IN WHAT has been a record-breaking year for Shanklin Football Club and Shanklin Voluntary Youth and Community Centre, both organisations are raising the prestigious Green Flag Award. 

Both organisations celebrated being recipients of the award, for maintaining locations around Shanklin, with partner organisations.

The Isle of Wight’s High Sheriff, Graham Biss, together with Cllr Paul Brading, the chairman of Lake Parish Council, Shanklin FC’s John Shannon and Shanklin VYCC’s Paul Harris, collected the flag recently. 

The High Sheriff said: "The news Shanklin FC and Shanklin VYCC has achieved the accreditation — the international quality mark for parks and green spaces — is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space everyone can enjoy." 

Echoing his sentiments, was Cllr Brading.

He added: “Shanklin FC and VYCC looks after vital green spaces for the community in Shanklin, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

"The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award. Everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”  

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager, Paul Todd, added his congratulations to both organisations.