IT may be unlucky for some but 13 is a lucky date for Yvette Martin ? today (Thursday) she is one of only three finalists receiving a prestigious Community Champions Exceptional Champion Award.
Yvette, 39, from Thorndon Cross, is attending the awards ceremony in Liverpool, having impressed judges with her project to build a maze in West Devon.
About five months ago she applied for, and received, a Community Champions grant.
This scheme is dedicated to ?encouraging more community involvement and regeneration activities by supporting individuals who can take forward community projects?.
Yvette?s ambitious project ? which can be constructed either as a dry stone wall or cob and thatch maze, depending on the final location? was felt to be a worthy scheme for a grant.
?The money they gave me helped get the idea off the ground. I was able to organise groups and get a committee together, get a website up and hire a venue,? she said.
?I?m still looking for the perfect site for the maze. I?d use a dry stone wall construction in a Dartmoor location.
?Meanwhile, I?m researching sites in and around Hatherleigh for a cob and thatch maze which would be based on a theatre form as a central venue.?
Following the grant Yvette?s project was then put forward as one of only three projects selected from a possible 175 for a Community Champions Champion Award.
?I feel very honoured and can only see it as a boost to the project,? she said.
?If it is recognised nationally then it should be recognised locally ? and hopefully someone will say we have a site you can use.?
Yvette said she needed approximately five acres of land ? preferably with ?a dynamic Dartmoor backdrop? ? to construct her maze project.
?It would hopefully generate funds that will be put back into the community,? she said.
?Since forming as a group in 2001 we have gained a groundswell of support locally . People believe the maze can boost the economy,? said Yvette.
?We have a steering group of eight local skilled people.?