Four grand up for grabs in new Rural Community Awards

The Housing Executive has launched a new scheme to reward rural communities working to better their areas.

The inaugural Rural Community Awards 2014 was launched at the Balmoral Show and aims to improve community spirit within rural neighbourhoods by offering four prizes of £1000 to help and support communities.

The competition has two categories, The Cleaner and Greener Award and The Community Spirit Award, open to all rural neighbourhoods and not just Housing Executive estates.

Within each category are two prizes, one for villages with a population of less than 1000 and one for populations of 1000-4500.

Tim Gilpin, the Rural Co-Ordinator for the Housing Executive, said the awards were introduced after young people highlighted their concern that not enough was being done to protect and enhance their villages.

You can download the application form at http://www.nihe.gov.uk/news-rural-community-awards

Deadline is Friday 6 June 2014 at 4pm.