South Somerset Together is best - that's official! (From This is The West Country)

South Somerset Together is best - that's official!

3:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

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A PARTNERSHIP of organisations from South Somerset has been crowned Best Local Strategic Partnership 2010 at this year’s national Community Partnership Awards.

In a contest of David and Goliath proportions, South Somerset Together, which includes agencies, businesses and voluntary organisations across the district, impressed judges with its ability to deliver results on a shoestring budget and outshone the work of much larger partnerships in Liverpool and Fife.

Judges who presented South Somerset District Council with the award said that South Somerset Together has “a focus on changing lives with a small amount of money”, is “proactive in encouraging innovation” and “shows good examples of breaking through barriers.”

Paull Robathan, chairman of South Somerset Together, said: "There are some things that cannot be improved without involvement from all of the relevant organisations and that is why working together is incredibly important.

“This award confirms what partners of South Somerset Together already know; that we have real commitment to improve the quality of life of everyone in South Somerset, working together to tackle the really difficult issues that are needed to help us live more sustainable lives within environmental limits.”

The London awards ceremony brought together a host of top authorities, partnerships and community organisations to celebrate the best in partnership working.

All at the gala evening were vying for top awards across 15 categories.

The awards, which are run in association with the Local Government Chronicle and Health Service Journal, focus on recognising the understated achievements of a wide range of community partnerships, from regenerating struggling communities to tackling health inequalities and improving life for generations to come.

Judges paid particular attention to the ambitious Shaping South Somerset: A Strategy for Sustainable Communities, which was launched by the partnership last year.

Informed by the views of communities from across the district, the document sets how organisations can work together better, reduce duplication, improve the local quality of life and make a thriving, low carbon South Somerset a reality.

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