NIRWN Wins Prestigious Award  -  07/12/2007 __________________________________________________________________ Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network were awarded the Progressive Award for "Innovative Action With a Particular Regional Impact" at the CFNI Community Awards 2007. The awards were presented by Sarah Brown, wife of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a ceremony at the Foundation's Belfast headquarters on Friday 7th December.The Community Awards annually celebrate outstanding achievements of groups and individuals working in the community and voluntary sector. NIRWN are delighted to be recognised for their innovative work within the rural women's sector. The award was presented to Siobhan Doherty, Co-Ordinator of NIRWN and Mary Duggan, Chair of NIRWN. Speaking at the event Siobhan said "This is a very proud moment for NIRWN. As a relatively new organisation, to be recognised as having such an impact regionally, is just wonderful for us". She went on to say "Over the past 15 months over one thousand rural women have benefited from NIRWN training, from networking events, group development activities and policy consultation". NIRWN's aim is to articulate and amplify the voices of rural women at a strategic level and to receive an award for regional impact proves that the Organisaiton is successfully working to this aim. NIRWN would also like to congratulate South Armagh Rural Women's Network who won the McClure Watters Award for best practice in respect of voluntary financial management. Majella Murphy and Patricia Buckley were at the Community Foundation to collect the award on behalf of the Network. Mary Black, Chairperson of The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland said "The Community Awards are a great opportunity to recognise the important and life-changing work of the many community and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland, and we are delighted that the Progressive Building Society has again partnered with us as principal sponsor". She went on to say "Our focus this year on women and women's group has highlighted both the impact of groups and individuals across Northern Ireland who work daily to create a more just society, and our winners are excellent examples of this kind of work". Dr Joan Smyth, Chairman for Progressive, said, "We are delighted to continue our support of the Community Foundation's Community Awards as this reinforces our principal, as a mutual society, to work to serve our Members and contribute to better services". Each of the award winners received a vase donated by Belleek Pottery in Co Fermanagh. The Community Awards are sponsored by the Progressive Building Society.