Maynooth Access Group honoured at prestigious All-Island Community Awards

Kildare County Council attended the annual National pride of place Gala awards in Armagh on Friday November 10th with three outstanding Kildare community groups. The IPB Pride of Place awards is an annual competition organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance and this year is the 21st anniversary of the awards.  

The awards are an All-Island competition whereby local authorities from across the island of Ireland nominate groups in their communities who they feel have made a significant contribution to improving their neighbourhood, working collectively.

Maynooth Access Group, The Newbridge Women’s Shed and Ballymore Eustace Community Development Association were the Kildare Nominees.  

On the night the Maynooth Access group took first place in the creative places category with their ‘Our World’ Exhibition. Maynooth Access Group creates conditions of inclusivity through their ‘Our World’, program, a sustainable lending & educational resource, consisting of a collection of diverse and inclusive toys and accessories. The judges were very complimentary of how this resource is used to deliver disability awareness workshops, hold exhibitions and stay-and-play sessions. The resource is used by all, helping to teach children acceptance, normalising difference, and promoting empathy and compassion, ultimately leading to a more inclusive society.  This project enables all spaces to become creative places where everyone is valued and belongs, and diversity is seen as enriching.