MERTON COUNCIL WORKER CROWNED WINNER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHALLENGE

Rachel Allen, Business Improvement Officer at the London Borough of Merton was last night crowned the first ever winner of the national Local Government Challenge, by journalist and presenter, Jeremy Vine.

The LG challenge sponsored by Liberata, began back in January with ten council employees taking on a series of national challenges taking them across the country to Coventry, Waverley/Surrey, Northampton, Kent and Essex.

Contestants had to put their skills to the test, work together in teams, and present findings to a panel of judges to find the answers to increasing voter turnout; producing a promotional video to encourage countries taking part in the Olympics 2012 to base their team locally; revitalising a town’s nighttime economy; making a park self-financing within three years and transforming an empty building into a base for charity.

Rachel can now look forward to receiving up to £10,000 from the Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship, to promote and share fresh ideas and approaches for the public sector through exchanges between the UK, USA and Europe.

On receiving her prize, Rachel said:

“I am looking forward to using the Scholarship to fulfil my potential and benefit the Merton community and the way the council works with residents. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for their support together with everyone involved in organising the challenges.”