Four community projects from around the UK are hoping to paint a brighter future after reaching the final of a national competition.
The Osborne Partnership in Dagenham, MK SNAP in Milton Keynes, Pompey Place in Portsmouth and Farringdon Park Community Centre in Preston are the four finalists competing for the prize of a redecoration makeover of their facility in the Johnstone’s Paint Community Spirit campaign.More than 50 entries from projects around the UK were received and a shortlist created by a judging panel based on criteria such as the impact the project has on the community and the urgency for redecoration.
The final quartet will now face a public vote which will run until 13th February.
Votes can be cast by visiting www.johnstonestrade.com/communityspirit. Anyone who votes will be entered into a prize draw from which the winner will receive a pair of tickets to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final at Wembley on 22nd March.
The Osborne Partnership is a training centre for adults with learning disabilities and other disadvantaged groups, while Farringdon Park Community Centre is a volunteer-run venue which is re-opening after being closed for 18 months and allows residents to learn new skills.
Pompey Place will support hundreds of people of all ages and will be used as a community hub for education, social action and training, while MK SNAP offers professional support to people with a range of learning difficulties and challenges.
The campaign has been run in conjunction with football’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, which the leading paint manufacturer has now sponsored for nine years.
Each of the four finalists has received backing from its local professional football club – Dagenham and Redbridge, MK Dons, Portsmouth and Preston North End.
Ben Wilde, brand and sponsorship manager for Johnstone’s Paint, said: “We were thrilled with both the number and quality of entries we received from community projects right across the UK.
“It was an extremely difficult decision for our panel of judges to select the four finalists, but I think the public are going to have an even harder job now.
“The four community projects in the final all do fantastic work and, for different reasons, would all be worthy winners.
“There is no doubt that all four projects would benefit greatly from a redecoration makeover so the public’s decision will be very interesting.”
Johnstone’s has a long history as one of the UK’s foremost professional trade paint brands and is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2015.
Johnstone's Community Spirit Campaign - Farringdon Park, Preston
Johnstone's Community Spirit Campaign - MK Snap, Milton Keynes
Johnstone's Community Spirit Campaign - Osborne Partnership, Dagenham
Johnstone's Community Spirit Campaign - Pompey Place, Portsmouth