Three Mayo winners at Volunteer of the Year Awards
THREE Volunteer Ireland 2020 awards have come to Co. Mayo.
The winners are Cathy Blake, OutWest and Mayo Pride, in the Campaigning and Activism category; Achill Community Response Centre in the Covid-19 Group category; and Ballyhaunis Social Inclusion Project in the Small Group category.
Volunteer Ireland said this year has been challenging to say the least but reading the incredible stories of volunteers across the country is a testament to the Irish spirit and willingness to give even in the toughest circumstances.
As a physical event was not possible, each awardee has received a special surprise delivery from Volunteer Ireland announcing their win, including an engraved trophy and a framed message from President Michael D. Higgins.
Cathy Blake has been a dedicated advocate for LGBT+ rights in the west of Ireland. She devotes a lot of her spare time to the Connaught-based LGBT+ social, support, and advocacy group OutWest, and was instrumental in the setting up of Mayo Pride, and bringing Pride celebrations to Co. Mayo for the first time ever in 2017.
Achill Community Group was set up to support the vulnerable, elderly and self-isolating during the Covid crisis. They organise home deliveries by partnering with Local Link; they work with SVP; they coordinate school lunch home delivery; and with St. John Ambulance they coordinate medical supplies to and from hospitals.
The incredible Ballyhaunis Inclusion Project comprises a group of four women who provide support services for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants across the country. They also advocate for inclusion and diversity so that no one is left behind in society.
The group started as a mere idea of one exceptional lady who was concerned about the way asylum seekers were being treated in the direct provision centre. As a result of this, the founder reached out to those she feels are passionate about making a change in the lives of others and so Ballyhaunis Inclusion Project was formed.
You can read the full story of each of the winners here: https://www.volunteer.ie/awards/?fbclid=IwAR23C2A_KYyCiVA2oVTkAONx5oixbX8JwWCfR62GgWYpZYZYBeMQs9Yr2CU