Search begins for Gloucestershire’s top village!
Posted on: 20 February 2025
The search begins for the county’s top village as Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) launches its Gloucestershire Village of the Year Competition 2025.
The competition is an opportunity for communities to show that they are balanced, proactive, caring and making the best of local opportunities to sustain or enhance the quality of life for all their residents. It is open to villages with a parish council or parish meeting with a total population of under 5,000. Entry forms are available now to download from the GRCC website at grcc.org.uk and the deadline for entries is Wednesday, 30 April 2025.
Villages will be judged on five categories:
- Community Led Health and Wellbeing
- Climate & Environment
- Inclusive Community
- Digital & Innovation
- High Sheriff’s Volunteer of the Year Award
After the judges’ visits have taken place in May/June, representatives from the shortlisted communities will be invited to the awards ceremony on 17 July at Highnam Court, where the achievements of those who have taken part will be celebrated and the winners announced.
A cheque for £2,000, together with a framed commemorative certificate and plaque, will be awarded to the overall winner as well as to each of the individual category winners. Category runners up will each receive £1,000, a framed certificate and plaque.
This year’s competition features a special award from the High Sheriff for Volunteer of the Year.
Tewkesbury Borough Council is proud to be sponsoring the competition alongside One Gloucestershire, Barnwood, Renishaw, Cotswold and Stroud District Councils, and Freeman Homes, with support from the local media and Cotswold Life.
Cllr Richard Stanley, Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said, “We are delighted to support the Gloucestershire Village of the Year Competition 2025. This initiative not only highlights the incredible efforts of our local communities, but also encourages a spirit of unity and pride.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for villages to showcase their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all residents. I look forward to finding out more about the innovative and inspiring ways our villages are making a difference.”
Barbara Piranty, GRCC’s CEO said, “We are excited to be running the competition again for 2025, and hope that our communities take this opportunity to showcase all the good things they are doing. We have experienced turbulent times in the past five years and we hope this will be a celebration of how villages have come together to support each other and thrive.”
The GRCC team are on hand to advise on the completion of entry forms and can be contacted via the GRCC website or by calling 01452 528491.
