Visa and the British Retail Consortium have recently announced the winners of their 2025 Let’s Celebrate Towns awards, with six UK communities being recognized for their outstanding efforts in promoting local economic and community growth. Each of these towns will receive a generous grant of £20,000 to support their ongoing projects and initiatives.
The Let’s Celebrate Towns awards were launched in 2019 as part of Visa’s commitment to supporting local communities and businesses across the UK. The aim of the awards is to recognize and celebrate the efforts of towns that are working towards creating a more vibrant and prosperous future for their residents.
After a rigorous selection process, six towns have been chosen as the winners of the 2025 Let’s Celebrate Towns awards. These towns are Bury St Edmunds, Cheltenham, Coleraine, Colwyn Bay, Derry/Londonderry, and Llandudno. Each of these towns has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting economic growth, community development, and cultural diversity.
Bury St Edmunds, located in the heart of Suffolk, has been recognized for its efforts in revitalizing its town center and promoting local businesses. The town has seen a significant increase in footfall and economic activity, thanks to its innovative initiatives such as the Bury St Edmunds Independent Business Association and the Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival.
Cheltenham, known for its beautiful Regency architecture and vibrant cultural scene, has been awarded for its commitment to promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local businesses. The town has implemented various initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and has also launched a successful Shop Local campaign to encourage residents to support independent businesses.
Coleraine, a picturesque town on the north coast of Northern Ireland, has been recognized for its efforts in promoting community cohesion and cultural diversity. The town has a strong sense of community spirit and has implemented various initiatives to celebrate its diverse population, including the Coleraine Multicultural Festival and the Coleraine Community Garden.
Colwyn Bay, a seaside town in North Wales, has been awarded for its efforts in promoting sustainable development and supporting local businesses. The town has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as the Colwyn Bay Plastic Free campaign, and has also launched a successful Buy Local campaign to support local businesses.
Derry/Londonderry, a vibrant city in Northern Ireland, has been recognized for its efforts in promoting economic growth and community development. The city has seen a significant increase in investment and job creation, thanks to its innovative initiatives such as the Derry City and Strabane District Council Business Boost Programme and the Derry City Centre Regeneration Project.
Llandudno, a popular seaside resort in North Wales, has been awarded for its efforts in promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local businesses. The town has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as the Llandudno Plastic Free campaign, and has also launched a successful Shop Local campaign to encourage residents to support independent businesses.
The Let’s Celebrate Towns awards have not only recognized the efforts of these six towns, but they have also provided them with a much-needed boost to continue their work towards creating a better future for their communities. The £20,000 grant will go a long way in supporting their ongoing projects and initiatives, and will also help to attract more investment and visitors to these towns.
In addition to the grant, the winning towns will also receive support and guidance from Visa and the British Retail Consortium to help them further develop their projects and initiatives. This partnership between Visa and the British Retail Consortium highlights the importance of collaboration and community support in promoting local economic growth and community development.
The Let’s Celebrate Towns awards have not only recognized the efforts of these six towns, but they have also provided them with a platform to showcase their achievements and inspire other towns to follow in their footsteps. These towns have proven that with determination, innovation, and community support, anything is possible.
As we look towards the future, it is heartening to see that there are towns like Bury St Edmunds, Cheltenham, Coleraine, Colwyn Bay, Derry/Londonderry, and Llandudno that are working towards creating a better and brighter future for their communities. The Let’s Celebrate Towns awards have not only recognized their efforts, but they have also given us hope and motivation to continue supporting and celebrating our local communities. Congratulations to all the
