The Holywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Camphill Holywood as the overall winner of the President’s Award for Community Impact 2025, supported by Woven, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to inclusive community life, social enterprise, and local engagement.

 

Founded in 1997 and part of the wider Camphill Movement, Camphill Holywood has grown into a vibrant residential care home and café with a mission far beyond coffee and traybakes. The organisation supports adults with learning disabilities, weaving together living, working, and caring in a way that breaks down barriers between ‘able’ and ‘disabled’, between generations, cultures, and experiences.

 

“We are delighted to recognise Camphill Holywood with this year’s Community Impact Award,” said Barbara Wilson, Joint President of the Holywood Chamber. “They embody everything this award stands for- compassion, inclusion, creativity, and long-term commitment to making Holywood a kinder, more connected place.”

 

In what was a highly competitive category, four local businesses were also Highly Commended for their exceptional contributions to the community: Holywood Community District Council, Hooked Boxing Club, Breathwork by Joe, and John Gray & Co. Each organisation plays a vital role in improving the wellbeing, culture, and cohesion of our town.

 

Camphill Holywood includes around 20 employees, live-in team members, and a network of local and international volunteers. Their café on Shore Road  – run as a social enterprise – is a beloved local space, where the pace is slower and where staff and residents alike prepare soups, sourdough bread, quiches, salads, and their signature bakes from scratch, catering for all dietary needs and focusing on sustainability wherever possible.

 

“We’re deeply honoured by this award,” said Siobhán Reynolds, a member of the Camphill Holywood team. “It’s not about big gestures – it’s the little things that matter: helping an elderly customer navigate an online order, making weekly deliveries to those who need them, or simply taking time for a meaningful chat. This is what community looks like. We are an inclusive organisation whether its learning difficulties or you find yourself living in Northern Ireland through no choice of your own. We support people where and when they need it.”

 

Camphill Holywood also plays an active role in broader inclusion efforts- offering work placements and skill-building support to those who might otherwise be overlooked, including refugees and people with learning disabilities. Every part of their operation – from their homemade chutneys to the dry goods stocked in their eco-conscious shop – includes meaningful contributions from the adults they support.

 

“As the youngest Camphill community in Northern Ireland, we are proud to live and work in Holywood,” added Siobhán. “This town is our home, and this award encourages us to keep going- even when it’s tough to compete with mainstream cafés. We’ll continue to offer something deeper: a place where everyone belongs.”

 

Philip Whyte, from Woven Housing sponsored this award, he said: “At Woven, our mission is to build not just houses, but homes and communities where people feel they truly belong. That’s why we are delighted to sponsor the Community Impact Award through our Housing for All programme in Holywood  – because organisations like Camphill Holywood reflect the very essence of what we believe in: inclusion, dignity, and connection. They are a shining example of how meaningful spaces can transform lives, and we are proud to celebrate their work here in Holywood.”

 

 

The Holywood Chamber Presidents Awards celebrate the innovation, resilience, and achievements of local businesses across the town. Run bi-monthly, each award focuses on a different category – recognising those making a real difference in the business community. The Community Impact Award highlights organisations creating connection, inclusion, and long-term positive change. Winners were selected by a panel of five independent judges who assessed each nomination against clear criteria for community engagement and social impact.

 

Visit www.holywoodchamber.com to learn more about the next award in the series: the Health & Wellbeing / Feel Good & Fit Award — now open for entries and available for sponsorship.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editor:

Camphill Holywood is a registered charity and part of a global Camphill movement founded on principles of inclusive, intentional living.

There are four Camphill communities in Northern Ireland; Holywood is the most urban and the youngest, focused on living and working with adults with learning disabilities.

Media contact: Angela Hunter, Birdsong Communications, 07970 294 406 angelahunterbirdsong@gmail.com