Big Lottery Fund and the BBC have joined forces to launch Village SOS, a £3 million competition aiming to use business and enterprise as a means to revitalise rural communities up and down the UK.

Six rural villages (three in England, plus one each in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) with a population of less than 3,000 residents will be given grants worth up to £400,000 and asked to come up with community enterprise ideas that will regenerate their area, create new jobs and improve the quality of life for local people. 

The successful projects will be featured on a six-part TV series to be screened on the BBC next winter. 

Third sector groups, including charities, community groups and social enterprises, are able to apply on behalf of their local village. 

Applications are made via a two-stage process, with villages successful at the initial stage asked to work alongside a “Village Champion” – specially selected individuals with a successful business track record – to develop their enterprising ideas.

 Launching the contest, Sir Clive Booth, chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “While rural village life is in decline, we believe that many villages are sitting on a range of untapped potential that, with the strength of the community behind them, can be turned into thriving businesses. “Village SOS will leave a genuine legacy for each of the villages involved and ultimately, we hope, will inspire other villages, showing them what can be achieved when communities work together.” 

Stage one applications must be made by 14 August.

Between 20 and 30 entries will be invited to work alongside “Village Champions” to complete more in-depth applications from November, with development grants worth up to £10,000 available to help them prepare their proposals. 

For further information about the Village SOS competition, visit the Big Lottery Fund website (opens a new window) 

Alternatively, check out the Village SOS pages on the BBC website (opens a new window) Source: Big Lottery Fund, 02/06/2009