A SOCIAL enterprise that supports elderly people and a village pub and butchers that provide a lifeline for rural residents have been shortlisted for a national awards final.
South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) in Corwen and The Golden Lion and Clwyd Williams Butchers in Llandyrnog have been listed as finalists in the Wales section of this year’s Countryside Alliance Awards (CAA), the annual ‘Rural Oscars’ run by the farming and rural development not-for-profit.
The CAA shortlisted just four Welsh businesses for each of its categories: Local Food/Drink, Village Shop/ Post Office, Butcher, Rural Enterprise and Pub.
The South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) is listed in the Rural Enterprise category for those seen as “a growing asset to its community and making a real contribution”.
The Corwen charity, which covers the Edeyrnion area, started a number of new services and activities last year including its meals on wheels service, ‘dial-a-ride’ scheme and community car hire to name a few. It has also gained £295,000 for 192 residents by helping with their benefit claims, council tax and problem debt.
• ‘Meals on wheels’ to be rolled out for isolated and elderly in Corwen
Sally Lloyd Davies, SDCP community engagement and development manager, said: “Everyone involved with SDCP is delighted and proud to have our work recognised in this way and can justifiably feel like winners already for being shortlisted.
“Our agenda is to improve the health and wellbeing of the community we serve by providing opportunities to connect and keep learning, and to help support residents to not only feel engaged but also empowered to help their community be sustainable for future generations.”
Meanwhile, the Llandyrnog pub The Golden Lion and butchers Clwyd Williams were shortlisted in the Pub and Butcher categories respectively.
The Pub category awards those that “tell a positive story about rural life while championing local food and drink”.
Iain Robertson, owner of the Golden Lion Inn, said: "To be in the last four in the whole of Wales is such a massive achievement and pays credit to our team and great customers.
"It is such a great feeling to be recognised and that all those hours of work have been paid off."
The CAA's Butcher category awards a “traditional butchery at the heart of the enterprise” or that has “brought a modern twist to this ancient skill”.
Daniel Jones, co-owner of Clwyd Williams Butchers, said: “It just shows customers appreciate what we are doing at the shop and all the hard work that goes in to it
“There is so much more we want to improve and bring to the shop.”
The judging for the regional finalists will take place in May, with the winners visiting the UK finals at the House of Lords in June.
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