Competition Categories

Taking part in the Calor Village of the Year^® competition has allowed us to take stock of everything we do as a community. As a parish we raise a lot of money for many causes in the parish and several outside. The competition made us add up everything that we do and we were amazed at the total.

Martin Eddy VOY Entry Co-ordinator
ST NEOT (Cornwall)

What local facilities, services and activities are available, e.g. crèche, pre-school groups, youth groups, other? How are these supported by your community?

Are young people encouraged to be involved in decision making forums which affect their role in village life? How are the needs of young people assessed?

What facilities, services and activities are available for senior citizens in your village? E.g. Car schemes, home help, social clubs?

Is there a forum which focuses decision-making processes?

Does your village suffer from anti social behavior? How do you deal with low level crime such as graffiti and criminal damage?

Are senior citizens involved in village activities and what part do they play in the life of your village?

What does it say about ‘village’ people that so many of them talked to us from the other regions - coming up afterwards to congratulate us even if they went away empty-handed. Wonderful!.

Pat Pryke, Levington
Calor Village of the Year for England 2008

Business - a better place to work

What part do local businesses play in the life of the village, e.g. village pub, Post Office, farm, industrial enterprises, working from home?

How are businesses supportive of community life?

What employment opportunities do these businesses offer to local people?
Approximately how many local people are employed?

Are there any community businesses or opportunities for community businesses in the village?

What kind of benefits, either real or potential, does or will the community business provide to the residents?

When the village school was recently in crisis, local businesses immediately found £6,000 to make the school solvent again.

Judges comment, North Scarle,
Business Award, Northern England Region

Sustainability - a better future

What has been, or is currently being undertaken in your community to help protect and improve the local and global environment?

Are there areas of special conservation? Who manages them? Tell us about policy and practice of conservation in your village. How do village people become involved?

Are there any energy saving initiatives, Eco Builds, Local sourcing, Water conservation, Community public transport/green travel plans?

it has been a fantastic reward for all the unsung heroes in the village who year in year out do so much to look after our environment, our church, village hall and organisations.

Pat Pryke, Levington
Calor Village of the Year for England 2008

Communications - being in contact

What do you do to welcome ALL new residents into the community life? How do they find out about your community and what is going on?

What measures does your Community Council take to ensure that all sections of the community have their say in Village life? How do they pass information on to the whole community?
How do people in need of care, help and support within your community find out what organised services are available to assist them?

What are the benefits for the village from Information Communication Technology – tourism, provision of email, local communications within the village and surrounding area, business, environmental, other ideas? What other innovative ways is ICT being used – perhaps SMS alerts, web cams etc..?

For any community technology project to succeed, the two factors of shared ownership and sustainability are essential. It is obvious that Bampton understands how crucial these fundamental issues are.
Judges comment, Bampton
Information Technology Award, South West and Western Region