St Mary's Youth & Community Association

Public benefits

Purpose The club was established to provide, maintain and promote facilities and activities of a social, educational, sports and recreational nature with the object of improving the conditions of life of children, young people and older people without distinction of sex, political, religious or other opinion. What benefit flows from this

purpose? The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include an increase in social and voluntary opportunities through annual events and trips, an increase in social skills, improvement in emotional well-being, improved positive educational outcomes and increased sports development and participation in the lives of local people. Raising standards for young people and increasing access and equality will also follow from this purpose. This purpose will also provide improvements to overall community life. Can you demonstrate this? The above benefits will be demonstrated through a number of methods including: recordings and observations of staff members; feedback from children, young people, parents, older people and community representatives; feedback from project evaluations, feedback from other sources including other service providers and regular monitoring visits from the Education Authority. The benefits can also be demonstrated through the number of children, young people, families and older people who consistently take part in positive activities at the Club; the number of young people who having been members of the Youth Club have gone on to undertake volunteer opportunities and give something back to St. Mary’s Youth Club and the local community in general. Is any harm or possibility of harm outweighed by the benefit? There is no identifiable harm to any person through the pursuit of the above organisational purpose. Public Element Who is the benefit for? The beneficiaries of this purpose are children, young people, their families and older people in the Newry community. Is there any private benefit? Is it incidental or necessary? A private benefit is that the members of St Mary’s Youth Club and the adult leaders/volunteers develop greater mutual understanding, trust and respect all of which is healthy and enables the children & young people to develop, grow in confidence and improve their communication, leadership & inter-personal skills. Volunteers may gain an increased sense of well-being and skills development through their involvement in the centre, however this benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure benefit is provided to beneficiaries. Staff may gain opportunities to be involved in educational or recreational activities. This benefit is also incidental and necessary for the work of the organisation to take place. Greater understanding of the needs & expectations of the children & young people shared by the members of St Mary’s Club who are then better placed to respond to those needs & expectations. Another private benefit is that gained by a Trustee who has a child who makes use of the facilities and activities of the club. The child of the Trustee applies to be part of the youth club and is given access in the same way as other beneficiaries. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries.

What your organisation does

The Charity facilitates sports activities, competitions, youth clubs, senior citizens clubs and social evenings, family fun days, recreational trips, annual festivals, fundraising events, meetings and offer the use of the hall to local groups.