PRIDE OF WEXFORD
MARINEWATCH AND HOPE HONOURED AT AWARDS IN BELFAST
TWO local organisations did Wexford proud at the weekend when they picked up awards in the IPB Pride of Place Awards in Belfast.
Wexford MarineWatch won the Sixth Special Award, while the Hope Cancer Support Centre was placed runner up in the Community Social Enterprise category. They were announced at a special gala event in Belfast Waterfront Hall in front of an audience of 1,000 guests.
Commenting on the win, Founder and Chairman of Wexford MarineWatch Frank Flanagan said that they were ‘delighted’.
‘It means a lot. To be honest, we are not here to get awards. Whether we won or lost, we would still keep doing the work that we do. But it is nice to be nominated. Even to be put forward by Wexford County Council for the award was, in itself, enough recognition for us. We were over the moon to get it,’ said Frank, who was one of 20 from Marine Watch to travel north for the ceremony.
‘I am really delighted for the volunteers. The award belongs to them at the end of the day. I may have founded the organisation but it wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for them.’
Frank also praised the emergency services and members of the public for assisting them in a live rescue simulation earlier this year, which was staged for a visit by the Pride of Place judges.
‘Without their participation, we wouldn’t have received the award.’
Remarking on Wexford MarineWatch the judges said they were really impressed by the project.
‘ The number of volunteers is commendable and their numbers are constantly being added to via the collaboration with and between many agencies. In just four years, this unique, totally volunteer-driven, model has had a huge impact on the lives of its impact group result- ing in suicide prevention in an area which previously had a very difficult problem. Significantly, since the establishment of this group there were no suicides in the area. This is a unique collaboration project and has huge potential to be rolled out as a model to other communities,’ they added.
For the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy, the award was described as ‘a really positive experience’.
‘It was great to be able to highlight the great work that we do. It was a fantastic event and very positive. The recognition gave everyone a bit of a lift,’ said Manager of the Hope Centre Mick Kavanagh. ‘People were delighted with the award. It really highlights the invaluable work of our volunteers.’
Now in its 14th year, the all-island Pride of Place Awards promotes and celebrates the best in community development and recognises the selfless efforts of people in making their neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise. Following nominations,
Wexford MarineWatch and the Hope Centre invited the Pride of Place judges to Wexford to get an insight into their work.