A NEWCASTLE charity has been recognised at a prestigious all-Ireland awards ceremony.
The Kairos Centre took a top runner-up award in the annual IPB Pride of Place Awards ceremony held at The Venue in Derry. The Newcastle charity was recognised in the enterprise and youth projects category.
Charity representatives were joined at the ceremony by Down Council chairwoman Maria McCarthy, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The work of the Kairos Centre, which is a Christian-based community benefit charity which operates six days a week, was praised during the ceremony.
The All-Island Pride of Place Competition recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society. The focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their local area.
The competition differs from other similar projects in that they specifically recognise the involvement of the local community in all aspects of rural and urban regeneration including, promoting social cohesion, involvement in planning, the promotion of heritage and environmental awareness.
The competition is run by Co-operation Ireland in conjunction with the Pride of Place Steering Committee and sponsored by IPB.