Villages are encouraged to now enter and bring their submissions alive in any way they wish including photos, videos, even drone footage, to help judges to understand how their community works together for the benefit of all.  

Cash prizes of £200 will be awarded to the winners of the large and small villages to be invested in projects to benefit the community and celebrate their success.

Staffordshire firm Richard Winterton Auctioneers are again headline sponsors and the success from adding ‘community’ into the competition has also attracted other supporters from across the county. This includes Stafford’s Canalside Farm Shop, The Owen Family Trust, Mill Dam Trust, Newcastle’s Excello Law, Cannock’s KGL Estates and both MoLo Cleaning Services and Homes Plus from Stafford.

For more information and to enter visit: www.staffordshire.foundation/partnershipsinitiatives/bkvc/ or call The Community Foundation’s BKVC Manager Jo Cooper on 01785 339540. 

Jo Cooper said: “We want our communities to have pride in where they live but not just because their flowerbeds are the prettiest. The Best Kept Village Community competition is about encouraging and celebrating a local community’s friendships, togetherness, and a shared sense of belonging. 

“Post Covid it’s important that the competition reflects society. Perfectly planted pots are welcome but the judges want to see how rural life has a sense of community.” 

Best known for being on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, Richard Winterton is going to visit every single village that enters. He said: "After the last few challenging years it's so fitting that BKVC will focus on the community element while never losing sight of the roots.

"We are so proud to be the countywide sponsor of BKVC, bringing together a wonderfully diverse melting pot of talented communities which all have one thing in common - they are infused with a splendid Staffordshire spirit. It is a perfect fit for Richard Winterton Auctioneers - the Winterton family has been Staffordshire's auctioneers for seven generations now since 1864. We are very much looking forward to meeting even more people from all over the county and hearing what makes their community special to them."  

Jo Cooper from The Community Foundation for Staffordshire said: “I’m delighted that Richard Winterton Auctioneers is again our headline sponsor.  As someone who lives in a rural area, he knows a wonderful place villages can be.

“And I’m thrilled to welcome such supporting organisations as Canalside Farm Shop, The Owen Family Trust, Mill Dam Trust, Excello Law, KGL Estates, MoLo Cleaning Services and Homes Plus who wish to celebrate all aspects of rural, but most importantly community life.”

Picture caption: (L) BKVC Main Sponsor Richard Winterton of Richard Winterton Auctioneers and Jo Cooper (R) of the Community Foundation for Staffordshire, manager of Best Kept Village Community Competition