Eco volunteers are celebrated at the Live Here Love Here awards evening
- Unit T, based in Newcastle, receives the Newry Mourne and Down District Council Regional Champions Award.
Live Here Love Here, a people-powered campaign dedicated to improving the local environment and fostering civic pride, has revealed the winners of its 2025 Community Awards and groups from Newcastle and Crossgar were winners on the night.
The event, held at Belfast City Hall on Thursday, February 6 and hosted by TV presenter Joe Mahon, brought together over 150 guests including DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, local leaders, environmental advocates and volunteers to honour the outstanding contributions of voluntary community groups across Northern Ireland working to improve the environment and promote civic pride.
The event was sponsored by Power NI and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), nine local councils, and the Housing Executive.
The awards serve as a vital platform for recognising the power of collective action in tackling community environmental challenges such as dog fouling, littering, biodiversity loss, transformation of neglected spaces, and environmental education.
On the night, 12 awards were presented to celebrate the achievements of local community groups, including the Regional Champions Awards, which honoured volunteers from Live Here Love Here’s nine partner council areas.
Newcastle-based Unit T, founded in 2013, received Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Regional Champions Award for its work reducing isolation and promoting health and wellbeing through projects like clean-ups, recycling, community lunches, and the Newcastle Community Fridge, which distributes surplus food.
Crossgar Community Village Greens was also recognised in this category as runners-up for its efforts to improve the local village through planting flowers, installing picnic tables, and securing funding for a riverside project.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne, said: “I am delighted to congratulate Unit T as a winner in the Regional Champions Award category, their work is truly inspirational.
“All the staff and volunteers should be commended for their efforts in reducing isolation and promoting health and wellbeing through projects like clean-ups, recycling and community lunches.
“We as a Council also work closely with Live Here Love Here and are delighted to see how many of our constituents have engaged with their programmes.
“Their work plays a significant part in helping us to achieve our goal of improving our local environmental quality. Every improvement action that takes place in our local communities, however ,small, adds to the overall wellbeing of our district.”
Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Manager, said: “The Community Awards resonate because they celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities who are driving real environmental change through volunteer work.
“This year, the theme ‘Community Connections’ made it even more special as we honoured groups that demonstrate the power of collective action.
“Whether it’s transforming vacant land into thriving green spaces or mobilising locals to restore and protect local waterways, these groups are proving that no action is too small to make a difference.
“We’re reminded that, together, we can build a cleaner, greener, and more connected Northern Ireland.”
She added: “We also want to thank DAERA, Power NI, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, and our nine council partners for their continued support, which ensures the ongoing success of Live Here Love Here.”
For more information on the Live Here Love Here campaign and the Community Awards, visit:
The Lasting Contribution Award, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, was presented to County Down’s Copeland Bird Observatory in recognition of over six decades of commitment to environmental sustainability and community improvement through efforts such as bird conservation and research and volunteer action.
The Bright Future Award, supported by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, saw Antrim Community Fridge recognised for their innovative approach to environmental stewardship. This award recognised the up-and-coming group whose efforts are paving the way for the next generation of green initiatives.
While, the Community Together Award, supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, was awarded to Holywood Shared Town from Ards and North Down Council Area for their dedication to breaking down barriers, fostering unity, and driving positive change through community collaboration.
About Live Here Love Here: Live Here Love Here offers a raft of volunteering opportunities to support individuals and groups across all stages of their environmental journeys.
These range from organising or taking part in a one-off clean up with BIG Spring Clean, to creating healthier communities through Adopt A Spot, and to encouraging others to step-up and take action through the Ambassador Programme.
The campaign is a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and nine of the eleven councils.
