Big-hearted bank staff lift top charity oscar
Published: September 28, 2004
The strong bond between commerce and charity provincewide has again been celebrated at Ulster’s annual ‘Charity Oscars’, supported by The Belfast Telegraph.
Staff at First Trust Bank took the top prize - the newly designed Link Trophy - for their work with ChildLine Northern Ireland in this year’s NICVA Link Awards, now with a new sponsor, BT Mobile.
Northern Ireland’s business community was well represented at the celebrity awards dinner, which was hosted by UTV’s Paul Clark at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast.
The 500-capacity audience also included politicians and leading figures from the statutory and voluntary sectors. Barry Gardiner, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, congratulated the winners.
Actress and television presenter Julie Peasgood, winner of the Royal Television Society’s Television Personality of the Year award in 2002, presented a total of 14 awards, and Omagh comic Kevin McAleer was the entertainer.
This is the 18th year of Link, the longest running and most successful awards event in Northern Ireland.
And this year the event proved even more inclusive and relevant than before, with six new categories to broaden the scope of the awards, which showcase the best in support for charities throughout the province.
Overall winner First Trust Bank was praised for committed fund raising for children’s helpline ChildLine Northern Ireland, the bank’s charity of the year 2003.
Over £110,000 was raised - more than double the original target, and the biggest single sum donated to the charity by a local corporate.
Staff across the bank’s 60 branches took part in events from ‘a night at the races’ to team participation in the Belfast Marathon. Volunteering for ChildLine, from counselling to administration, was another aspect of the support.
Congratulating the winners the Enterprise Minister said: “We all recognise that business support for local charities is becoming ever more sophisticated. Companies realise that it is not just about handing over a cheque.
“Actually being involved with the work of a charity presents great opportunities for staff development, staff motivation, PR and innovative ideas.”
Marnie O’Neill, head of corporate relations at BT Northern Ireland, told the audience: “We are delighted to support Link and to celebrate the outstanding work being carried out between charities and their business partners. This reflects the considered approach BT adopts in running our extensive social responsibility programme.”
And the winners are…
The Link Award: First Trust Bank for ‘Investing in our Children’s Futures’ with Childline Northern Ireland.
Large charity category winner: Musgrave SuperValu-Centra for strategic marketing and funding support of Action Cancer’s curriculum-based ‘School Action’ health promotion programme for young people.
Runner-up: Northern Bank for long-term commitment to Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.
Medium charity category winner: Northern Bank for work with the Citizens Advice Bureau on ‘Money Talks’, which aims to enable young people to develop financial literacy and consumer education skills.
Runner-up: Safeway Northern Ireland for support of PHAB Northern Ireland Inclusion Matters.
Small charity category winner: Coca-Cola as title sponsor of Northern Ireland’s largest ever celebrity football tournament, Coca-Cola SoccerMagic - an innovative fund raising event organised by Cinemagic, a young people’s charity based in Belfast.
Runner-up: The Hastings Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, for support of local community organisation Newcastle 2000 by hosting Swedish athletes taking part in the Special Olympics World Games 2003.
Award for innovation winner: FG Wilson, Monkstown, for a novel fund raising idea - a music CD - with PHAB Northern Ireland Inclusion Matters.
Runner-up: Inheritance Inc for support in developing and enhancing Simon Community billboard campaigns.
Award for challenge winner: University of Ulster for support of Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), which aims to promote the social inclusion of children aged 11-14 from ethnic, religious, educational and economic diversity.
Runner-up: Belfast City Council for supporting CAUSE for Mental Health through the Lord Mayor’s ‘Ball in the Hall’.
Clubs winner: Woodlawn Primary School, Carrickfergus, for long-term fund raising commitment to Action Cancer.
Runner-up: St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, for support of Trocaire’s ‘Pamoja Kwa haki’ pilot scheme to encourage young people to become more involved in learning about international human rights and justice issues.
The Judges’ Award: Londonderry Round Table for creating a
Garden of Tranquillity at Altnagelvin Hospital. More than £60,000 in real costs and the help of over 40 companies went into developing the sanctury, which aims to offer hope, strength and courage to grieving relatives, visitors and staff alike.
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