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DCU team win Living Dublin Awards 2007

Centre for Academic Achievement scoops 'Irish Times' prize for sowing 'seeds for future academic activities' Distinctions honour efforts to enhance wellbeing of communities in Dublin, writes Róisín Ingle

Christmas came early for a number of community groups, businesses and third-level institutions as The Irish Times Living Dublin Awards 2007 were announced yesterday.

The overall winner was the Centre for Academic Achievement, based at Dublin City University, which offers academically gifted students from disadvantaged areas of North Dublin special after- school classes at the university.

Other groups honoured included the Age Action "Care and Repair" programme, Anglo Irish Bank, Dublin City Soul Festival and TASCQ (Traders in the Area Supporting the Cultural Quarter).

At the ceremony in Dublin, managing director of The Irish Times Ltd Maeve Donovan said the awards celebrated the "commitments and achievements" made by many individuals and groups to enhance the wellbeing of communities in Dublin.

She said the awards showed that "volunteerism and service to the wider community are still very much in evidence from youth clubs to community leaders to local businesses, these people offer their services with no intention of seeking recognition".

Prizes were awarded in categories such as Community Development, Business in the Community, Culture and Tourism and Dublin City Neighbourhoods. The team from Dublin City University were laden down with gongs having taken the prize in education, an award for involvement by a third-level organisation and the overall Living Dublin Award.

"We are delighted," said the programme's director Colm O'Reilly who attended the awards with Eleanor Cooke and Bronagh Duffy of the Centre for Talented Youth and DCU Access Services .

"This programme has been so successful, it's wonderful to get the recognition from these awards considering we have only been going six months. We have been working with children from Ballymun, Finglas and Cabra who are doing well in school but really benefit from additional support and learning. What has been so great to see is the attendance levels which have been incredibly strong."

Children aged between nine and 12 attend the weekly classes learning everything from forensics to superhero science.

"At the end of the programme there is an awards ceremony and the students get a certificate," said Cooke.

"They come with their parents, their siblings and their teachers and it really sows the seeds for future academic activities. Not all children want to be the next Posh and Becks and it gives these talented young people other options."

Age Action's Care and Repair programme took the award for community development. Seán Silke and Jennifer Connolly explained how the scheme made it possible for older people to get work done in their homes, jobs that are often too small for a professional to take on.

"The services completed by our volunteers range from gardening to paint work and, when a job is too big, we will refer them to reputable professionals," said Silke of Age Action. Connolly spoke of a woman who is in hospital getting her hip replaced. "She had to get a load of furniture moved down from her bedroom to the ground floor, so that's been done and she is delighted."

The numbers calling the lo-call helpline (1890 369 369) are increasing and there are plans to role out a care and repair franchise nationwide.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Paddy Burke praised all the winners and runners-up. "The civic spirit which is so strong in this city is evidenced by all of you here today, people who are working towards improving the city . . .

"These awards are a celebration of our city and its strengths, a celebration of our people and our way of life and living and a celebration of all those who are trying to make a difference," he said.

Ronan King, of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said his organisation felt strongly about the awards.

"It is the people of Dublin who make the city a great place in which to work, live and visit. Thus, it is only appropriate that the efforts of those who work tirelessly to improve the city be recognised and rewarded. The audience in this room today are shining examples of how it is people who drive positive changes from the bottom up".

TV presenter Mary Kennedy, who chaired the event, said that as a Dubliner she was delighted to be involved with awards that celebrated such contributions to the city.