TIME is quickly running out for communities throughout the county to enter the 2007 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Community Life Awards. Leaflets were sent out to the county s villages, market towns, community groups, community buildings and pubs back

TIME is quickly running out for communities throughout the county to enter the 2007 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Community Life Awards.

Leaflets were sent out to the county's villages, market towns, community groups, community buildings and pubs back in February.

And since then the Ely Standard has been promoting the awards to East Cambridgshire under the name of parent company, Archant.

However, while many groups have put together their entries, there are some great community projects and personalities that could miss out on an opportunity for recognition and a cash prize.

The deadline for the awards, which are organised by Cambridgeshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) with sponsorship provided by Calor in association with Archant, publisher of the Ely Standard and others, is Saturday, June 30.

So to make sure you do not miss out, here is what the awards are all about and what you have to do:

The awards fall into three different areas:

The Cambridgeshire Volunteer Awards, sponsored by Cambridgeshire County Council, are a chance to nominate those local heroes and unsung volunteers for their outstanding contribution to community life. The awards are a symbol of the county's appreciation of individual voluntary effort.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Village of the Year award, sponsored by Calor, recognises community spirit and achievement at a village level. The prize is £1,000 for the village to spend however it wishes. The winning village will have the added honour of being nominated to go forward and represent Cambridgeshire in the Calor Village of the Year for England competition.

Aspects of Community Life, sponsored by Archant, publisher of the Ely Standard, and other local businesses, will give community groups and locally-run facilities recognition for the positive impact they have on different aspects of community life. Winners will benefit from cash awards of between £200 and £500. The categories available for entries are: Children and Young People in the Community; Older People in the Community; Environment and the Community; Heritage in the Community; Enterprise in the Community; Learning in the Community; Community Pub of the Year; and Community Building of the Year.

Alison Brown, awards co-ordinator, said: "I want to encourage as many communities as possible to get involved in these awards. Entering can be a very positive activity for a community because often they don't realise just how much they've got going on until they actually collect the information together.

"The closing date is approaching, but there is still plenty of time for communities to enter if they act now."

INFORMATION: Visit the awards website at www.communitylifeawards.org.uk. All the guidelines and entry/nomination forms can be downloaded from there. You can also request an entry pack by calling the Community Life Awards co-ordinators, Alison Brown on 01353 865029, or Julie Weekes on 01353 865032.

Winners will be announced at the awards dinner on September 4 at the Burgess Civic Hall in St Ives.

# THE South Cambridgeshire village of Orwell was selected from the many entries received as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Village of the Year 2006. The judges chose Orwell as the winner because of its achievements in many different aspects of village life, from caring for older residents to the way business is supported in the community. The judges were impressed with "the enthusiasm and dedication of those involved" and described it as "really refreshing to see". They added: "Hopefully, their success in this year's competition will inspire them to keep up the good work."

Marilynn Lawton, one of the panel of Orwell residents who put their entry together, was given a preview of the new Community Life Awards website.

She said: "The Community Life Awards website looks great and I am delighted to see that the awards have been expanded beyond Village of the Year, to draw together all aspects of community life. Entering last year's competition really brought Orwell together as a community and I hope other villages and community groups will think about entering - I'm sure they would enjoy it as much as we did."

INFORMATION: To read more about the village of Orwell visit their website, www.orwellvillage.co.uk