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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 19 Sep 2024
Public benefits
The beneficiaries of The Villages Together are community groups and the general public living in the area of benefit. There is no harm flowing from the purposes of The Villages Together. The Villages Together provides practical support, guidance, information, signposting and networking opportunities for member groups, through our locally based
staff, office space and network services and programmes. This benefits rural community groups in developing sustainable rural communities, directly tackling issues that are causing disadvantage and poverty. Maintaining information networks are open and active, keeping local groups up to speed on relevant issues and ensuring groups are encouraged and supported to move beyond boundaries and attempt new and exciting work. Our thematic approach is also supported by various funders which enables us to explore and share learning on issues as diverse as social enterprise and the Impact of reduced government spending. We are also encouraging groups to market their activities more widely and encouraging groups to open up to new ideas, people and projects. We support good Community Development practice and support groups and Individuals as they struggle to address what this means for their voluntary activity. The Villages Together aims to be proactive in its outreach to the wider community, however, we also have a demand to be reactive and be able to support local communities during times of current crisis or specific activities – for instance, loss of school transport, spending cuts impacts on children. We are actively encouraging the local community to understand and participate community planning and how this could affect them. A private benefit to trustees may arise from our programme of ongoing training in good governance, finance etc. Through this training trustees gain skills and experience which are transferable to other settings. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. The Benefits are demonstrated through feedback from the groups supported, and by internal and external evaluations required by our different funders.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
The Villages Together provides support, advice, training and capacity building to community groups and organisations in the rural area of Strabane. We act as a focal point for community activity, sharing policy information and ensuring groups and individuals are able to deliver projects within all demands of the law and for funders. We also advise
and support groups with funding updates, helping groups to source grant aid as well as advising on project development and delivery. We encourage groups to work collaboratively and to work positively using good Community Development practice. We have a current focus on sustainability and what this means for small groups – future plans and ideas, opportunities for social enterprise and how groups can take advantage of business opportunities. Current Activities – consultation with local community on training & development needs, supporting groups to develop and deliver programmes, Upskilling and development of volunteers – supporting individuals to play a more active role in their community. At present we are partners on a DARD funded programme focusing on Unionist Engagement throughout the Strabane District, this enables us to connect with hard to reach groups like the Loyal Orders, Marching Bands and ex-paramilitary groupings as well as other groups from within the Unionist Family. We aim to broaden perspectives, ideas and opinions whilst challenging people to consider the opinions and thoughts of others through various peacebuilding projects. We connect with over 1000 people weekly through Social Media and we directly support and advise over 30 groups in our local and wider community. We operate an "Open Door" policy and groups avail of our information and sharing services to ensure they make the most of their own local activities as well. Completed Health and Well being Community consultation for PHA in the Villages Together Area.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- Other charitable purposes
Who the charity helps
- General public
- Mental health
- Specific areas of deprivation
- Voluntary and community sector
- Volunteers
How the charity works
- Community development
- Cultural
- Education/training
- Heritage/historical
- Rural development
- Volunteer development
Charitable purposes
(2) OBJECTS The Cluster Group is established to: 2.1 The objects of the Cluster Group are to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Villages and rural communities in the Londonderry and Strabane District Council areas in the Electoral Wards of Artigarvan, Donemana, NewBuildings and Slievekirk without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organizations in a common effort to relieve poverty, advance education, to preserve and protect health and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.