Village SOS Competition Awards

VILLAGE SOS, an initiative from the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC, is running a competition which will make awards of between £10,000 and £30,000 to support community enterprise in villages (with populations of less than 3,000).

The competition seeks to give money to enterprising ideas that will use the skills of local people and the area’s natural resources, land and buildings. Community enterprises are businesses that are owned and run by villagers themselves, such as village shops and pubs.

Village SOS highlight the fact that there are around 260 community-owned village shops currently thriving. They are distinguishable from private-sector enterprises by the fact that they re-invest any profits back into the community.

Entry forms for the competition can be submitted online, but must be done so by 5pm, on Thursday 20 October 2011. Find out more at www.villagesos.org.uk/competition