Park community group honoured at all-Ireland community awards

A project operated by Park's Learmount Community Development was honoured at the prestigious Pride of Place community awards on Friday evening (November 10) at a gala ceremony in Armagh city.

The CARE Project came runners up in the Community Age Friendly Initiative category, losing out to an older person support group in Drogheda.

CARE stands for Collective Approach to Rural Exclusion and the project has been running for over a year in the Sperrin DEA.

Also nominated on the night was Strabane’s Fountain Street Community Development Association’s Neighbourhood Renewal Youth Engagement Programme in the Community Wellbeing Initiative but it was ultimately to miss out on a prize.

The awards, hosted by UTV’s Pamela Ballentine, took place in in front of 400 community volunteers from across the island. The awards were delivered in partnership with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 21 years ago though a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development. 

It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.

President Michael D. Higgins, who is Joint Patron of Co-operation Ireland, said the awards played an important role. 

“The Pride of Place awards are a most important initiative, reminding us that creating societies that are ethical and inclusive is a task for all of our citizens, of all ages and circumstances,” he said.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon, Alderman Margaret Tinsley, said: “We were delighted to host this year awards to celebrate and recognise the wonderful work voluntary people and organisations make to community life. Congratulations to all award winners, and thank you to everyone who played their part in organising this fantastic event.”

Pride of Place founder and Chairman Tom Dowling added: “I am very proud after 21 glorious years of celebrating so many wonderful Pride of Place communities to be at another Gala Awards night, excellently hosted by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

“All our communities recognise the importance of their place and people and are constantly seeking to make it better. These awards are now even more important as communities face ever increasing challenges and are responding to them with energy, positivity, and commitment. The communities deserve their well-earned recognition and all participants are truly winners.” 

Sir Julian King, Chairman of Co-operation Ireland said: "Co-operation Ireland has no other programme that embodies the charity's ethos better than Pride of Place.

“We work to build relationships across the island and Pride of Place plays a critical role in that work.  The impact the awards have had in towns and villages across the island since they started 20 years ago cannot be underestimated, and the continuing success of the awards is down to the dedicated volunteers and their love of where they live.

John Hogan, Chairman, IPB Insurance added: “On behalf of our local authority members we are proud to be associated with the Pride of Place awards as title sponsors. This competition provides a fitting platform to recognise the great strides volunteers across the island of Ireland are making in building more sustainable and liveable communities.”