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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Community & Voluntary Services

  • Removed

  • This charity was removed from the register on 14 Apr 2022
Charity no. 100180 Date registered. 19/05/2014

Public benefits

The advancement of health or the saving of lives: The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include: -A reduction in isolation, loneliness and fear of crime through the provision of services and community based projects -Projects include Good Morning Neighbour, a project delivering health related services to older and vulnerable adults, and

REaCH, a project delivering weight management, nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices for targeted sectors of the community -Benefits of such projects are received to individuals and communities in that they are provided with resources, support and services to increase their health -Participants in such projects gain better awareness of health related matters to enable them to better manage their health and lifestyle choices -Reduced isolation and loneliness helps to keep the service user involved in the local community, ensuring they have access to other services helping to reduce the possible impact of depression through ongoing contact within the local community. The advancement of education: The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include: -The provision of community and creative education enhances the development of individual skills, understanding and capabilities -Increased knowledge of individual beneficiaries on issues such as personal and home security is enhanced -Groups/organisations benefit from enhanced knowledge on issues such as data protection, information technology and vetting procedures -The provision of courses on creative arts and media technology provide educational and social opportunities for individuals and group members to build skill levels, increase social engagements and participate in inter-generational activities with young people. The advancement of citizenship and community development: The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include: -Volunteering is promoted for all members of the community -Social inclusion is promoted for older and vulnerable adults and young people -Opportunities are made available for everyone to volunteer in local projects, participate in training and education programmes to enhance skills and knowledge, work with volunteers and encourage greater participation by volunteers in local activities -The building of support and relationships within communities from participation in these activities by service users, creating their own local informal support groups -Benefits of increased social inclusion for older and vulnerable people include the ability to engage with volunteers from the community visiting and taking them to local events, building friendships, 365 day a year phone calls, providing relief services in times of extreme weather or during community health alerts (e.g. flu epidemics), participating in inter-generational projects with young people on specific issues such as anti-social behaviour and using technology to assist independence in the home -Participating in these projects by young people has increased their understanding of older and vulnerable people’s issues and has encouraged some of them to seek other volunteering opportunities. These benefits are evidenced through feedback from all service users, ongoing participation from individuals and groups, increased numbers of service users of projects and activities, increased participation by older people through the provision of transport and support to other service users, and increasing number of requests for services from health care professionals. The charity’s beneficiaries are the inhabitants of the districts of Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Cookstown, Dungannon, Magherafelt, and Newry and Mourne. There is no harm derived from the furtherance of our purposes. The only private benefit flowing from our purposes is the employment of key members of staff; however this is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries in furtherance of the purposes of the organisation.

What your organisation does

Community & Voluntary Services (CVS) provides services, hosts and manages other projects through partnerships with statutory bodies and agencies. Good Morning Neighbour Project provides telephone calls to older and vulnerable people and weekly visits with accompaniment to social or educational activities. Main focus is to help reduce isolation,

loneliness and fear of crime. Other service provisions are information, medication and appointment reminders, sign posting and referral on to other agencies. Community Safety Warden is a service provided to all residents, groups and business throughout Dungannon council area. Focusing on anti social behaviour, fear of crime, youth diversionary activities, personal, home, business security plus establishing neighbourhood and farm watch schemes. The REaCH Project for Armagh and Dungannon areas is managed through CVS on behalf of the Southern Health & Social Care Trust, targeting healthy lifestyles and engaging individuals and groups in healthy outside activities such as community allotments. CVS hosts and supports the Neighbourhood Health Co-ordinator for Dungannon and Coalisland areas providing core office services, volunteers and other support through existing projects. CVS provides information, signposting, referral and Access NI services to individuals seeking to volunteer and to organisations recruiting volunteers. Through it’s existing projects and through targeted projects CVS delivers workshops, training and non accredited courses on personal safety and home safety, protection of data and computer and other communication systems and recreational courses on digital photography, digital video and computer usage for beginners. CVS sits on various local bodies that seek to improve the lives of individuals and communities these include Armagh Community Safety Partnership, Mid Ulster Seniors Network, Community Sector Training and Good Morning Network Northern Ireland.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of health or the saving of lives
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development

Who the charity helps

  • Community safety/crime prevention
  • Older people
  • Voluntary and community sector
  • Volunteers
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Community development
  • Education/training
  • Medical/health/sickness
  • Volunteer development

Charitable purposes

The objects (“Objects) of the company are to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the districts of Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Cookstown, Dungannon, Magherafelt, Newry and Mourne and their surrounding environs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and promote health and well being with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants and in particular: (a) the provision of advice, training, information and support services to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of voluntary and community organisations; (b) to provide support, training and advice on volunteering to support volunteer placement organisations; (c) to provide facilities and programmes designed to improve the health, safety and social welfare of the inhabitants in the area of benefit.