ACS

The Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Community Heroes Awards will again be searching for a star who has gone that extra mile for their neighbourhood. And in a twist to the competition the winner will be decided by an online vote with three finalists showcased on ACS' website.

The Community Heroes Awards, now in their second year, will be given to the retailers who show that they and their store staff have achieved something which makes a real difference to their community. The top prize is £1000.

Last year’s Community Heroes Awards winner Jillian Smyth, owner of a SPAR store in Belfast, worked with other local groups and showed her store to be an integral part of the community. Jillian said: “I was completely shocked to win the award and absolutely thrilled. At our store we put a lot back in to the community with our events so to win the award which recognises this is really special.”

The three finalists and their partners will all be given free places at ACS’ annual conference, Summit 07, and the Gala Dinner, sponsored by P&G, where the winner will be announced. Summit 07 will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 1 May.

James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “This is the second year we have run our Community Heroes Awards. Last year we had a great response and it was fantastic to see all the good work that independent retailers do within their communities. It is important to recognise publicly the valuable contribution many local retailers make to their neighbourhoods, which can range from local youth football team sponsorship to providing health check ups for the elderly.

“For the very first time, this year the winner will be decided by an online poll on our website. This means visitors to thelocalshop.com will decide whose contribution to the community deserves the prestigious accolade of being named ACS Community Hero 2007.”



Contact:

Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372978

Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001

Michael Saxton Grappa PR
020 74864448

Notes:


1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.

2. Entering the Awards is easy, all entrants have to do is answer six simple questions:

1) In the last year, what specific actions did you take to play a central role in your community?
2) Why did you take this action?
3) Did you work with other groups and organisations on these initiatives?
4) What role did your staff play in these initiatives?
5) What were the tangible results of this work? Where possible, please give measurable results.
6) How is this work sustainable for future years? What has been put in place to ensure the community continues to benefit?

3. For an entry form call ACS on 01252 515001. Entry forms must be returned by 23 March 2007 to Rachel Lawson, via post at Association of Convenience Stores, Federation House, 17 Farnborough Street, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 8AG; fax 01252 515002; or email to rachel.lawson@acs.org.uk.

4. All entries should include supporting materials, for example colour photographs, posters or flyers and press cuttings of events.

5. The finalists will be notified after 30 March whether they have been shortlisted.

6. The www.thelocalshop.com web poll will go live on 2 April.

7. The Awards are sponsored by P&G as part of their sponsorship of the Gala Dinner at Summit 07.

8. Attached is a picture of 2006’s Community Heroes Awards winner Jillian Smyth, who runs a SPAR store in Belfast. Jillian’s store organised ‘Clarawood in Bloom’, ran a “Check up at the Checkouts” day to focus on healthy eating, cooked free Christmas dinner for the local pensioners, and brought a youth club back into the community. The store worked with other local groups and showed itself to be an integral part of the community. For further information please contact Rachel Lawson at ACS on 01252 515001.