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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 28 Sep 2018
Public benefits
Via Wings was established to relieve poverty/need, to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare. Via Wings provides benefit to those in poverty or need by providing food and basic necessities to families in need in the local community. The provision of sufficient food and basic necessities benefits those in
need by alleviating hunger, financial worry and distress. Since September 2013, Via Wings has partnered with Blytheswood Care, Banbridge. As a result a greater number of families have benefitted directly from ready access to nutritious food and products which help to ensure that children and vulnerable adults maintain an adequate standard of health and live in a sanitary home environment. Benefit is evidenced by a significant uptake by families in need. Via Wings has not identified any harm as a result of the provision of food and basic necessities, nor has it identified any private benefit arising from this purpose. Advancement of education - Via Wings social enterprise projects provide opportunities for men and women to develop skills in retail, administration, arts and crafts, parenting courses, ICT classes and Barista training. Via Wings takes on Duke of Edinburgh students or other award students. This enables them to fulfil the service component of their schemes. The benefit that flows from this purpose is that people from the Dromore area and their families will have their lives enhanced through education and greater career or job opportunities. This is evidenced by completion of training courses by volunteers, referred clients and young people on placement. Any potential risks or harm fall into the category of health and safety and have been addressed through thorough training and risk assessments. Any potential harm is outweighed by the benefit. Via Wings has not identified any private benefit arising from this purpose. The Interests of Social Welfare - Via Wings most recent project is its Social Enterprise which includes Hope & Soul, a 'Shabby Chic' Shop and The Olive Branch Coffee Shop based in Dromore town centre. This provides income to sustain the work of the charity. The social enterprise provides opportunities for men and women to develop skills in retail, admin, and barista training amongst others. The Hope and Soul project is self-sustaining in that all handmade items in the shop are made by volunteers or women attending Via Wings craft projects. House of Hope is the charity's outreach centre and was set up as a place of friendship and learning for the entire community. In particular, women come together and find people who listen, understand, provide help and advice over a cup of tea or a bowl of soup. The house is also a place to learn and gain confidence and knowledge based skills for the future. The benefit that flows from this purpose is that our beneficiaries are able to develop new skills, enhance training and qualifications. New friendships are formed and cross community links are strengthened. This is evidenced by well attended cross community events such as the annual "Vintage Tea Party", open mic nights and other musical events. It is also evidenced by good uptake of training and continued good footfall within the social enterprises. Any potential risks or harm are minimal and arise from occupiers’ liability risks. These matters are addressed through continued training, risk assessments and occupiers and employers liability insurances. Via Wings has identified a potential private benefit to the owner of the rented accommodation through improvements made by redecorating and maintaining the premises. Via Wings believes this to be a minimal benefit which is ancillary to the main public benefit. The public benefit greatly outweighs any ancillary benefit. Via Wings has not identified any harm arising from this purpose.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Via Wings is a community based voluntary organisation set up in response to identified social and welfare need in the area of Dromore, Co. Down. Via Wings is a non-profit making organisation. The organisation was formed by members of the local community following contact and discussion with other Community and Church Groups and with local Social
Services. Via Wings members had been made aware of families in the area who were socially vulnerable or isolated and who were in dire need of practical help and support. As a result Via Wings became involved in its first venture during the summer of 2009. Working alongside local Social Services, founder members were able to provide to families in crisis items such as groceries, home heating oil, and other non perishable items. Families were able to benefit immediately from a very practical response and the feed back from those who have benefitted is extremely positive. Following the success of this initial intervention, Via Wings went on to expand this particular project whilst at the same time further considering how to provide practical community support to families in need. As a result Via Wings is now concentrating its efforts on developing a community and resource centre - House of Hope – where young mothers will be able to access training and develop social contacts and where ready access is available to emergency provisions for those in need. Social Enterprises of a coffee shop and recycling shop have also been established. Critical to the success to date of the work carried out by Via Wings is the very positive partnership which has developed with Social Services. Via Wings has been entered for the Queens Award.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- The advancement of education
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Adult training
- Carers
- Children (5-13 year olds)
- General public
- Men
- Mental health
- Older people
- Parents
- Preschool (0-5 year olds)
- Volunteers
- Women
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Community development
- Community enterprise
- Education/training
- General charitable purposes
- Relief of poverty
- Volunteer development
- Welfare/benevolent
Charitable purposes
Via Wings was established to relieve poverty and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Dromore (hereinafter referred to as “the beneficiaries”) and its environs of County Down (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants and in particular: a) to maintain and manage a centre or centres in the area of benefit for activities promoted by the charity ( hereinafter called "the Centre"); b) the provision of programmes in order to advance education and to promote the benefit of the beneficiaries, and in particular mothers with children; c) the provision of practical help for the beneficiaries who require such assistance as a result of their economic circumstances.