ENTERPRISING rural North-East communities are being sought for a new BBC series.
The Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS scheme invites rural residents to create business ideas which would regenerate their community, create jobs, and improve quality of life in the area.
The scheme also requires business people to become ‘village champions’, to work with the successful villages to help develop their rural businesses.
The process will be filmed for a prime time BBC One documentary, which will be aired in winter 2010.
In November, 18 villages will be short-listed and offered a development grant of up to £10,000, and will choose a village champion to work with to develop their ideas.
In May 2010, six projects will receive up to £400,000 Lottery funding.
Villages must have a population below 3,000 people.
Village champions should have a successful business background, and be prepared to move to the area for a year if the village they are helping reaches the final six.
To apply, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/villagesos before August 14.
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