Launch of 2015 Tidytowns Diversity Award
The SuperValu Diversity Award was officially launched on Friday 8th May by Mr Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Mr Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, sponsors of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. The Chairperson of Roscrea TidyTowns, Denis Ryan was also on stage.
On launching this Award Minister Kelly said “The SuperValu Diversity Award recognises the benefits that embracing diversity and working across the generations brings to communities. It rewards the intergenerational and intercultural aspects of TidyTowns committees. The strength of a community lies in how it works together to establish a place where all are welcome, where all are encouraged to participate and where all feel at home.” He continued “Strong communities work together to gain the most from what all members of their community have to offer, regardless of age, ethnicity or ability. As our communities become more diverse, the need to understand and appreciate other cultures becomes increasingly important. This SuperValu Diversity Award is to recognise all that TidyTowns committees do to encourage involvement from all members of their community.”
Minister Kelly also referred to another new initiative in the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition this year “The SuperValu Youth Award aims to celebrate the contribution of young people to TidyTowns activities and to encourage greater youth involvement with TidyTowns groups. The award is specifically for young people under 18 years of age who have had substantial input into projects, working together with their local TidyTowns group, to deliver benefits to their local community. It will celebrate how the youth in communities use their interest, enthusiasm and curiosity to carry out innovative and exciting projects.
Speaking at the launch today, SuperValu Managing Director, Martin Kelleher said “We have been sponsoring the Tidy Towns competition for the last 24 years, one of the longest sponsorships in Ireland. Today, we are delighted to introduce two new awards. These awards are a demonstration of the breath of the competition and its capacity to grow year on year, attracting all age groups and embracing all cultures within our communities. The SuperValu Diversity Award will encourage, recognise and reward the intergenerational and intercultural aspects of TidyTowns committees and the Youth Award will recognise the role of young people in our communities nationwide, the value they add and the contribution they have made to making their community a better place to live.”
The Minister expressed his appreciation to SuperValu for their continued support in sponsoring the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. “SuperValu have supported the SuperValu TidyTowns competition for nearly a quarter of a century, they have helped it grow through their sponsorship and through their nationwide network of retailers. Their interest in getting involved with communities on a local basis is evidenced by their sponsorship of these two significant awards.”
As well as these two Special Awards there are nine other Special Awards that can be entered. Minister Kelly said of the Special Awards “these awards not only fit in well with the ethos of TidyTowns, they also fit very well with the wider work of my Department, taking in aspects of community participation, sustainable living and climate change. There is over €40, 000 to be won in these awards, I encourage all TidyTowns committees to look into them as they may already have carried out a project that is eligible to enter one.”
The closing date for receipt of entries for most of this year’s competitions is 22nd May 2015, the Diversity Award closes on 26thJune 2015. Entry forms to all competitions can be obtained from the TidyTowns Unit in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – Phone (096-24309) or by visitingwww.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie. For entry to the Special Competitions please download your entry form at www.tidytowns.ie
