GRCC Launches Gloucestershire Village of the Year 2025
STOP PRESS Thursday 17th July 2025
We're all set for our awards ceremony this evening, and really looking forward to seeing everyone - all the representatives of the competing villages, and all our other guests. Rain is NOT forecast for the event, but it might be a good idea to bring an umbrella just in case of the odd unexpected shower. If rain does persist, we will be able to move indoors for the main awards ceremony. Do call us if you need any more information, and do allow time for the inevitable rush-hour traffic! See you later!
On Wednesday 5th February we launched Gloucestershire Village of the Year 2025. The launch announcement was made by our CEO Barbara Piranty on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, where Barbara also explained the background to the competition and its aim of celebrating community life and community achievements throughout our county. You can listen to the item on BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Nicky Price show via BBC Sounds here (scroll to two hours and twelve minutes into the programme, and the item lasts for about 20 minutes).
There are four categories in the competition, each with a £2,000 prize for the category winner and a £1,000 prize for the category runner-up. The categories are: Community-led Health and Wellbeing, Climate & Environment, Inclusive Community, and Digital & Innovation. There is also another £2,000 prize for the overall winner, and £1,000 for the overall runner-up, plus a framed certificate and a plaque for each. In addition, villages can nominate their star volunteers for the High Sheriff's Volunteer of the Year award, which also forms part of the Village of the Year competition this time.
You can find full details, and the competition entry form, on our Village of the Year 2025 web page. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 30th April, judging visits will take place in May and June, and the awards evening will be held at Highnam Court on July 17th.
Photo above: Dymock was the overall Gloucestershire Village of the Year winner in 2014, the last time the competition was held. Pictured left to right outside the village's Beauchamp Arms Community Pub and Shop, to mark the launch of Village of the Year 2025, are Barbara Piranty (GRCC CEO), Charles Coats (GRCC Chair of Trustees), Debbie Downham, Jeremy Downham, Cllr. Gill Kilmurray, and Parish Clerk Rachel Freestone.
