Nominees
Catherina Casey
Born in Blarney, Co. Cork, graduated from UCC with a degree in English and History, then went on to pursue a career in the health and leisure industry at senior management level for 13 years, 7 of which were spent in South East Asia. Appointed to the role of GM of the Irish Cultural Centre in 2007, Chair of Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s Advisory forum in 2009 and founded London’s first official Irish Writers’ Festival in 2011.
Irish Culture is my passion and I consider it to be Ireland’s greatest asset.
My challenge is limited resources. My attitude is that we can all use excuses for what we don’t achieve. My approach is follow your dreams no matter what obstacles or opinions get in the way! I use raw energy, hard work, good relational skills and, crucially, a good dollop of humour in pursuit of my goals.
Key achievements during past 4 years:
- Directing a rebrand and establishing a marketing function to raise the profile of the Irish Cultural Centre
- Steering the primary focus of the Centre towards the delivery of programme of Irish Cultural Education including introducing an active Schools Outreach Programme
- Introducing Holiday Culture Camps for Children
- Devising the St. Patrick’s Schools Competition – entitled ‘Getting to Know Your Neighbour’, with the aim of developing Ireland’s relationship with young Londoners and succeeding in securing financial support and marketing support from the Mayor of London’s office, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia
- Founding and directing the Irish Writers’ Festival of London in 2011
- Devising and managing the current ‘Wear Your Heart for Irish Arts’ campaign to save the Irish Cultural Centre
Vote for Catherina via our online form or download the nomination form
Trish McEntee
Over the past 30 years in London I have been involved with many charities in an active voluntary fundraising role. As a founder member of the IYF Committee in the UK in 1989 I established my status as ‘Raffle Queen’ before joining the WIN Exec in 1998. Through participation in events and running marathons, I have raised funds for ICAP, the MAYA Centre, the London Irish Women’s Centre, The Passage (Victoria), The High and Dry Club (Irish Centre), The Tricycle Theatre, The Marsden Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital (Dublin) and Crumlin Hospital (Dublin).
In April 2006 I was appointed Fundraiser for SCAT (Skeletal Cancer Action Trust) at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. In a part time capacity I have rebranded this tiny charity and raised over £1m and rising to help bone cancer patients in filling the gaps left by NHS funding. SCAT now funds research fellowships at UCL and has launched a £1m research project with the Wellcome Sanger Institute into the DNA of bone cancer. In addressing limb salvage and mobility our ‘Live Life to the Full’ project also provides state of the art limbs for young people who have an amputation due to bone cancer.
I use a very simple strategy in my work – try everything, involve others and ASK! It is a privilege to fundraise and there are untold, unsought returns through human connection and friendship.
Vote for Trish via our online form or download the nomination form
Jenny Moss
Jenny is a community advocate for the charity Kalayaan where she has worked for the past three and a half years giving advice to migrant domestic workers and helping them campaign for improvements in their rights. Jenny has increased the profile of migrant domestic worker issues in the media and internationally and has focused attention on diplomatic domestic workers, previously less well represented. She has worked to improve the organisation’s data analysis and designed new projects including research which is now being used to contest Government claims. Kalayaan’s increased profile has helped bring in additional funds including the first corporate funding for the organisation. In her previous position at Toynbee Hall, Jenny worked to increase the sustainability of financial inclusion services by offering train the trainer sessions in the homeless and domestic violence sector as well as increasing the reach of the service to the most vulnerable.
Vote for Jenny via our online form or download the nomination form
Caroline Murphy
Caroline grew up in London with her mother (from Kilkenny) who gave Caroline a strong sense of her Irish roots and culture. Caroline studied for a BA (Hons) in Applied Community Studies at Manchester University before returning to London initially to manage pubs but very soon decided to work with vulnerable people, to peruse her passion and commitment that has remains with her.
Caroline spent 3 years working the field of mental health and a further 3 years working in Alcohol Recovery Projects. In 2006 Caroline took up the post of project manager at Solas Anois, working with Irish women and Traveller women and children to support and provide the women with options to release themselves from domestic violence and offer respite and a place of safety at Solas Anois. Caroline has worked closely with the Irish Youth Foundation and “Nessa’s house” in the garden of Solas Anois is a testament to that work, and a tribute to the funds Nessa O’Neill raised.
Caroline is now Lambeth Services manger due to her dedication and commitment to support Irish and traveller women fleeing domestic violence. In terms of innovative Caroline has supported staff at the refuge to fund raise locally – we won the Scarecrow award at the Lambeth festival. This awarded us £250.00 to pay for children therapeutic services – much needed, as too often the children‘s needs are overlooked in domestic violence. We also have fundraising boxes at our local Sainsbury’s.
In terms of inspiration, Caroline has leads many teams that has used their initiative to fundraise independently, to come up with new ways of fundraising to the point of harassment…But it’s welcomed!
In terms of positive contribution, Caroline has been involved in the maintenance of the only UK Irish and Traveller refuge and the continual discussion for the need of funding this service.
We now have funding for a further 3 years, following a visit from one of the commissioners who listened to the women and then understood their need for a refuge that will accommodate Irish Travellers and Irish women. As a result our funding is secure for 3 years.
Vote for Caroline via our online form or download the nomination form