THE closing date for nominations for the 2008 Ken Willson Award is drawing near and organisers at the Yorkshire Dales Society are encouraging folk to get their details submitted.

Anyone may nominate a young person in the Dales who they believe merits consideration for the Award. The nominations for the 2008 Award will close on March 31st, 2008, and the young person concerned must be less than 30 years of age at that date.

He or she should live or work either within the National Park or Nidderdale AONB, or in an adjacent community, and have made an important contribution in one of the following five areas of activity:

• The protection and enhancement of the Dales’ natural or built environment;
• The understanding and enjoyment of the landscape, natural history or cultural heritage;
• The cultural life of the Dales through the arts or related cultural activity;
• The local economy including upland farming or forestry;
• The care and social well being of Dales’ communities.

The nomination will also have to be sponsored by two other people who know the nominee. One of the three sponsors must be a member of a recognised voluntary body, local authority, educational institution or religious body, who must be prepared, if required, to offer an independent character reference for that individual.

It is intended that the fourth annual award, which in 2008 will be a cash payment of £500, should recognise the added value made by the individual to his or her chosen field of work or voluntary activity, and should also help to support and further the Award winner’s future career or chosen field of activity.

This annual cash award of £500, made jointly by the Craven Branch of CPRE and the Yorkshire Dales Society, has already had some outstanding winners. 2008 is the fourth year of the Award, and both organisations are very much hoping that similar excellent candidates will be nominated.

“This year, the very early Easter holiday has been a complicating factor, and we hope that this will not prevent nominations coming in. If you know of any individuals who might merit such an award, or if you can spread the word to any organisations you may be in touch with, we would be most grateful”, say organisers.

“£500 can make a useful difference to someone’s life at perhaps a critical stage of their career.

“There is nothing in the rules to prevent previous candidates who were not successful from being re-nominated, provided they have not reached their 30th birthday by 31st March 2008.”