As part of its work in the community the Billingshurst Community Partnership has organized a “Youth Projects Team, lead by Denise Campbell, which runs a weekly youth club at the village hall as well as a programme of activities from graffiti workshops to dance nights and youth band events.

Denise also encourages youngsters to volunteer their time for local businesses and community groups with the innovative YES project (Youth Enterprise Scheme). This now has a number of teenagers spending some four hours a week helping in the community, in exchange for credits for vouchers or day trips of their choice.

The Community Partnership received their award, from the Duke of Richmond, at a celebration event held in the village hall. The Richmond Award, launched in 2006, is designed to recognize the work of a community or an individual considered by AirS staff to have done the most to encourage and ensure that young people remain in their local community.

The Duke, who was President of AirS from 1973 to 2005 said: "Through the work of Action in rural Sussex, staff come across many examples of good work designed to make sure that rural villages can be places that young people want to stay and build their lives in,"

This award is a compliment to the Billingshurst Community Partnership in general and Denise and her youth team in particular and we were proud to receive it.

Patrick Perks Chairman