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HBA receives IWS Community and Social Responsibility Award
Today, November 23rd, Irene O’Neill, Child Welfare Officer of the Heritage Boat Association (HBA), and Holly Farrell and Robbie Saunders, members of the HBA, received a Community and Social Responsibility award from the Irish Water Safety body, at City Hall, Dublin.
The award was presented by Michael Finneran, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The Community & Social Responsibility Award is given in recognition of the support given to Irish Water Safety’s community work, charitable activities and commitment to drowning prevention initiatives and the reduction of aquatic related injuries.
Holly and Robbie received the HBA's merit badge for the programme during the summer and were today representing all the recipients of the “Safety Sam” badge.
In their list of recipients, the IWS stated under Heritage Boat Association:
“Irene O'Neill - Child Welfare Officer and members of the Heritage Boat Association, who were recipients of the HBA's merit badge for the "Safety Sam" programme, Holly Farrell and Robbie Saunders.
This year’s CIC saw the launch of a safety programme for their junior members. The programme is part of an exercise to promote general safety awareness in children, under the responsibility of the Child Welfare Officer.
“Safety Sam” tackled the issue of safety in and around locks. There was a theory class for the juniors, a practical test on a moored barge and finally a practical test on boats. In addition to water safety, each junior had to get permission to do the course, let family know when they were setting off and when they had finished.
Everyone was very keen to earn Safety Sam’s Merit Badge! Safety Sam, a pal for life!”
There were seven recipients of the Community & Social Responsibility Award this year:
- Sky Media for broadcasting IWS drowning prevention public service announcements on their TV channels
- Seiko for sponsoring the IWS "Just In Time" Rescue awards over the last ten years
- KIA motors for providing two vehicles to mobilise the IWS Safety Development officer
- Heritage Boat Association for the "Safety Sam" programme, promoting general safety awareness in children
- Louis Walshe for support to those performers who give their time free when promoting the IWS message
- Jedward for promoting the IWS Safe Summer Swimming Guide
- Brian Ormond of RTE for his participation in National Water Safety Awareness week and promoting a series of IWS initiatives
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