Evenley community is proud to be annouced as WINNERS of the ACRE Newcomers best village competition 2017 and runners-up in the Small village catagory for 2017.

Northamptonshire ACRE run a competition open to all villages with populations up to 6,000.  There are three different categories based on village size: Small, Medium and Large. There is also a special award for best ‘newcomer’ to the competition.

The judges look for at all aspects of village life:

• community and social activities
• local communication
• the village website
• the provision for young people and more senior residents
• the involvement of local businesses
• sustainability
• general tidiness
• the welcome given to visitors

They are also looking for villages that can demonstrate enterprise, initiative and community spirit in how the village cares for its inhabitants and how the village is looked after. They want to know not only what has been done in the past few years to help the community, but also about plans for this year.  The most successful villages in the competition have a group working on their application form rather than an individual.

For the first time in 2017; a group from Evenley Residents Association were asked by the then Parish Council to take forward an application on behalf of the village.  Mrs Kay Baul, the then chair of ERA worked with key people across the village to prepare an application and support ACRE on their visit to the village in May 2017.  The group included David Connoly, Josceline Hebblethwaite, Jean Morgan, Sue Waller and Carrie O'Regan with further support from Sandra at the village shop and others around the village.

In July 2017;  at a formal presentation at the High Barn, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Harksome Hill, Northampton, Barron Walton of ACRE was pleased to announce that Evenley village had won the "Newcomers" trophy AND runner up in the Small Village category, losing only to Blisworth village.   The 2017 ACRE press release can be seen by clicking here.

Evenley Parish Council also received a letter of congratulations from the Member of Parliment Mrs Andrea Leadsom MP; a copy of which can be seen by clicking here.