Our neighbouring community Forest Hill is in the running to win up to £10,000 in prize money as part of a nationwide search for Britain’s best high streets.  With just a few days to go, Forest Hill is one of the first areas off the starting block to apply for the London category.  The Forest Hill Society, Forest Hill Traders Association and SE23 have worked hard to get the area on the map and breathed life and revitalisation to the area through street art and parties, community events and much more.

Chris Beach, SE23.life forum, said:  “Forest Hill has a bustling high street and an engaged local community committed to beautifying the area with street art and shared projects.

“There’s a renewed buzz on our high street and fingers crossed our entry will be successful so Forest Hill will get its name recognised as a great place to live, shop and work.”

Now in its 3rd year, the competition celebrates the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets.  Alongside the cash prize, Google are offering all category winners a visit from The Digital Garage on Tour – a skills training workshop for retailers and small businesses.

Community is at the heart of the South East London Blog and we are delighted to see that Forest Hill, among other high streets in the UK has been shortlisted as one of the very best.  @TheGBHighSt is the heart of the community so it is important we celebrate it.

New to 2016, the competition is looking for individuals to win a ‘high street hero’ award. With categories for store managers and employees from national or independent retailers to ‘under 25’s’ and market traders, high streets are able to enter the individuals who are making a difference to their local community.

On top of this, Twitter is backing a new ‘digital’ category in order to find independent shops that use social media to drive footfall to their local high street and support their local community.  You too can get involved, simply nominate the ‘Best Shop on Twitter’ category by sending a tweet using the hashtag #BestGBTwittershop.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 9 September 2016.

We wish them luck.

South East London Blog Team