Rural Community Gateway

The Scottish Calor Village of the Year awards were launched on 20th February 2008 at the Scottish Parliament. The awards give rural communities the chance to win up to £4000 for community development.

Organised by Scottish Calor, the awards are supported by Association of Scottish Community Councils and your very own Rural Gateway.
Following on from their successful Community of the Year Awards, Calor Village of the Year is designed to allow Scotland’s rural communities to promote their success and share best practice.

Norette Ferns, Rural Gateway editor said, "We are delighted to support the Scottish Calor Village of the Year awards. This is a fantastic opportunity, not only to win cash for community investment, but to share your successes and inspire others. With so many innovative and inspirational projects, enterprises and people in our rural communities, I’m sure the judging will be tough.

"I’d encourage as many communities as possible to get involved. I’ll have briefing papers at the Rural Gateway exhibition stand at the Village Halls Summit in Aviemore on 23rd February 2008. And you can find further information on the Calor Village of the Year website."

More than just presentation

Any community with a population under 5000 is eligible, and you will be judged on four categories: people, business, environment and communication. The Category Guidelines on the awards website give you more information on what they are looking for.

At the launch, Cathy Peattie MSP said, "These new awards are about sustaining Scotland’s rural communities. The awards take in much more than just presentation. They focus on how the people in rural communities can work together to make the places they live in the best they can be for everyone."

Inspire pride and share success

Calor Scotland’s Public Affairs Manager Andrew Ford said, "The ideas is that the awards will inspire local, regional and national pride and provide communities with the chance to highlight best community practice and share their ideas and successes with one another.

"Calor has been a part of Scottish rural life for more than 70 years, providing gas for heating, hot water, cooking, industrial and leisure activities and we believe in playing an active role in the communities we serve."

How to get involved

There are four regions: North, Central, South and Islands. You can find out where you fit on the Calor Village of the Year website. Regional winners will be awarded £1000 for community investment. At the end of the year, the overall winner will be announced at an awards ceremony, and this community will receive a further £3000.

Communities will be judged on four categories: people, business, environment and communication. Entry to the competition is by an online questionnaire and submission of up to 500 words explaining ‘What makes your rural community a special place?’ As the first stage will be blind judged, applicants are asked not to make reference to the name of their community in the questionnaire.

Awards can come from representatives of any not-for-profit local community body, including community councils, community associations, village hall committees and local networks, partnerships or forums.

You can apply online from 1st March 2008 at the Calor Village of the Year website. Applications must be completed by 30th June 2008, with judging taking place during the summer. If you have any queries about the competition contact PR Partnership on 01224 248 007 or email info@calorvillageofyear.org

• Privacy
• Help
• Contact Us
• Disclaimer