Community and Voluntary Awards 2008

Community & Voluntary Awards Night

On Friday 14th November almost 200 people gathered at the Clonea Strand Hotel for the annual Community & Voluntary Awards Ceremony, most of them representing their community groups in anticipation of scooping a Community & Voluntary Award! There were 77 groups nominated for this years Community and Voluntary Awards. 18 groups were shortlisted but out of those there could only be 6 category winners and one Overall Winner. The Awards were adjudicated by an independent panel of judges. The winning groups are as follows:

Arts & Culture                         Ballyduff/Ballinvella/Ballsaggart Comhaltas Branch
Children & Youth                     CosCursp Teo, Lios na Síog
Community Centres                 Ballyduff Community Council
Heritage & Environment           Comeragh Community Development Group
Neighbourhood Services          Bonmahon Lifeguard & Bonmahon Inshore Lifeboat
Social Support                         GROW Community Mental Health.

The Overall Award went to CosCursp Teo, Lios na Síog, Childcare Facility in An Sean Phobail.
Each group were delighted with their win and the recognition received through winning the Award. The winning nominee groups received €500 each and a will be presented with a framed certificate. The overall award winner received a further €500 and was presented with a beautiful piece of Bog Oak, handcrafted by local Artist, Eddie Fogarty of Broadleaf Designs. Every one of the 77 applicants will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in the Awards Scheme.
Speakers on the night included Mayor of County Waterford, Cllr Tom Higgins, County Manager, Ray O’ Dwyer, Chair of the Community Forum, Oliver Coffey and Donal O Brien from Boatstrand/Dunabrattin Fishermen & Community who won the Overall Award in 2007. Also present were representatives of all our Corporate Sponsors who presented awards to the winning groups, these included: WLRfm, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Al Eile Stud, Deiselink, GSK, Dungarvan Shopping Centre, Waterford LEADER Partnership, i-to-i, Mahonbridge Garages, Glanbia, and Printmaster. The night went down a treat beginning with a sit down meal for guests, followed by the announcement of the Awards and entertainment. A brochure showcasing the entire Awards Scheme was produced and includes logos from 36 local businesses to sponsor its production. Thank you to the Task Group and the Brochure Sub-Committee who put in an enormous amount of work.

Click here for Presentation of Sponsors Cheques

Handover of Sponsorship Cheques

The presentation of the Community & Voluntary Awards Sponsorship cheques took place on Thursday 2nd October in the Dungarvan Shopping Centre at 11.30am. The presentation cheques were presented to the County Mayor Cllr. Tom Higgins, and the Chairperson of County Waterford Community Forum, Oliver Coffey by the major sponsors of the Community & Voluntary Awards 2008.  Without the generous support of the business sector the awards would not take place. The sponsorship is the backbone of the Awards Scheme covering the cost of all areas of planning and organisation in the roll out of the scheme. The 2008 major sponsors are:

• Brochure Sponsor     Merck Sharp & Dohme
                                     Al Eile Stud Kilgobnet
                                     Printmaster

• Overall Award          WLR Fm

• Administration          Deiselink

• Arts & Culture         GlaxoSmithKline

• Community Centres Waterford LEADER Partnership

• Children & Youth      Dungarvan Shopping Centre

• Heritage & Environment  i-to-i

• Neighbourhood Services  Mahonbridge Garages

• Social Support             Glanbia

This is the fourth year of the Community and Voluntary Awards, following hugely successful events over the past three years. The Awards are a joint initiative of County Waterford Community Forum and Waterford County Council to support, recognise and reward the valuable contribution made by voluntary groups across the county to our communities. We are delighted with the level of interest and enthusiasm in the Awards Scheme this year with just under 80 nominations received and we would like to congratulate all the groups for the work they have put into reaching this stage. Adjudicating the entries is not an easy task and each and every group deserves recognition for their invaluable work throughout the county. This year a very competent panel of independent adjudicators have the unenviable role of selecting the winners and we would like to thank them sincerely for their time and effort. The countdown is now on for the Awards night on Friday 14th November, in the Clonea Strand Hotel. The ceremony is sure to be a very exciting night with the announcement of the winners not taking place until then! A three course meal will be served to all guests followed by entertainment so it is guaranteed to be full of activity!

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