Quality of Life Awards and Eco-Bash

This awards scheme is aimed at boosting awareness of Local Agenda 21 (LA21) and an interest in sustainable practices, and encouraging active participation by all to achieve a better quality of life.

Every year the Sustainable Development team hosts the Quality of Life Awards and Eco-Bash to promote sustainable lifestyles. The award scheme is to boost awareness and interest in sustainable practices and encourage active participation by all in aiming to achieve a better quality of life.

The categories for the award are local businesses, schools, and community / voluntary groups. The criteria for the award are outlined below. Winners of each category will receive due recognition.

Making an Application

If you would like to make an application for 2008 awards, please contact Gillian Chandler by e-mail to gchandler@swindon.gov.uk.

Judging Criteria

Projects will be judged against the following criteria: -

1. Does the project enhance the quality of life of the local community/school (visual, amenity value etc.)?
2. Does the project improve the environment (direct, indirect, local/global)?
3. Does the project attempt to encourage the involvement of the wider community and promote best practice?
4. Does the project demonstrate the principles of sustainability?
5. Does the application demonstrate how the project will be managed and include clear aims, objectives and monitoring arrangements?

Winners 2007

The overall winner of the 2007 Quality of Life Awards was Nyland School with their achievement of Eco-Schools project.

The other winners were:-

School winner - Orchid Vale won the schools category with the creation of a wildlife area.

School runner-up - Greendown Community School with their allotment project.  The allotment project will also be used to share best practice with other schools.

Community / voluntary winner - Lower Shaw Farm with the Wednesday Cafe.  The cafe serves Fairtrade, locally grown, homemade refreshments to the local community.

Community / voluntary runner-up - Penhill Orchard.  The orchard was set up to provide fresh fruit for those in Penhill and to raise awareness of healthy eating issues.  The project has been running since 2003.

Business winner - L.E.A.V.E.S (Local Enterprise and Voluntary Employment Scheme).  The project aims to conserve and enhance pockets of local urban woodlands for wildlife, wild flowers and trees.

Business runner-up - Wroughton Science Museum won this award with it's innovative education programme which aims to involve young people in the understanding of the heritage of their past.

Highly commended projects were:-

• Chiseldon Primary School
• Swindon Climate Action Network (SCAN)
• Swindon Real Nappy Network
• Twin Peaks (Walking group)