Assessment and Judging Process
Once your application form has been received a date for an initial judge’s visit will be made in July/August
Timeline
June Competition launched and application forms submitted
16th July Deadline for applications
July/August: Initial visits by judge to all villages entering the competition
Sept Short listed villages visited by a panel of judges
Oct: Winners receive awards at CCD Conference
Judges
All Devon Village of the Year competition judges have been selected because of their experience of and background with village competitions and the organisations involved with running those events.
The judges are independent and give their services to the Devon Village of the Year Competition on a voluntary basis. The Organisers do not influence the judging teams in their task and abide by their decisions. The Judges’ decision is final.
Feedback to villages will be available after the Devon Village of the Year Competition judging
Judges’ visit
The judge will spend up to two hours visiting your village.
They will expect some form of presentation
The style and format of your presentation is entirely up to you. Please remember that this is your opportunity to tell the judges what your community has achieved. Plan your presentation and involve as many organisations and individuals representative of your community.
There are no limits on the number of people who can be present or who can speak. We have found that some villages like to have representatives from different organisations to make “mini” presentations on their particular roles in village life. Others have made presentations using three or four key speakers. Limit each speaker to a set time.
Some villages have mounted presentations by inviting organisations to arrange displays (usually in the village hall) and have representatives present to speak to the judges.
The size of the presentation audience has varied from two to two hundred, depending upon style of presentation chosen. If villagers are interested in coming along, please feel free to encourage them.
If you feel that your case will be helped by showing the judges aspects of your village this must be accommodated within the two hours. It will save you time if you have transport organised in advance. As a general rule, although judges will be interested to see a village, they have really come to hear from the village people about community life. Do not use up your precious time with too much historical background.
What is important to the judges is the impression of your village they take away with them. They will already have read about the village through your entry form. Use the presentation to expand on this and make your village “come to life” - a good yardstick might be – make the judges feel they want to live in your village – it’s that good!
If you wish to provide light refreshments to the judges during their two hour visit, this will be much appreciated. However, they will not be able to give marks for the quality of the biscuits or sandwiches, no matter how good!
