Stevenson Highlights Village of the Year Award

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the Calor Scottish Village of the Year Awards 2008 as an opportunity for community groups in his constituency to get national recognition for their efforts and put their village on the map. The awards focus on rewarding local community groups who have improved their local area for the common good.

The winner of the Awards in 2006 was the New Deer Community Association. A key factor in the group’s success was their strong demonstration of community spirit following the closure of the Clydesdale Bank in the village in 2005 and their success in persuading Royal Bank of Scotland to take over the local bank.

Commenting, Mr. Stevenson said:

“The Village of the Year Awards are an excellent opportunity for community groups to get due recognition for their achievements and the work they have put into bringing their community together for a collective cause.

“I was thrilled to see New Deer win the Village of the Year Awards in 2006 after successfully taking power into their own hands to save their local bank. With the previous victory of Whitehills, that is twice in five years that communities in Banff & Buchan have won this prestigious award.

“Banff & Buchan boasts a number of close villages with an exceptionally strong sense of community spirit so I have no doubt that we will have some strong contenders to offer this year.

“I would urge my constituents in the smaller towns and villages of Banff & Buchan to put themselves forward for this award for the opportunity to highlight their community’s efforts in bringing people together for the common good of their area.”
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Notes for News Editors:

The Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards seek to recognise and reward the efforts of community groups in improving their local area for the common good.

Supported by Calor Scotland in partnership with Communities Scotland and backed by The Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), the awards are open to any properly constituted community group in Scotland and carry a total prize fund of £5000.

Overall Calor Scottish Community of the Year: £2000 Category winners: £750

Entry to the Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards is free. The awards are open to any properly constituted community group in Scotland that meet the following criteria:

●A ‘not for profit’ local organisation or trust set up to improve the social, economic or environmental health of the local community
●Demonstration of a strong emphasis on the involvement of local individuals or groups active within the community
●Networks or forums acting within the localised community
●Entries should focus on initiatives that have taken place in the last two years. Re-entrants are required to demonstrate how the community has been enhanced or developed since its last entry.

More information on the awards can be found on
http://www.calorvillageoftheyear.org/index.html