The following is a press release from Alun Cairns

Organisations playing a leading role in levelling up the Vale of Glamorgan have been nominated by local MP Alun Cairns for an award backed by Britain's leading businesses.

The Levelling Up Goals Awards recognise those people organisations that are committed to boosting opportunity and helping to level up the UK in the wake of COVID-19.

Local nominees Simon Baston Goodsheds developer, Karen Davies Chief Executive of Purple Shoots Charity and Harry Driscoll Director of Prince Resourcing were nominated by Alun Cairns MP.

MPs throughout the UK nominated organisations from their constituencies for the 14 different award categories which are focused on equality of opportunity at key life stages.

Local MP Alun Cairns said "each of these nominees have contributed massively to the levelling up of our community in the Vale.

Simon Basten's Goodsheds development has significantly improved the retail and hospitality sector in Barry and he should be rewarded for such enterprise.

Karen Davies as Chief Executive of Purple Shoots was nominated for notable charity work in widening access to savings & credit.

While Harry Driscoll led a campaign to narrow the digital divide by coordinating local business who donated disused computers and laptops to schools in Barry.

Each of these three nominees thoroughly deserve to be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Vale community over the last 12 months.'

The categories are based around the 'Levelling Up Goals' launched earlier this year including Successful School Years, Health and Wellbeing and Closing the Digital Divide.

The Awards have cross-party backing from Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP and Dame Margaret Hodge MP amongst others.

The Levelling Up Goals Awards are Co-Chaired by former Minister for Public Health and loneliness champion Seema Kennedy OBE and Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington.

Seema Kennedy OBE said: "A huge congratulations to those nominated for these awards who have already shown that they are playing a key role in helping their communities level up.

"The 2021 Levelling Up Goals Awards celebrate the great work going on in communities across the UK and the message of these awards is simple; Our country can recover from COVID-19, and it can also be a fairer country than before."

The Levelling Up Goals Awards are sponsored by the Harrison Centre for Social Mobility, which supports organisations across the UK that work with young people to achieve their potential.

Entrepreneur and President of the Levelling Up Awards David Harrison said "MP's can play a big role in helping to level up the UK. It is fantastic to see Alun Cairns MP getting involved in the awards and taking the time to recognise the great work going on locally to help boost social mobility and level up their communities."

The 2021 Levelling Up Awards are supported by Direct Line Group, Shoosmiths, Adecco Group, Persimmon, BP, True Potential, Pennon Group, Lendlease, Compass Group and UK Power Networks and Amazon.