Winner: SPACE, Newry City

Summary
SPACE (Supporting People and Communities Everyday) began life in a small terraced house in Thomas Street, Warrenpoint in 2003 after a consultation with local people identified the need for family support. The organisation grew with an increased demand for services to be delivered over a much wider area until the decision was taken to move the administrative centre to Newry and rebrand to encompass the wide range of work covered. The aim is to reach out to individuals and families in need, helping them find strengths, overcome difficulties and build better futures. Services are flexible, and innovative; SPACE believes in the strengths within families and is committed to working in partnership to achieve maximum impact for all. SPACE Family Support Services are for families and individuals who need help. Family life is not always easy, life events like birth, death, depression, redundancy, separation, illness, abuse or financial problems all put stress and strain on family life and relationships. Outreach work includes wellbeing programmes and has developed a social enterprise which is reinvested into the charity to support the work done with families and individuals.

Community Contact: Kerri Morrow [email protected]

Citation
The winning entry captures at its core the difference an effective organisation can make in delivering help to those in need in the most trying circumstances. From small beginnings the group now constitutes a highly innovative model of assistance and encouragement for people who find difficulty in coping. Volunteers play an essential role and testimonies from the floor after the presentation gave the judges a full picture of the breadth of operation and its considerable value to the people of the locality. This is an admirable organisation; an amazing team; and a very worthy winner.

Runner Up: Rainbow Child and Family Centre, Derry City