<p> ALL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD</p><p>This competition is open to villages with a population of up to 5,000 .</p><p>What are the judges looking for? A meeting will be arranged when judges and villagers can talk about their community activities.</p><p>Is the village making the most of what it has got? How does it deal with its deficiencies so that residents can still lead a full life?</p><p>Is the community making the best of local opportunities in order, to enhance and sustain a better quality of life for all inhabitants?</p><p>Is the pulse of the village racing or sluggish? Could it do with a boost?</p><p>The competition covers four aspects which are </p><p>Community Local facilities, young people, senior citizens. Business What part do local businesses play in village life? Sustainability How is the community looking after its environment? Communications How are all sections of the community given information? Does the community have its say in village life?</p><p>A lack of facilities does not preclude entering the competition as the judges are looking to see how your community copes with the loss of e.g. Post Office, shop, chemist or bank. Are any new initiatives being set up to help residents?</p><p>How do young and old people interact with village life e.g. older people helping in school reading schemes etc? Or younger ones being encouraged to express opinions or actively participate.</p><p>Community life covers the welcome of visitors or newcomers to the village. Are there village publications? What activities are organised in the village meeting places? Do local people serve on management committees? </p><p>How many groups are there in the village, large or small?</p><p>The business section can cover large, small, or ‘one man’ businesses in the home.</p><p>For those villages which have a website, it is necessary for it to be kept up to date and easy to navigate the various links. Are there opportunities in the village to use the internet?</p><p>Many villages are active in all spheres, but what makes your village different?</p><p>It is essential that the form is completed to show everything that is happening from the normal to the unusual. It may need more than one person to provide all the information.</p><p>When the form is completed it is sometimes amazing to see just how much activity is taking place.</p>