Children’s Ombudsman launches Connecting Communites to celebrate child-friendly communities

Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, plans to recognise and celebrate good work happening in local communities all over Ireland to improve the lives of children and young people through Connecting Communities, a new initiative undertaken by her Office and launched today (Monday).

Emily Logan said:

“Part of my job as Ombudsman for Children is to promote good practice in relation to how children and young people are treated. I spend much of my time meeting children and young people in their communities in different parts of the country. Five years into this job, and I am still impressed by the hard work and commitment of the dedicated professionals and volunteers I meet. Through Connecting Communities, my Office aims to celebrate child and youth-friendly communities, people and ways of working.”

Connecting Communities invites entries from not-for-profit community projects and programmes working with children, young people and their families that make a positive impact in their localities. The initiative aims to recognise community work across five categories:

• the Safer Community;
• the Community that promotes play and leisure;
• the Inclusive Community;
• the Family-friendly Community;

And a special category – Community projects nominated by children and young people.

Community groups have until the beginning of June to submit their programmes or projects. Submissions will be assessed the Connecting Communities Advisory Group which is made up of young people, parents, community workers and professionals. Projects chosen by the Advisory Group will be recognised at a ceremony at the end of June.

Connecting Communities is based on the views of children, young people and parents identified through a consultation undertaken by Children’s Research Centre, Trinity College for the OCO. It follows on from the Big Ballot national vote by 75,000 children and young people in 2007, which identified play and recreation, family and care, and young people having a voice as som e of the most important issues for the under 18s.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Read more about Connecting Communities here

Contact Nikki Gallagher at 01-8656800 or 086-8163246

• 30 Márta 2009
• Cineál: Preaseisiúint