Lord Mayor Community and Voluntary Awardees: Community Development & Continuing Education

People making a difference in their communities in Cork are set to be recognised at this year’s Cork City Lord Mayor Community and Voluntary Awards.

Organisations promoting social inclusion, advocacy, health and wellbeing, arts and culture, sustainable development and community development have been shortlisted for the awards which will take place at the Concert Hall in City Hall on Wednesday. 

Nominees will be recognised under six different categories including Community Development and Continuing Education; Social Services, Charities & Environment; Social Inclusion, Advocacy & Integration; Climate Action & Sustainable Development; Recreation, Sport, Health & Wellbeing; and Arts Culture Recreation and Heritage and the overall winner will be announced on the night.

Those shortlisted under the Community Development & Continuing Education category include Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association, Fairhill/Fairfield Community Association and Roches Buildings Resource Centre.

Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association

The aim of the Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association is to develop and support the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of the community.

The association, which was formed in 1987, also acts as the local area advocate of the residents for area improvements and service improvements to the local council.

Over the years, the association has been actively responsible for many improvements in the area and has a strong track record of completing projects on time and within budget. It has built up good working relationships with Cork County Council and more recently Cork City Council since the area moved into the city area in May 2019.

Chairperson of the Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association Iain McGregor said that recent growth in the area has shone a light on the lack of amenities in the locality.

“In the last few years, the association has developed tennis courts, a new walkway, an outdoor gymnasium, created a Tidy Towns association, installed new ‘welcome to’ signs, planted over 1,000 trees, hedges and shrubs and much more."

He said:

None of these projects would have been completed without the work of our many volunteers.” 

“We are currently in the process of creating a new multi-use games area and a playground on either side of our new memorial garden which the Lord Mayor opened on March 23. It has three plaques which give information on the story of the Ballycannon Boys for those who may not have known such a historical event in the War of Independence happened in the village.

“Many days we have had up to 20 volunteers working on clean-ups, painting, planting and so on. We have recently launched a website, CKPCA.ie, which will hopefully spread the word of the many projects we have on the go as well as historical information of our area, to get even more community involvement within Clogheen and Kerry Pike.” 

Mr McGregor described the nomination in this year’s awards as “a fantastic honour” for the association.

“It's a fantastic honour for the community association to be nominated. The association is thrilled to have progressed to this point after so many years of dedicated voluntary work to maintain and improve the area,” he said.

Roche's Buildings Resource Centre

Roche's Buildings Resource Centre, located on Richmond Hill, has also been shortlisted under the Community Development and Continuing Education category in recognition of its support of the local community.

The group this year celebrates its 40th anniversary serving the community of Roches Buildings, with two of the original committee members still active in the centre and keeping it running.

The centre has managed to operate through a changing demographic by switching and adapting activities from street masses in the 1980s to childcare facilities in the 1990s to 2000s and now serving an older demographic. The centre now provides daily dinners and weekly fitness classes to the local community.

The centre acts as an information hub in the area and provides information sessions organised by community health workers, citizens information, social prescribers, and community connectors.

It also runs weekly flex and stretch classes provided by Cork Sports Partnership and quarterly creative classes including wreath making, St Brigid's cross making, and card making, in addition to sleep hygiene workshops and minding your wellbeing workshops provided by HSE funding.

Weekly meet-ups where residents come for a relaxed chat, a cup of tea, sandwiches and cakes are also run out of the centre.

The facility has links with Cork City Council and has organised a warden to pick up rubbish and provide support in relation to illegal dumping in the area.

Community health worker for the area, Elizabeth Madden, meets monthly with the committee to assist in the planning, organising and funding of activities in the centre. 

Speaking to The Echo Ms Madden said: “Roches Buildings Resource centre opens daily for the local community and the centre provides daily meals on wheels, and weekly activities such as chair yoga, mindfulness and art classes.

“The centre has been active for 40 years and has adapted to a changing demographic. In the 1980s the centre provided childcare, and street masses to cater for young families. Now, the area consists of an older demographic and the activities include day trips and drop-in for tea.

“Two of the original committee members Sr Patricia O Donovan and Noreen McCarthy still sit on the board and are active in the running of the centre. It feels really timely and we are very grateful to be nominated for this award.”

Fairhill/Fairfield Community Association

The Fairhill/Fairfield Community Association, which has also been shortlisted in this year’s awards, envisions a community that residents and non-residents consider a desirable place to live and enjoy the benefits of family, friends and community.

The Community Association conceives a conscious effort to deliver outcomes that benefit the community through social, economic and environmental means, therefore, adding social value to the community.

It aims to enhance the quality of life and sense of community in Fairhill through effective and efficient management of the Community Association and strives to be as efficient and effective as possible while meeting all governance requirements.

The Association places huge value on Fairhill becoming a socially cohesive community and works to evade the disadvantaged label by working towards the wellbeing of the community, fighting marginalisation and creating a sense of belonging and pride.

It promotes and facilitates employment and education and puts an emphasis on youth participation, adopting a full integration policy in all of its activities and promoting an inclusive environment within the community.

Speaking to The Echo following the Association’s nomination for this year’s awards, Chairperson of the Fairhill/Fairfield Community Association Lisa O'Sullivan, said: ''We have a wonderful community here in Fairhill. We are very proud of the work we do and the services we provide for kids and adults alike.

“The people and families we meet through our various groups are the reason we do what we do. The development of a purpose-built facility within Fairhill has become a big and exciting part of our work here and collaborating with University College Cork and Munster Technological University has enabled us to make big progress with that as well as undertaking unique projects within our community.

“We love and enjoy what we do here, and we get great joy and satisfaction from providing the services that we provide. Community development is at the very core of what we do and we are delighted to be shortlisted again this year for the Lord Mayor's Community and Voluntary Awards.''

The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 10 where the overall winner will be revealed.