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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£95.2K
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Spending
£90.4K
Public benefits
Maps services those from West Tyrone who served their community in the Police or Military during the period commonly known as the troubles. This is a sizeable and aging section of the community (700 at present not including spouses /partners) who because of their service have felt alienated, isolated and forgotten having to deal with matters
relating to health and finances on their own. From our on street premises we can co-ordinate and provide services that will fulfil our purpose: relieving poverty, sickness and distress; advancing health, education and employability and promoting healing, understanding, tolerance and peace and reconciliation of our beneficiaries. From here we encourage people who have felt isolated to recognise that there is somewhere for them to turn to in a time of need. Having been dealt with poorly on discharge this has led to anger and frustration in this geographically and service wise isolated part of Northern Ireland. We facilitate this anger and encourage people to address their needs. These are the ‘quiet’ victims of terrorism who we are encouraging to seek assistance before irreparable damage is done and future generations are affected. In one year we have had some 2400 people through our doors, 400 different beneficiaries in total. These records are entered on a daily register, on survey monkey and personal files. Our beneficiaries can be regarded as needing to be nurtured and providing low level support to address their needs. New people come forth daily, physically, socially, emotionally or psychologically traumatised or bereaved as a result of their former occupation. We want to address these problems, bring people to a better place and return them to being full and active members of society who can in turn encourage others to seek help or themselves become volunteers. This is an ongoing process with an organisation run by ex-service for ex-service providing a place of refuge, safe in the knowledge that they can trust and open up those who deal with them.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
The best tool we have is being there for drop ins which allows our people to open up and discuss their difficulties. From this we do whatever is needed should it be financial advice or medical / emotional support. With a trained welfare advice volunteer we give low level advice and support and where necessary signpost to other partners. For
instance, when a member, because of their background and location, felt unable to apply for necessary benefits or seek employment. The results of such work is obvious in relieving poverty and wellbeing of those beneficiaries. With trained volunteer befrienders we provide a structured emotional support mechanism for those living alone, in social isolation, dealing with medical issues, dealing with terminal illness and bereavement. The structure of this confidential service means full records are kept and the service is externally supervised. In all aspects we work to bring people to a better place to help them as they may strive, via others, to gain justice. We are there for them in their dark days and to help them on the journey to peace and reconciliation by engaging with other groups and other communities. Volunteers with ‘listening ear’ training can give the necessary support to those who are on the first rungs of the steps of addressing their mental needs. Most are in need of someone there when necessary rather than in depth psychological interventions. To make people adaptable to society we provide and encourage people to take part in educational courses that will assist their journey to recovery eg mental health awareness and simple computer courses. Other courses dealing with life skills and crafts are also available. In cases these are enough to assist to make the beneficiaries more acceptable to employment. It also encourages people to become more involved in the voluntary and community sector.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Men
- Mental health
- Older people
- Specific areas of deprivation
- Unemployed/low income
- Victim support
- Voluntary and community sector
- Volunteers
- Women
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Education/training
- Medical/health/sickness
- Relief of poverty
- Volunteer development
- Welfare/benevolent
