Regional Winners

Sutton - Regional Winner 2002

Sutton is a community that gets everyone involved and offers a wide range of clubs and facilities. Indeed, the village operates a scheme whereby new clubs are given six free lets of the Parish Community Room, enabling them to get established without funds in hand. Groups that have been established in this way include: a garden club, wine interest group, needlework club, bobbin lace makers and mother & baby group.

For older members of the community, Sutton has two sheltered housing schemes and also runs the Triangle Day Care Club which meets every week for a cooked luncheon, and organises a variety of activities and outings. As well as this, the village also operates a Tea & Chat club and an Over Sixties club. The village charity, ’Sutton Poor’s Land Charity’, also funds medical phone alarms so that elderly can stay at home knowing that help is available at the push of a button.

Younger people in Sutton are also catered for with the large number of activities and clubs available, ranging from Scouts, Guides and sports clubs, to a youth club boasting 80% membership from within the parish. Younger members of the community are also supported by the village charity, with school leavers receiving grants towards tools for apprenticeships or books for university.

Local businesses also play a major role in community life. For example, Jardin’s Corrugated Cases Ltd set up an IT unit to train its staff but also opened it up to members of the village. Many of the village’s businesses also support their employees in joining the village’s Retained Fire Service.

Sutton is the 2002 Calor Village of the Year, having won the regional title for Eastern England & Home Counties and the Young People and IT categories for the region.

Judges’ Comments
"Sutton is a lively and energetic community which puts much thought and effort into maintaining first class facilities."