Dungiven woman celebrates All-Ireland award

A Dungiven woman is celebrating after the charity she works for won an All -Ireland award for its work to improve the lives of people through '˜digital inclusion.'
Stephanie McKillop (in centre) with Alan McManus & Sandra McDowell (Carrickfergus Community members).Stephanie McKillop (in centre) with Alan McManus & Sandra McDowell (Carrickfergus Community members).
Stephanie McKillop (in centre) with Alan McManus & Sandra McDowell (Carrickfergus Community members).

Stephanie McKillop (nee Brolly) is the Digital Inclusion officer for Supporting Communities and the charitable organisation is celebrating after scooping the Aontas Star Award for Digital Inclusion at the all island awards ceremony in Dublin last week.

“The awards celebrate the positive contribution that these initiatives make to individual adult learners; local communities and our wider society,” said a Supporting Communities spokesperson.

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“Stephanie McKillop, Supporting Communities Digital Inclusion Officer, has been working to bring the benefits of going online to communities throughout Northern Ireland for over five years, and her hard work is showing some impressive results.

“Ever since partnering with the Department of Finance’s Go On NI Initiative in 2012, Supporting Communities has trained over 1,200 people in basic digital skills.

“Rosemary McCaw and Sally McDonald accompanied Stef to the awards ceremony on Monday having been shortlisted and interviewed for the prize earlier this year. At the interview, Rosemary and Sally told Aontas how learning to use a computer and the internet had changed things for them and the over-50’s group they run in Coleraine.

Supporting Communities have been incredibly successful at providing training, help, and support to those who need it.

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“They continue to show that digital inclusion isn’t about technology. It’s about people; people helping other people to see how the internet can transform their lives.

“ Local, face to face, friendly and supportive – they really do put people at the centre of digital inclusion.”

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