About Village SOS

How to take part

The deadline for applications was 14 August 2009. The selection process has started. The six successful village teams will be chosen in May 2010 and filming for a major BBC One series will start. The programme will air in winter 2010 and will follow the new enterprises from start-up to trading.

Village SOS also aims to make an impact beyond the six villages featured in the TV series with a major BBC Learning campaign to promote rural enterprise across the UK.

Villages with a bright idea

Rural villages with fewer than 3,000 people and an idea for a new business to bring energy and life back to the community were encouraged to apply to take part in Village SOS.

The idea could be to set up a local shop, an online retail enterprise, a manufacturing, arts or tourism business, a festival, a venture involving the restoration of an ancient building - anything, as long as it has the potential to grow and make a profit for the village.

Any kind of voluntary or community group from a local festival committee to a village history society could apply. If there was no suitable organisation in the village already, then a group of like-minded people were welcome to apply through a newly-formed village group which BIG can help with if your village is shortlisted.

Each application is judged simply on the strength of the idea and the benefits it brings to the village. The plan should have wide support in the community.

Go to the BIG website to find out more about Village applications.

Village Champions

Someone with a successful track record in running a business or project and who likes the idea of living in a rural village and working for a community-run enterprise will be the ideal Village Champion.

You should have the charisma, confidence and know-how to help breathe new life into a rural community and to make the most of the local talent. You should also be prepared to move to the village to live and work there for a year.

To find out what villages will be looking for in a Village Champion go to the Village Champion section.

How Village SOS will work

Villages were invited to apply for a Big Lottery Fund grant of between £100,000 and £400,000. Around 18 villages will be shortlisted for a development grant of up to £10,000. The shortlisted villages will then choose a Village Champion from a pool of able candidates evaluated by the BBC and Make Your Mark, part of the charity Enterprise Insight.

Together, the villages and their Village Champion will develop a businesss plan. The six villages with the strongest business ideas will be funded with a full BIG grant plus a £30,000 pa gross salary for the Village Champion.

Key dates

• The deadline for all applications was noon on 14 August 2009
• BIG chooses the six village projects and BBC filming begins in May 2010
• Village SOS airs on BBC One in winter 2010 and documents the journey of the six villages and their Village Champions

Please note that the application process will take the best part of a year. For more details take a look at the timeline.

Help and advice

If you want more information about Village SOS take a look at our frequently asked questions section.