News Item (04-10-2007)

Hosted by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which administers Biffaward, this year’s ceremony was held at Manchester’s historic Victoria Baths - currently benefiting from its own Biffaward grant towards restoration and conservation. 

The aim of the annual event – now in its ninth year – is to celebrate the achievements of the community and environmental projects supported by Biffaward and to highlight the diversity of work made possible by its grants through the Landfill Communities Fund.   

Presenting the prizes to Long Whatton Cricket Club, Guest of Honour, Peter Jones OBE, said: “The Biffaward Awards is an opportunity to applaud those who have had the determination and commitment to make a real difference to their local communities and environments and I congratulate everyone involved in this project. The judges had an extremely difficult task in choosing the overall winner but Long Whatton Cricket Club demonstrated the very best sort of community project and obviously hit them for six! 

2007 is the tenth anniversary of Biffaward and during this time a tremendous amount has been achieved by more than a thousand funded projects; Long Whatton Cricket Club is an excellent example of just what can be achieved by local people with drive, enthusiasm and tenacity – together with a modest level of funding to make the project possible.    

Biffaward supports a huge range of projects the length and breadth of the UK and we gain a great deal of satisfaction from providing funding which can help to improve people’s lives and environments in so many different ways.  In 2008 the total amount awarded by Biffaward will reach £100 million and I know that this year’s winners will provide inspiration for even more groups to benefit from this funding in the future.”    

The shortlisted projects ranged from a programme to assist the recovery of one of the UK’s favourite animals, the otter, to the creation of all weather sports facilities and wildlife habitat restoration.  Each competed for one of four category prizes, and then for the honour of becoming the Overall Winner for 2007.  

The category winners were:

• Buildings for Community and Culture: Rock Village Hall, near Bewdley in Worcestershire
• Community Outdoor Recreation: The Phoenix Project, St Michaels Square Community Group, Gloucester
• Natural Environment: Lea Rivers Trust, Lower Lea Otter Project, London
• Small Grants (and Overall Winner): Long Whatton Cricket Club, Leicestershire