Local organisation wins London newspaper award

S.T.E.P. has been operating in the Dungannon and South Tyrone area since 1997 providing training, advice, special project delivery to the most marginalised members of the community there. Most recently S.T.E.P. has gained regional and national notoriety for its Migrant Support Work, held as a best practice example across Northern Ireland. The Irish World is a community newspaper for the Irish community living outside Ireland. Based in North West London, the Irish World covers all aspects of news and current affairs and the newspaper is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The annual Irish World Awards have become the focal point for the newspaper as a celebration of the achievements and contributions made by a diverse range of Irish people to society. STEP was honoured to receive a humanitarian award for its contribution to community life in South Tyrone.

Bernadette McAliskey, Co-ordinator of S.T.E.P. travelled to London to receive the award “ It was a particular pleasure for me to return to the heart of the Irish Community in London, to receive this award on behalf of S.T.E.P. Many of London Irish immigrants of Kilburn and Cricklewood have moved up and on across the city, and the immediate locality is now multi-cultural, and thriving; the legendary ‘Crown’ is now a prestigious hotel. It was a privilege and honour to receive this award for S.T.E.P. from a newspaper that has served the Irish emigrant community over twenty years; and to be acknowledged for the work of our organisation over ten years both in respect of supporting the local community, as we move forward from the political conflict; helping to stem emigration from the rural area, and for our contribution to new inward migrating communities”.