Our Rural Community Awards are now open!

News
Tim Gilpin, from our Rural & Regeneration Unit, with our Chair Professor Peter Roberts, Patricia McQuillan from our Rural Resident’s Forum and Robert Clements, our Sustainable Development Unit Manager launched the Rural Community Awards at this year’s Balmoral Show
Tim Gilpin, from our Rural & Regeneration Unit, with our Chair Professor Peter Roberts, Patricia McQuillan from our Rural Resident’s Forum and Robert Clements, our Sustainable Development Unit Manager launched the Rural Community Awards at this year’s Balmoral Show

Villages across Northern Ireland are being urged to enter our Rural Community Awards to be in a chance of winning prizes worth £1,000.

With a total prize fund of £6,000 available, community and residential groups in rural areas can apply for three awards; Cleaner and Greener, Rural Community Spirit and Sustainable Village of the Year.

Each of these awards will have two categories, one for villages with a population of less than a 1,000 and one for villages with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents, with a prize of £1,000 up for grabs for each category.

The awards, which are now in their sixth year, recognise rural communities that have gone the extra mile to make their neighbourhoods a better place to live. This could be by organising a community clean-up, introducing health and well-being initiatives or developing projects that improve community relations.

Tim Gilpin, from our Rural and Regeneration Unit, explains how the application process works:

“We have made applying for the awards as simple as possible. All you have to do is complete a short form.  This form can be downloaded from our website or by contacting the Rural and Regeneration Unit on 028 95 982 502.

“To be considered for the Sustainable Village of the Year award, groups must apply for both the Rural Community Spirit and Cleaner and Greener awards. They should also write a 500 word statement that outlines steps that they have taken to shape the future of their village.

“For example, this could be projects that encourage biodiversity, protect local wildlife, create new jobs in the community or help residents lower their carbon footprint.”

Completed forms should be emailed to rural.housing@nihe.gov.uk or sent to Rural and Regeneration, Housing Executive, the Housing Centre, 2 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8PB.

The deadline for submission of applications is 4pm Wednesday 31st July 2019.

To download an application form please click the 'download application form' button below.