Local churches receive awards for creating accessible buildings

The Willian Keown Trust's Prestige Access Awards were held recently at the Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre in Lisburn, when fifteen buildings and facilities received Awards.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Jan 2019, 09:42 BST
Updated 10th Jan 2019, 14:45 BST
Maze Presbyterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards which were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. PIctured are Rev William Henry and Harry McKendry, Property Convenor, Maze Presbyterian Church, Judith Hamilton, Knox & Markwell, Architects, Alan McNeill, MSM Contracts Ltd, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust.Maze Presbyterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards which were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. PIctured are Rev William Henry and Harry McKendry, Property Convenor, Maze Presbyterian Church, Judith Hamilton, Knox & Markwell, Architects, Alan McNeill, MSM Contracts Ltd, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust.
Maze Presbyterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards which were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. PIctured are Rev William Henry and Harry McKendry, Property Convenor, Maze Presbyterian Church, Judith Hamilton, Knox & Markwell, Architects, Alan McNeill, MSM Contracts Ltd, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust.

Amongst the winners were Maze Presbyterian, Drumbo Presbyterian and Moira Presbyterian Churches.

It was obvious from the reading of the citation for each building that some had gone the ‘extra mile’ when it came to accommodating those with a disability.

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The Awards were handed over by Mr Trevor Taylor, the Deputy President to the Trust. After the presenting of the Awards, Mr Philip Beattie, the Trust’s Chairman called upon Mr Robert Colvin, a retired Building Control Officer and someone who has taken a keen interest in the work of The William Keown Trust, to address the audience.

Moira Presbuterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards whic were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. Pictured are Jim Irwin & Kevin Stewart, Jim Irwin Contracts Ltd, Ian Watson, Clerk of Session, Moira Presbyterian Church, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust, Rev Howard Gilpin, Moira Presbyterian Church.Moira Presbuterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards whic were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. Pictured are Jim Irwin & Kevin Stewart, Jim Irwin Contracts Ltd, Ian Watson, Clerk of Session, Moira Presbyterian Church, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust, Rev Howard Gilpin, Moira Presbyterian Church.
Moira Presbuterian Church won an award at the Willian Keown Trusts Prestige Access Awards whic were held recently at Lagan Valley Island. Pictured are Jim Irwin & Kevin Stewart, Jim Irwin Contracts Ltd, Ian Watson, Clerk of Session, Moira Presbyterian Church, Trevor Taylor, Deputy President, William Keown Trust, Rev Howard Gilpin, Moira Presbyterian Church.

Mr Colvin said: “It’s difficult for us to believe now when there is a much more sympathetic attitude to minorities that organisations such as the William Keown Trust had to actively and persistently lobby for recognition for some seventeen percent of the people in Northern Ireland, the percentage that were registered as disabled.”

He went on to say that the main barrier was attitude and the second barrier was the physical built environment and it was the William Keown Trust who drove change in this area, in a number of ways with the introduction in 1990 of the William Keown Trust Prestige Access Awards.

After Mr Colvin spoke, all present were invited to remain for what proved to be a delicious supper.

Related topics:Lisburn