HOLYBOURNE Village Hall has been nominated for a major international prize in the Charity Awards 2005, the UK charity sector's most prestigious award scheme, sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation. The village hall has been short listed in the arts/culture/heritage category and the trustees of the hall are hoping to pick up the coveted award at a star-studded awards ceremony in London next Thursday. The annual Charity Awards gala ceremony is one of the highest profile events in the charity world calendar. The awards recognise excellence in the management of charities acknowledging the outstanding work and achievements of all charities, big or small, from across the UK and particularly the tireless commitment of the people behind them. This is the sixth year that the awards have taken place and Holybourne Village Hall is in illustrious company on the shortlist alongside some of the UK's highest respected charities including RNID, Age Concern and the Samaritans. The Charity Award judges have recognised the excellent work which the Holybourne trustees have undertaken during the last three years in extending and refurbishing the village hall. If they win their category, the trustees will then be in the running to pick up the Overall Award for Excellence in Charity Management - a prestigious award given to the best of the various category winners, won last year by the RNID. The Charity Awards Scheme 2005 is organised by Charity Finance magazine, the leading business publication for the voluntary sector. The distinguished panel of judges includes David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice, Ian Allsop, editor of Charity Finance magazine, Cedric Frederick, chief executive of PentaHact, Nicholas Young, chief executive of the Red Cross, and Maeve Sherlock OBE, chief executive of the Refugee Council. David Phelan, organiser of the Charity Awards 2005, comments: "As the role of the voluntary sector grows in importance, particularly as regards its increasing contribution to the provision of public services, it is vital that charities work together to maximise their effect. "We have worked hard this year to recognise and nominate charities that have forged creative partnerships leading to successful outcomes of their campaigns. By being short listed, the Holybourne Village Hall trustees have already demonstrated that they are among the best managed charities in the UK and I wish them luck on the night." Chairman of the Holybourne Village Hall trustees John Da, said: "Naturally we're all excited at having got so far in this national competition. It is a great honour for the trustees who have worked very hard to make the village hall one of the best small halls in East Hampshire. "But most importantly it is a well-deserved reward for the residents of Holybourne who have done so much to raise funds and to support our project."