Shanklin Voluntary Youth & Community Centre (SVYCC) and Shanklin FC are celebrating after securing a prestigious Green Flag Award for their community space in Shanklin.
The award, which is recognised internationally as the quality mark for parks and green spaces, places Shanklin VYCC among 2,250 sites across the UK to meet the high standards required.
Volunteers have worked tirelessly to maintain the community space on Victoria Avenue as well as the County Ground – home of Shanklin FC – and other sites in the town. The Green Flag Award is seen as a testament to the dedication of the team who help ensure the green spaces remain accessible and enjoyable for both residents and visitors.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, has said:
“Congratulations to everyone involved with Shanklin VYCC and Shanklin FC who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.
“Quality parks and green spaces like that at Victoria Avenue and the County Ground make the country a healthier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.
“Crucially, Victoria Avenue is a vital green space for communities in Shanklin to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
SVYCC Leader Mark Biddlecombe said the award reflected the dedication of local people:
“Thanks to Christine and all the volunteers at the Club, the Green Space is just one of the activities available at the Centre, for example our involvement with local Carnivals this summer.”
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. It recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark for the management of green spaces both across the United Kingdom and around the world.
