26th Jan 2010: Council shortlisted for three NILGA Awards.
COLERAINE Borough Council has been shortlisted as a finalist in three categories in the annual Northern Ireland Local Government Association Awards scheme. Regarded as the Oscars of Local Government, the awards aim to reward the very best initiatives of local authorities and recognise the excellent service they deliver.
Wildcats Activ8, a sports development project aimed at young people from five to eleven years of age, has been shortlisted in the Change Champion in Practice category. The aim of Wildcats is to improve each young person's agility, balance, control, co-ordination, body movement, team skills, individual skills, confidence in sport, enjoyment of sport and the ability to adapt multi-skills to specific sports skills.
The Wildcats programme, which originated in Coleraine and Ballymoney, has recently been recognised as a best practice initiative by Sport NI and there are plans for the scheme to be rolled out across the Province. It is also one of only three sports programs in Northern Ireland to be awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark. And, the two original and founding coaches of Wildcats Activ8, Stephen McCartney of Coleraine Borough Council and John Fall of Ballymoney Borough Council, jointly won the UK Children's Coach of the Year Award for their contribution and commitment to coaching young people. The sports programme is very popular in the Borough and continues to go from strength to strength.
Causeway Kids Cuisine, a project led by the Environmental Health Department at Coleraine Borough Council, has also been shortlisted for a Change Champions in Practice award. The imaginative healthy-eating initiative aimed to target childhood obesity through encouraging local restaurateurs to provide healthy alternatives on their children's menus and to adopt healthier cooking methods. A first of its kind for Northern Ireland, the initiative runs in 26 of the Borough's eateries, all of which have embraced the project and encourage parents and children to make healthy choices.
Coleraine Borough Council, as part of the Northern Regional Forum of Good Relations Officers, has been shortlisted in the Best Joint Initiative between Councils category. The Northern Regional Forum of Good Relations Officers, comprising of representatives from Coleraine Borough Council, Ballymoney Borough Council, Magherafelt District Council, Limavady Borough Council, Moyle District Council and Derry City Council has been recognised for the Café Culture Good Relations Conference. The Café Culture initiative was the result of collaborative efforts of all the Good Relations Officers from each Council and was supported by the Community Relations Unit (OFMDFM) through the District Councils' Community Relations Programme. The conference, held in September 2009, attracted attendance from over 120 Good Relations practitioners, Councillors, Council staff and members of the wider community and allowed those taking part to engage in a relaxed manner with a diverse range of groups and individuals dealing with challenging community relations issues.
Mayor of Coleraine, Cllr Sandy Gilkinson, said "We are extremely proud to have two nominations for council projects and one joint entry with our neighbouring Councils. The Sports Development Team and Environmental Health staff are to be congratulated for the delivery of such innovative and imaginative projects. To have been shortlisted for an award highlights their dedication to providing a high quality and sustainable service for the residents of the Borough.
"The Northern Regional Forum of Good Relations Officers is also to be commended for their commitment and mutual efforts in bringing together people from a range of backgrounds to explore and appreciate their cultural and political differences."
Cllr John Mathews, President of the Local Government Association (NILGA), representing one of the eight partners who host the Local Government Awards Event, added, "Coleraine Borough Council is a showcase of what can be achieved and used as best practice by other councils and agencies throughout Northern Ireland. By representing three shortlisted projects to go through to the ceremony stage to be held in the Slieve Donard on Thursday 18th February, will bring great prestige to those who are proud to represent their Council's achievements.
"The Northern Ireland Local Government Awards scheme attracted over 70 entries to ten categories from 17 Councils which highlights the dedication of officers and councillors working together. I personally look forward to the event and congratulate all those who have taken the initiative for their areas in taking forward projects to benefit their local citizens".