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Cheddington
Young People Award for Cheddington in 2005 Calor Village of the Year^® for England Competition

The Buckinghamshire village of Cheddington has won a regional category award for Young People in this year’s Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition.

The village’s success was revealed by guest of honour, celebrity author and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, at an awards ceremony held on Tuesday 6th December in London. Cheddington was competing against a total of 40 other villages throughout England which were nominated to represent their respective counties in this prestigious event.

Cheddington won the Young People category, and £500 prize money, in the East England region of the competition, competing against villages from Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition is organised and funded by Calor, the UK’s leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It assesses communities on six aspects of village life with categories in building community life, business, young people, older people, the environment and, judged separately, information communication technology (ICT).

Alan Titchmarsh was joined by Calor’s managing director, Howard Kerr, to present representatives of Cheddington with their prizes. Alan commented: “Rural communities are an essential part of the fabric of our country - they are the backbone of British life. It is for this reason that the Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition, which aims to support and promote village life, is such a positive event and something which I am happy to support. The competition highlights the very best of village life, encouraging villagers to work together to the benefit of all residents. More importantly, it provides a forum for communities to share best practice and encourages them to address any problems or opportunities that become apparent following their involvement in the competition.”

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. In Cheddington, which was nominated to take part in the competition by the Bucks Association of Local Councils, the young people in are keen to take responsibility for their future in the village. Their views and opinions are often sought by the wider community and they are encouraged to become involved in local decision making. Through consultation with the parish council, play equipment for older children, a youth shelter and basket / football facilities were provided at the recreation ground in the village. The parish council is also actively supporting a youth group which was established last year with the aim of giving teenagers the opportunity to organise activities and become more involved in community life. Another development to support younger residents currently being investigated by the parish council is the formation of a youth parish council which, if undertaken, would further empower the young people of Cheddington.

Calor’s managing director, Howard Kerr, commented: “Feedback from villages over the years confirms how those entering the Calor Village of the Year^® competition are amazed at the richness of community life that is revealed as they go forward. The 2005 competition has once again highlighted some extraordinary communities across England as well as some great examples of how villages are working to achieve a better quality of life for residents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every village that has taken part this year and congratulate them on their achievements, whether they have won a prize or not.

“The Calor Village of the Year^® competition has been supporting rural communities for nine years and many villages have benefited from taking part – either at county or national level. As the competition reaches its 10th anniversary, we are confident that villages will continue to benefit in the future. Thanks must also go to Alan for his continued support, which is sure to raise the profile of the competition and spread the message to even more communities.”

For more information on the Calor Village of the Year^® for England competition visit the website (www.calorvillageoftheyear.org) or call Calor on 01962 629768.

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