Offaly Communities, Tullamore International Welcome Centre, Banagher Development Group and The Acorn Project, showcase sense of belonging in Pride of Place
IPB Pride of Place is an annual competition organised by Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance. It promotes and celebrates the best in community development and recognises the enormous efforts of volunteers in making their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise. Under the competition, local authorities nominate groups in their communities who they feel have made a significant contribution to improving their neighbourhood by working collectively.
This year Offaly County Council nominated Tullamore International Welcome Centre (representing the Tullamore Municipal District area) in the Inclusive Communities category; Banagher Development Group (representing the Birr Municipal District area) in the Population 1000 – 2000 category; and The Acorn Project (representing the Edenderry Municipal District area) in the Community Youth Initiative category.
Judging for the three Offaly entries took place on 24th and 25th July 2024. The judges for the two days were Mr. Eddie Sheehy, former Chief Executive of Roscommon and Wicklow County Councils, and Ms. Katrina Murphy, former Director of Finance, Leitrim County Council.
Tullamore International Welcome Centre
Tullamore International Welcome Centre is a group which meets weekly where new arrivals can make friends, chat, get information and welcome others to our community. It is located at Tullamore Presbyterian Church.
It is a flexible group that has evolved with the needs of the various immigrant and refugee groups that have come through our town over the last decade since it was founded in 2013.
With Afghan Hazara refugees it was a friendship and local links group, for other immigrant families it has been the opportunity to learn real, spoken English from Offaly people – sometimes a very different thing from schoolbook English!
For Ukrainians it has been a source of support and linking new families to existing services.
For many people (from Iranian mullahs to Russian grannies and everyone in between!) it has been a friendly and welcoming first port of call where a newcomer can receive a nice cup of tea and someone who will listen patiently.
Banagher Development Group (BDG)
Banagher is a beautiful town on the banks of the River Shannon. The primary goal of Banagher Development Group is to improve the quality of life of all residents and visitors to the town. BDG’s way of “Making the Magic Happen” is to identify needs and opportunities then provide support to interested groups within the community or establish “meitheals”. This has proven very successful in the past and they intend to continue to work with all agencies and groups to improve the town. Success has come with co-operation, good communication and understanding of changing needs.
Over the last few years challenges have increased with a huge decline in “volunteerism”, less funding, developing sustainable projects and integration of different groups. These challenges have made BDG stronger and there has always been a great “can do” attitude in Banagher. Fundraising has always been a challenge but when the objective is clearly defined, BDG have been successful gathering money. Nothing Beats Banagher!
The Acorn Project
The Acorn Project is a Youth Diversion Project primarily working with targeted young people who have left school or are at risk of dropping out of school. The project aims to respond to the needs of these young persons with education and training opportunities as well as other supports such as mentoring and counselling.
With staff and volunteers The Acorn Project provides this education in an alternative way with sport, allotments, life skills, cooking, entrepreneurial skills and QQI level 3 and 4 awards. For those who are still in school breakfast clubs, homework clubs and evening time programmes are offered to help support them to remain in education.
Offaly County Council’s Community & Cultural section and Offaly Public Participation Network (PPN) work with all three Municipal Districts and support these groups embedding the importance of real partnership to ensure all sectors of the community are included in community and cultural activites.
Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, wished all three groups in this year’s competition every success. She thanked them for their participation and for the invaluable contribution they have made to their communities. The Pride of Place awards will be announced in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on the 2nd November 2024.
