PRIME Minister David Cameron was full of praise for Chester’s Blacon Community Trust as it was named the latest winner of the government’s Big Society Award.

The charity has been working with the Blacon community for the past 27 years to build a better area for its residents by providing education and welfare support to children and families through different projects, and reducing energy use for the area as a model for other UK communities.

Some of these innovative activities have included a furniture reuse project, a minibus service for elderly residents, and a programme to encourage cycling.

And the trust’s successful summer and winter festivals have played an important role in attracting more than 4,000 visitors to the community.

Residents have also taken part in Sustainable Blacon’s Low Carbon Communities Challenge, a national scheme funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change that aims to reduce energy consumption. Estimates have shown household energy use has fallen significantly in the first year.

Blacon Community Trust was nominated for the national Big Society Award by Cheshire West and Chester Council, as a recognition of the hard work the charity has done to transform Blacon over the years, and was presented with the award by Communities Minister Andrew Stunell at Sustainable Blacon’s recent Eco Convention.

The Prime Minister said the trust has worked ‘incredibly hard’ to make a ‘huge difference’ to the community.

“Through its wide range of services and support for innovative projects such as Sustainable Blacon the Blacon Community Trust has shown how a strong community can make a huge difference, and they have absolutely succeeded in their aim to make Blacon a better place to be,” he added.

“Blacon Community Trust has worked incredibly hard to transform the area, engaging local residents and organisations, and building a real sense of community spirit.

“Congratulations to everyone at the Trust, the volunteers and the whole community.

“They are a fantastic example of what the Big Society can achieve.”

Clare Babbs, Chair of Blacon Community Trust, welcomed the accolade, describing Blacon as a ‘brilliant community’.

“It’s an honour for Blacon Community Trust to receive the Big Society Award from the Prime Minister,” she said.

“Blacon Community Trust has worked very hard recently to ensure sustainability and it’s great that the drive and commitment of the residents, volunteers and organisations working in Blacon, together with that of our staff, has been recognised. “Blacon is a brilliant community to live and work in. It has real heart. Organisations make things possible but it’s local people here that make things happen – and keep them going.”