Brown Praises NI Community Worker

A community worker in Northern Ireland has received glowing praise from the Prime Minister in a newly published book. Gordon Brown said Community Foundation director Avila Kilmurray had been a constant innovator and serial campaigner during work stretching back 30 years.

She was the only person from Ireland included in the volume, ‘Britain’s Everyday Heroes’ – launched in London by the premier.

In the chapter devoted to Ms Kilmurray Mr Brown writes: “A constant innovator and serial campaigner, Avila`s extraordinary achievements at the Foundation are just one strand of a remarkable career that has seen her make significant contributions to many developments which have changed the face of Northern Ireland over more than 30 years.”

He met Dublin-born Ms Kilmurray in 2004, when the then-Chancellor helped to celebrate the Foundation`s 25th anniversary and the launch of a £6million Challenge Fund. She has been director since 1994.

Established in 1979, the Foundation is an independent grant-making organisation. It manages a broad portfolio of funds and programmes that address social exclusion, poverty and social injustice.