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This web site was officially launched in November 2000 and is the
work of a small band of dedicated villagers from Helmdon, Northamptonshire,
England.
It is a non-profit making community web site, run entirely by volunteers
in their spare time.
We've been lucky enough to have had our work recognised, and this
page serves as a "virtual trophy cabinet" where we can proudly
display our spoils! Our thanks go to all those that have taken the
time to review our web site, and consider it worthy of note.
The UK Villages Online Village Web Site Of
The Year 2003
In April 2003 this web site was acclaimed as the UK Villages Online
Web Site Of The Year for 2003.
Having been a monthly winner in March 2002 (see
below) we automatically qualified for the 2003 annual contest.
The competition from the other 11 monthly winners was stiff so it
is a huge accolade for us to have been voted as the UK's No. 1 village
web site.
Voting took place during March and people voted for their favourite
web site. Helmdon received twice as many votes as second place Groby,
whilst there was a tie for third between Laggan
and Lyneham
although any of the 12 finalists would have been worthy winners
and they all have their own strengths.
Village web sites tend to be run by local enthusiasts who act as
webmaster for their community in their spare time and, as such,
most village web sites tend to be a labour of love, so this recognition
from UK Villages Online is very welcome indeed.
The award for helmdon.com is a measure of how much the web site
is valued in the village. There are village web sites that have
better design, or are more clever technically, but the Helmdon web
site wins through on content and community spirit. So many people
have contributed to the web site since its launch in 2000. Whether
it is donating a photograph for the picture galleries, or writing
a report on one of the village events or activities, the web site
is seen as a valued resource by everyone around the world with a
connection to Helmdon. If you look at some of the comments people
made about the site at UK
Villages Online they are all about what a great place Helmdon
is... the web site simply provides a window on its past, present
and future.
We would like to thank everyone who voted for our site, and for
your very kind comments. Thanks too to the people at UK Villages
Online who took the trouble in 2001 to realise that such an award
was needed, and who run such a good web site resource for us village
webmasters!
Danny - Helmdon Webmonster
Simon Mayo's "Top 10 Community Web
Sites"
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helmdon.com was reviewed by BBC's Radio Five Live team as part of
Simon Mayo's regular "Top 10 Websites Of the Week" feature.
In April 2002 it was the turn of the "Top 10 Community Web Sites"
and the team picked out helmdon.com in 4th place saying "Towns
and villages across the UK are getting web-wise. Spreading news of
local events, community affairs and services is easy online - and
it puts even the smallest communities on the map. Information on Helmdon's
village trail, village groups and Golden Jubilee village carnival
is available on this clean, community website."
The UK Villages Online Web Site Of The Month
We were very lucky to scoop the UK Villages Online award for March
2002. This award scheme is currently regarded as the benchmark for
village web sites in the UK, so it is a prestigious award to be proud
of. Being a monthly winner means automatic qualification for the 2002/2003
Annual Award, so wish us luck and make sure to vote for us!
The UK Villages Online team said "Helmdon, Northamptonshire,
is a lovely clear and clean site which is well presented with plenty
of colour whilst remaining unspoilt by an overabundance of graphical
content - spot on Helmdon!
Very well maintained with a great deal of up to date and relevant
information, we can see that Helmdon has a web site to be proud
of for a long time to come. The web site is created and maintained
by members of the WEA (Workers' Educational Association) with sponsorship
from the Helmdon Parish Council."
The Amdow Web Design Community Website
Award 2002
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The 5 Signpost Award |
After looking at several community websites Amdow Web Design were
very impressed by the standard and quality of them, and appreciated
that a lot of time and effort goes into creating and maintaining
these sites, often for little or no reward.
"We, at Amdow Web Design, felt that some recognition of this
hard work should be given by the provision of our Community Website
Award 2001 and Community Website Award 2002. Any community website
that meets our criteria is capable of winning this worthy recognition.
We have found that most community websites we have looked at already
reach our standards, although a few do not (yet).
"We would expect at least 6 of these criteria to be met:
Regularly updated site.
Index page loads within an acceptable time.
Information is relevant to the community the site serves.
Site is easy to navigate for inexperienced surfers.
Provides for local readers to comment or contribute. Provides a
page of local links.
Includes a Guestbook for visitors.
Solid HTML construction.
Web sites are considered for a "Signpost" rating between
1 and 5.
We were pleased to award the Helmdon web site 5 signposts. Our
decision panels comments were "A well laid out site which is
about 18 months old. Very easily navigated and containing diverse
information and resources. Gives the impression of being well supported
by the local community. Provides information for both the local
population and to visitors. Particularly liked was the photographs
of the three contacts. A good example to follow".
The Future
So there you have it - quite a reputation to live up to! For more
background about this site please click here.
Thank you for your interest in Helmdon's web site and its achievements.
The site is regularly updated so please check back often.
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