BT Connect Castlebridge's Community Groups

Five community groups from Castlebridge joined forces to win a package of IT equipment from BT's Community Connections programme which will benefit themselves as well as the wider community by getting many more people online.

Castlebridge boasts one of the first winners in a new category launched as part of this year's BT Community Connections scheme; the 'Cluster Award' allows community and voluntary groups to apply together, with successful organisations winning a laptop and 12-month's free internet access. In addition each group received a personalised package of IT equipment which includes digital cameras and software.

The award-winning Castlebridge Cluster is made up of the Castlebridge Youth Project; St Ibar's National School; Castlebridge Community Centre; Wexford Local Development and Castlebridge Day Centre.

Diarmuid Doolan, from Wexford Local Development, said: 'Each of the groups have one common goal - to improve conditions and opportunities for people and families in the area taking into account the social and community development needs of the local population. All of the groups carry out excellent work in their own right but together they complement each other and deliver a vital and very necessary range of community based activity and services.

'Winning this award has made such a difference to us collectively and each individual group is delighted with their IT equipment. We will be able to provide connection to the internet for those in the community who have no other access as well as offering IT training. We can all publicise our work and ensure we reach every member of the Castlebridge community between us.'

The awards were presented to members of the Castlebridge Cluster on Monday (23 November) by William McAuliffe, business development manager, for BT Ireland, who said: 'The BT Community Connections awards will allow these groups, who work tirelessly throughout the community, to reach even further and bring massive benefits to more people. It is great to see people learning new skills and then using these to encourage greater community cohesion.'

Carmel O'Connor, head of corporate responsibility, BT Ireland, said: 'Our BT Community Connections scheme has always worked to get groups of all kinds online but this year we have introduced the new Cluster Award specifically to encourage networking between community groups. It is plain to see that the members of the Castlebridge Cluster are already working fantastically well together.

'However our equipment will allow each of them to do even more for the people in their local community as well as enabling larger numbers of people to get online.'

BT Community Connections targets community and charitable groups to allow them to get online and reap the huge benefits available through accessing the internet and information technology. BT Community Connections has already reached out across the UK and Ireland and helped six million people who may never have plugged into the internet before.

And the good news for other groups is that BT Community Connections Cluster Award is not only open to new groups, but also to past winners. Up to five groups, but no less than three can apply together. For more information or to apply for an award by 7 January 2010, simply visit www.btcommunityconnections.com.