Bishopstown Youth Project win Social Inclusion Award at twelfth Annual Pride in Our Community Competition

Members of Bishopstown Youth Project Winners of the Social Inclusion Project at the Muintir na Tire Pride in Our Community Awards Included are: Kyle Murphy, Kelvin Browne, Jamie Conlon, Ashton O’Keefe & Marea Power

Bishopstown Curraheen Youth Project have won the  Social Inclusion Award at the 12^th Annual Muintir na Tire Pride in our Community Awards held in Oriel House Ballincollig.

Accepting the award on behalf of the group Marea Power youth worker said ‘The garden was started last year, 2015.   The initial intention was to brighten up the exterior of the building where the Project is housed. The work was undertaken by a fifth and sixth class boys group. Other teenage boys became interested and offered to build a bench and do some of the heavier work involved.  As summer approached last year our garden was enjoyed and regularly visited by some residents of the local Lions Club sheltered housing unit nearby.  We also discovered that the nearby school for children with special learning needs had added regular scheduled supervised visits to the garden as part of their school/learning. The garden is also enjoyed by families locally and the boys group have been complimented by teachers, adults and their own families for their endeavours, allowing for their growth in self-confidence and their sense of community.   The garden is totally open and has not been damaged in any way. 

Mayor of County Cork Councillor Seamus McGrath congratulated them and said that it was great to see the effort being put in by them and other community groups in developing locally-based Amenity/ Projects which are of long-term benefit to their local community all over County Cork’