition acts as a catalyst to build stronger communities and bring people together.
“This competition celebrates communities who act locally to improve their village life and three villages per region will be shortlisted for a visit from a team of independent judges who will decide on a winner for each region. These regional winners will battle it out to be crowned Calor Village of the Year® for Wales and the competition is also offering prizes for category winners adding much needed monetary injections into the heart of communities.” Comments Simon White, from One Voice Wales.
The competitions aim is to celebrate the richness and diversity of Welsh villages whilst encouraging community participation, and competition organisers Calor want to encourage as many villages as possible to take part. Suzanne Weir, Calor Village of the Year® manager, explained:
“By grouping Wales as three distinct regions we are encouraging communities that have not participated in previous years to get involved. Villages that enter this competition are not judged on what they have in terms of community facilities and services, but on what they do. Therefore, even the smallest community has a good chance of winning a prize if it has strong community spirit and makes efforts to make life as good as it can be for all residents. The message is – if you feel that your village is a special place to live and you want to celebrate this then give the competition a go!”
The 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 four different categories – People, Business, Environment, and Communications each worth £500 in prize money. Villages are also asked to explain in less than 500 words: ‘What makes your village a special place?’ £1,500 cash prizes are available for each regional winner in North, Mid and West, and South Wales as well as an overall winner for Wales (an additional £1,500 is awarded to the national winner).
Villages are encouraged to enter all four categories in order to be considered for the overall title of Calor Village of the Year® for Wales 2008.
Entries from villages are welcome immediately and the closing date for completed entries is June 30th 2008.
If you wish to register your interest or for more information on how your community can enter please email info@calorvillageoftheyear.org, or visit the competition website at www.calorvillageoftheyear.org.
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Further press information available from: Sara Tomkins, Connectpoint, tel: 0161 817 4200, email: sara.tomkins@connectpoint.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Calor Village of the Year®
In 2007, the Wrexham village of Overton on Dee won the North Wales regional title, just missing out on the national title to South Wales winners Lawrenny in Pembrokeshire.
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 21 years through its Rural Sponsorship programme, which includes the Calor Village of the Year® for Wales competition.
The Calor Village of the Year® for Wales 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:
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A ‘not for profit’ local organisation or trust set up to improve the social, economic or environmental health of the local community.
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A strong emphasis on the involvement of local individuals or groups active within the community.
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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 competition in Wales assesses communities on four aspects of rural village life: People, Business, Environment, and Communications. Villages are also asked to explain in less than 500 words: ‘What makes your village a special place?’ Villages can enter as many or as few of the categories as they wish.
For general information on the Calor Village of the Year® for Wales competition –
email: info@calorvillageoftheyear.org, tel: 01926 318634 or visit the bi-lingual competition website: www.calorvillageoftheyear.org
OneVoiceWales
OneVoiceWales is the voice of Community and Town Councils in Wales.
There are over 700 Community and Town Councils in Wales, representing this tier of government closest to the people. The communities they serve range from small rural settlements to large towns and their budgets vary accordingly. However, what they all have in common is serving their communities and acting to improve the quality of life in their locality. This is achieved through exercising a range of statutory powers and duties.
One Voice Wales provides an advice and guidance service to our member councils and champions the interests of the sector at the national level, influencing policy development and working closely with key partners to ensure local councils can serve their electorates effectively. We also provide opportunities for councils to network and share best practice, for example through the 16 Area Committees across Wales and our developing Larger Local Councils Committee. For more information please see www.onevoicewales.org.uk
Supporters of CVOY Wales include:
• OneVoiceWales
• National Trust Wales
• CPRW – Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales
• Association of Voluntary Organisation
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