Strabane Gift Card project earns national award nomination
Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Love Strabane Business Improvement District (BID) have been named as national finalists at the upcoming 2026 APSE Service Awards. The partnership is competing for the “Best Public/Private Partnership Working Initiative” award, a category that highlights excellence in collaborative service delivery across the United Kingdom.
Event Details: APSE Service Awards Charity Dinner
The winners of the 2026 APSE Service Awards will be announced during a charity dinner held in Liverpool. The event details are as follows:
- Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026
- Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Princes Dock, Liverpool
- Purpose: Announcement of national award winners and fundraising for Parkinson’s UK
- Audience: Local government representatives and award nominees
Recognition for the Love Strabane Gift Card
The nomination recognizes the success of the Love Strabane Christmas Gift Card, an initiative launched in 2018 to stimulate the local economy. By encouraging consumers to keep their spending within the town, the scheme has grown to include over 80 participating businesses, ranging from independent retailers to hospitality venues in the town centre.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, noted that the project reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the town centre’s commercial offering. “The Gift Card has become a real success story, encouraging people to shop local while providing businesses with a valuable opportunity to attract new customers,” she said.
Dr. Kieran Kennedy M.B.E., Chair of Love Strabane, emphasized that the recognition on a national stage validates the hard work of the partnership over the past eight years. APSE Chief Executive Mo Baines added that the awards are designed to celebrate frontline teams who demonstrate resilience and innovation in their respective communities.
Practical Information and Attendance
The APSE Service Awards Charity Dinner serves as the official venue for the announcement of the 2026 winners. While the event is a key milestone for the nominees and local government representatives, specific details regarding ticket availability, public entry requirements, or event start times were not provided in the official announcement. Attendees and interested parties should monitor official APSE communications or local council updates for any further logistical information regarding the ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Source: Derry City and Strabane Council News
Context & actions About this article
Source check Fact-checked via official council announcement
The details regarding the APSE Service Awards nomination and event logistics were verified against the official announcement from Derry City and Strabane District Council.
- Cross-referenced award category with APSE 2026 criteria
- Confirmed event venue and date against source evidence
- Verified participant roles and project history
- Source
- Derry City and Strabane Council News
- Scope
- Strabane, United Kingdom
- Updated
- 2026-08-06 10:18
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