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Aras Cholmcille Trust

Documents 644 days overdue

Overdue: 644 days

  • Charity no. 100269
  • Date registered. 17/09/2014

Public benefits

The benefits from this purpose are • The restoration of a listed building which was on the Buildings at risk register and in a serious state of disrepair. Completed in April 2014 • To create in the restored building an exhibition space to tell the story of the early history of the city and of the stories associated with Columba (completed June 6th

2014) • to open to the whole community of local people and visitors to the city, the opportunity to lean about the history and heritage of Columba/Columb/Colmcille, recognized as the “founding father” of this city • To utilize the artefacts which we have acquired to promote and preserve the understanding of the legacy of Columb/Columba/Colmcille • To provide opportunities for historians of whatever age to delve deeper into the history and heritage of Columba • Preserving historical traditions for future generations The benefits will be evidenced through • an increased understanding of the history of this city from earliest times for all visitors to the Centre • an engagement with aspects of the heritage such as illuminated manuscripts and books related to Columba • an imaginative engagement with the past for children and adults alike • developing the capacity of visitors to appreciate the breadth of the legacy of Columba Purpose (b) What benefit flows from this purpose • A greater awareness in all visitors to the centre of the early history of the city and the stories associated with Columba • To encourage an appreciation of the contribution made by the early monastery and by Columba in particular to aspects of culture, art and the spread of Christianity to Scotland, Northern England and beyond The benefits will be evidenced through The capacity • to increase the education open to all • to bring to life the history of the early city for children • to engage children in imaginative play such as re-enactments of living history • to engage with aspects such as brass rubbing, learning how to draw celtic designs such as spirals as used in illuminated manuscripts Purpose (c) What benefit flows from this purpose Columba/Colmcille/Columb is a saint whose legacy is shared across the main religious denominations in Ireland. This can be seen from the naming of buildings of various religious traditions in Ireland. This shared heritage offers an opportunity for cross community groups to find a common and shared thread in their history. This shared history will be uses as the basis of workshops/meetings focused on the shared nature of the legacy of Columba. Visits will be arranged for cross community school visits, cross denominational groups such as women’s groups, local history groups and cross border visitors. The benefits will be evidenced through our contribution to • An increased sense of mutual toleration • An increased sense of being comfortable with sharing history and building on that • An increased appreciation and respect for the shared traditions relating to Columba • A fostering in schoolchildren of the history which unites, rather than divides communities • The major effort which will be made visible at the centre of a welcome for all visitors of every tradition • Supporting schools in their search for meaningful cross community partnerships and providing a context, a purpose and a place for them to share a mutually beneficial experience The benefit is for all visitors to the Centre as outlined in the purpose above. These visitors will include local people, schoolchildren form all schools across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but in the first instance it will attract visitors locally (including Donegal) and is also intended to provide for visitors from abroad who visit this city. There is no private benefit associated with these purposes. There is no harm associated with these purposes.

What your organisation does

We have restored a listed building and will provide in this, when finally completed by June 9th 2014, a visitor and education centre, focusing on the shared history and hertiage of Colmcille/Columba, considered an the "founding father" of Derry~Londonderry.The centre will open for visitors and run a number of heritage related events for children

from schools throught the area, local visitors and visitors from further afield.We will also use the facilities of the centre to benefit the local community by giving them use of the available space in the building.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
  • The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
  • The advancement of environmental protection or improvement

Who the charity helps

  • General public
  • Interface communities
  • Voluntary and community sector
  • Volunteers

How the charity works

  • Cross-border/cross-community
  • Cultural
  • Heritage/historical
  • Volunteer development

Charitable purposes

The Company’s objects are specifically restricted to the promotion of heritage and culture relating to Saint Columba and the promotion of the benefit of the inhabitants (hereinafter called the “beneficiaries”) of the City of Londonderry and its environs of Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland in particular but not exclusively (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 acquire, protect, improve, restore, preserve, promote and exhibit for the benefit of the public the 19th Century, Grade B2 listed structure (hereinafter called ‘Wee Nuns’ School’) through the creation, maintenance and management of a museum and educational interpretation and heritage resource centre for the acquisition, restoration, preservation, archiving and public display of artefacts, documents and associated memorabilia of educational, historical and cultural interest and other items illustrating the history and heritage of Saint Columba and the early Christian history of the area of benefit; (b) to advance education and encourage appreciation within the area of benefit on all matters relating to Saint Columba and the local oral and pictorial history, folklore, culture, arts and heritage of Londonderry through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and other forms of educational and recreational medium; (c) to promote understanding between different faith groups and to promote and facilitate community cohesion in order to bring about a spirit of reconciliation, conflict resolution, equality and diversity; (d) to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the directors, may from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity.

Governing document

Memorandum and Articles

Other name

List of regions

  • In Ireland
  • In Northern Ireland
  • Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon Council
  • Derry City And Strabane District Council

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