Category Five – Population Category over 5000
Winner: Dromore, Co Down

Summary:

Via Wings was founded in 2009 to meet the needs of people living in Dromore, a small market town located in Co Down, with the aim of supporting people experiencing poverty, isolation and brokenness. The Group started delivering food bags but quickly realised that poverty is so much more than food and expanded their services to include health and wellbeing initiatives including mental health, life skills, basic education and self-esteem support. The work of the Group has now expanded across the divides of gender, religion, and age to embrace the whole community, partnering with a range of agencies, schools, churches, social work and the Health Service to bring marginalised people into community, training and work

Community Contact: Patricia McElduff, [email protected]

Citation:

Words cannot adequately describe the wonderful journey of commitment, volunteerism, initiative, drive, resilience and pure wholesome care, where a community demonstrated to the judges the true meaning of Pride of Place. It is about a community that just gets up and takes action to ensure all who are vulnerable through poverty, being different, deprivation, isolation or self-esteem, are cared for and cherished with meaningful actions and love. The presentation to an appreciative large audience was supported by testimonials which truly reflected the work of this community under the auspices of Via Wings. Overall, the judges left this place feeling humbled, inspired and honoured to bear witness to Pride of Place in action.

Runners Up: Ennis, Co Clare and, Randalstown, Co Antrim.