Community groups to be honoured at City Hall
Community groups from Cork who were nominated for national awards have been invited to a celebration of their activities.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle is inviting the Kabin, who won a creative community award at the national Pride of Place awards, and the other award winners and nominees to City Hall.
Pride of Place is an all-island competition that recognises improvements made by local communities to bolster civic pride in their area. Blackpool Youth Club, Brand Blarney, Cork LGBT Archive, Sexual Health Centre and the Kabin were all nominated.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Honore Kamegni said: “Very high standards are being set by community groups across the city. These are practices that directly and positively impact our communities. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible resilience and fruits of your labour. It is indeed inspirational.”
Winners and nominees:
The Kabin - Creative Communities Category (Winners)
The Kabin Studio, which has been in operation since 2012, is an inclusive community learning, arts & performance hub. They engage young people from all backgrounds, abilities and cultures in an integrated programme of workshops to develop their confidence, identity, skills, employability and creativity through music, hip hop, art, drama, writing, digital media, coding and horticulture. The space is managed by GMCBeats in partnership with Music Generation Cork City. Currently, they engage with over 30 young people regularly through our weekly workshops.
Blackpool Youth Club - in the category of Community Youth Initiative (Runner Up Award)
Founded in 1974 Blackpool Youth Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The club is located on Great William O’ Brien Street. The club is operated by a dedicated group of volunteers and serves the young people aged 8 to 16. It offers a safe space for social interaction, sports, and arts. All activities emphasis wellbeing, social integration and learning.
LGBT Archive - Inclusive Communities Category (Runner Up Award)
The Cork LGBT Archive gathers, preserves and shares the rich history of Cork’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and was established in 2013. Their physical collection is in Cork Public Museum and the digital collection is at www.corklgbtarchive.com. Their most recent documentary, ‘Loafers’, marked 40 years since the opening of Ireland’s longest running gay bar in Cork in 1983.
Sexual Health Centre - Community Wellbeing Initiative (Nominee)
The Sexual Health Centre, located on the South Mall, serves as a vital resource for sexual health education, support, and testing for Cork. Established in 1987 as Cork AIDS Alliance, it has evolved to meet the changing needs of the diverse population it serves. The centre is dedicated to promoting sexual health and well-being for all individuals, regardless of age, gender, or orientation. It offers a wide range of services, including free rapid HIV testing, pregnancy supports, educational workshops, and counselling.
Brand Blarney - Community Climate Action and Biodiversity Category (Winners)
Brand Blarney was established in 2017 as a voluntary group with its primary focus on supporting the wider community of Blarney to contribute to and benefit from Blarney’s global tourist attraction status.
They have always kept an eye on sustainability, both in what they do and how they operate. As a small, dedicated group of volunteers, they only take on projects that they can manage and deliver on with success: a model of sustainable community action.