The Coleraine Support Group has won our Inspire Award for local groups for working tirelessly to support people living with diabetes in their local area and positively promoting our campaigns, initiatives and services.
The Diabetes UK Coleraine Support Group was presented with the award at a ceremony held at the Titanic Belfast on Saturday 2 June, sponsored by one of NI’s leading electricity suppliers, Click Energy.
The group holds meetings every month from September through to April with over 20 people living with diabetes and family members attending. They have a wide range of speakers and especially enjoy the question times, discussions and learning from each other. Over the past 10 years, the group has raised £16,000 for diabetes research and they meet regularly with the researchers based in the Coleraine campus of Ulster University to hear about the progress that is being made.
Collecting the award on behalf of the group, Alastair Smith said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised in this way and it means a lot for us as we are all just trying to help to make a small difference along the way. We have people attending from a wide area around Coleraine and hope that more people with diabetes or family members will come along to our meetings that will start again in September, and see that diabetes doesn’t have to define you.”
Jillian Patchett, our National Director, said: “The Coleraine Support Group has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds to help others living with diabetes. They are a dedicated group of people who care deeply about their local community and helping others.
“I would like to thank the Chair, Albert Clyde and all the members of the Support Group for all that they do and I would like to extend that thanks to all 26 of our fantastic Group members across Northern Ireland – we could not do what we do without your help, dedication and support. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and to those who continue to support people living with diabetes below the radar," Jill Patchett.
Click Energy Managing Director, Damian Wilson, added: “The staff at Click Energy selected Diabetes UK Northern Ireland as the charity of the year for our organisation and we are thrilled to have been able to work together on this event as part of our charity partnership.
“The Inspire Awards provide a great platform for recognising and rewarding the contributions of the many volunteers who are doing great work to support those living with diabetes and to raise awareness surrounding the condition in Northern Ireland.”
Each winner received an Inspire Award from us and a gift from Click Energy including £250 vouchers for Hastings Hotels and £250 vouchers for Currys/PC World.
To find out more about becoming a volunteer for us, please go to our volunteering page.
