Charity Oscars announced

news release

Strict embargo: 9.45pm Thursday 25 September 2003

The winners of Northern Ireland's 'Charity Oscars', the NICVA/Camelot Link Awards, were announced at a gala ceremony in Belfast's Ramada Hotel tonight (Thurs 25 September 2003).

Overall winners Musgrave Supervalu-Centra NI, recognised for their support of Action Cancer, received the magnificent crystal Link Award trophy from EastEnders' star Shaun Williamson (Barry Evans).

Musgrave Supervalu impressed the judges by its long-term support of Action Cancer's Mobile Detection Unit, targeting areas where uptake of cancer screening services is low. The three-year partnership takes the theme "Driving Home Early Detection". Supervalu pays all the substantial costs and uses its PR agency and network of stores to promote the service, enabling the charity to maximise the health impact and save lives. Around 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer each year in Northern Ireland and the mobile unit aims to reduce deaths by providing breast awareness, cervical smear tests and cancer information.

This is the seventeenth year of Link, the longest running and most successful awards event in Northern Ireland, supported by the Belfast Telegraph.

Tonight's ceremony was hosted by UTV's Paul Clark who told a capacity audience of around 500 guests from the business community, politics andvoluntary organisations: "It is part of human nature to want to be noticed - to be in the news rather than on the sidelines. Those who win Link awards do not seek the limelight. They just do it because they feel they have a stake in our society. Bigger is not always better. Often, it is the little things which make the difference. In Northern Ireland we can all learn from that example."

Thanking outgoing sponsors Camelot, NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleaveysaid: "Camelot's substantial financial support for these awards over seven successive years- more than double their original commitment - in itself recognises the importance, value and prestige of Link."

Jo Kenrick, Camelot's Director of Marketing Communications, added: "The breadth and quality of the nominations again highlights the real bond that exists between the business and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland. Camelot is delighted to have been able to play a small part in fostering this relationship over the past seven years."

Congratulating all participants, John Spellar MP, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development, said: "All of those nominated for these awards - whether they are winners or not - have helped to improve the quality of life for a great many individuals, communities and groups in Northern Ireland. The awards celebrate the remarkable partnership that has built up between voluntary and community groups and the business and statutory sectors. Given the challenges faced in Northern Ireland, the fact that this partnership has gone from strength to strength is a testament to people's generosity and their determination to help others."

The Large Company award went to Nationwide Building Society for their work with the Northern Ireland's Children's Hospice. Catherine Campbell, a mother of two life limited children, and an ambassador for a children's Hospice service in Northern Ireland met with Dan Corr, Area Manager of Nationwide Building Society in Northern Ireland. After telling her story to the senior management team, it was agreed that Catherine should repeat it to all staff who immediately rallied behind the project. At that time, the Hospice had yet to be built. Appointing 14 volunteers to coordinate fundraising activity in each branch across Northern Ireland, Nationwide established a three-year campaign to raise £100,000 a target they beat by £3,000.

The Small/Medium Company award was presented to The Landscape Centre in Dunadry for their innovative Santa's Forest Trail, a joint venture with Save the Children and Antrim Lions Club. Staged over 15 days each December, with its 7th year coming up in 2003, community support for this venture has grown to 8,000-plus children and 14,000 accompanying adults visiting in 2002. The event has raised over £100,000 for Save the Children's work world-wide plus over £30,000 for local causes.

Supermarket giant Tesco NI won this year's Large Company Employee Award for their support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - one of Northern Ireland’s smaller charities with just one full time member of staff covering 500 families. One of the successful primary objectives of the partnership was to increase awareness and understanding of Cystic Fibrosis, with the focus on Tesco staff forming links with CF patients and their families at local store level. In addition, Tesco agreed to increase funds raised by 20%.

Irwins Bakery, nominated by Macmillan Cancer Relief, received the Small/Medium Company Employee award for their long term support of the Macmillan Buidling at Craigavon Area Hospital . The Irwins fundraising committee has so far raised over £52,000 through coffee mornings, golf days, seasonal raffles and marathons.

PRESS/PHOTOCALL:

Shaun Williamson will be available for interview and picture opportunity at the Ramada Hotel between 7pm and 7.30pm. Members of the Press are invited to attend the awards ceremony which begins at 9.45pm.

Please note that a full list of winners is attached to be kept secret until the ceremony itself.

/Ends

For further information, please contact:

Frances McCandless, NICVA 028 9087 7777 (work), 07721 746804 (mobile).

Notes for editors:

1. This year's winners are attached.

List of winners (91Kb)

2. NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action)is the umbrella body which represents the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.

3. The Link Awards are divided into two main categories:

Employee Category - divided into large company (100-plus employees) and small/medium sized company and given to the employee or group of employees who best assisted the work of a charity in Northern Ireland.

Company Category - divided into large company and small/medium sized company and given to the employer from the public or private sector who has best assisted the work of a charity in Northern Ireland in 2002/3.

The Link Trophy, the most prestigious award, is chosen from the other categories, to go to the company which, together with its employees, has best assisted the work of a charity in Northern Ireland in 2002/3.

There are also three Regional Awards for Belfast, Southern Region and Northern Region.

4. Nominations were judged by a panel of representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors. The Chair again this year was Gerry Burns, formerly Northern Ireland's Ombudsman.

5. As operator of the UK National Lottery, Camelot Group plc is responsible for raising money for the Good Causes designated by Parliament. Camelot is not responsible for awarding or distributing these funds.

6. Camelot is one of the UK's most generous corporate donors in terms of percentage of pre-tax profits donated to charities and community projects through their Community Involvement Programme.

7. Shaun Williamson, famous for his role as Barry Evans in EastEnders, worked as a postman, did a stint in the Navy and sold Wines and Spirits at Safeway's before making his name in acting.

Having gained experience as a Pontin's Bluecoat and a holiday rep for Club 18-30, he sang in a local band and set up his own successful amateur drama group.

After gaining a three-year Diploma in Acting, passed with honours, he appeared in several TV shows before landing the part of Barry Evans in EastEnders. A versatile stand-up comic, he also regularly appears in cabaret and works with an 11-piece Soul band.

In March he is to star in "Carry On London" which goes on national release in autumn 2004.

A general knowledge buff, Shaun achieved the highest score in the history of the "Today's the Day" quiz programme.

He is married with two children.