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West Winds Social & Cultural Institution

  • Removed

  • This charity was removed from the register on 6 Jan 2020
  • Charity no. 103010
  • Date registered. 05/08/2015

Public benefits

Please see below our purposes and the public benefit which flows from each, as listed within the objects section of our constitution: - The West Winds Social & Cultural Institution is established to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Newtownards, North Down and Lower Ards... The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include

addressing social deprivation within the West Winds estate in Newtownards. Historically, this is an area which has suffered from high levels of unemployment, lack of educational attainment, poor mental health and direct impact from past conflict in Northern Ireland. WWSCI aim to raise and sustain an awareness of culture, history and identity that marks the diversity of those living in and visiting the estate. WWSCI facilitate various educational trips and activities, open to all residents within the estate. Residents can avail of activities that otherwise they would not have access to, gain increased knowledge, and engage with others from the estate, thereby reducing isolation. The WWSCI office is a drop-in venue which provides advice and support to residents. - Associating the statutory authorities, voluntary and community organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include offering regular training opportunities and educational visits. These opportunities provide skills and experience which otherwise would be inaccessible. Due to a lack of educational attainment, many residents suffer low confidence in terms of education, and this has a knock-on effect in increased unemployment due to a lack of qualifications. WWSCI provide support and encouragement for residents to avail of educational opportunities in a familiar and comfortable environment. Recently WWSCI has offered training in CSR and SIA, and this has led to increased employability and greater confidence in accessing employment. Although this is useful for all residents it is particularly beneficial to ex-offenders within the estate, who also benefit from further integration into the community. Funding for such training often comes through a partnership programme with statutory authorities, voluntary and community organisations. For example, recent funding has been received from the Council, Housing Executive and PSNI. - Promote facilities in the interests of social welfare, recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the provision of a safe, comfortable and dedicated office space, open to all. This venue is used by WWSCI to hold various surgery style events with local statutory and voluntary organisations including the PSNI, Housing Executive, SEHSCT, ASCERT and local elected representatives. This service offers accessibility to residents, a platform in which to engage and enable them to feel their voice is being heard. This engagement leads to direct action in addressing ASB, housing issues, drug and alcohol abuse etc., this makes the area a better place to live. As a drop-in style office, residents can call into the office and engage with the worker, receive advice or support thereby reducing loneliness and isolation. WWSCI continues to engage with the community through public meetings and events to identify local needs and establish how best to address these needs. None of the purposes listed above give rise to any harm and all of the beneficiaries live within the area of benefit. A private benefit to trustees may arise through trustees attending training courses or activities, as WWSCI are administrating the project and key holders to the office. This may give rise to the trustee developing additional skills, or gaining further experience. Such benefits are incidental, and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to the beneficiaries.

What your organisation does

Our organisation directly benefits the local community by offering training - we have recently facilitated CSR and SIA training for 14 men which will better their chances of gaining employment in the future. We organise various excursions to directly benefit those in the area who would otherwise not be in the position to visit the sites

themselves.....in the past year we have visited Tayto Castle, The Battle of the Boyne site, Crumlin Road Gaol, Ulster Aviation Society, T13 and had a community open day for the local residents in our community centre to promote our culture through music. We have had a guest speaker in our offices to make the residents aware of the drug issue and provide useful information on steps to dealing with a problem should it arise.

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 relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Who the charity helps

  • Ex-offenders and prisoners
  • General public
  • Men
  • Specific areas of deprivation
  • Unemployed/low income
  • Women

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Community development
  • Cultural
  • Education/training

Charitable purposes

To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Newtownards, North Down and Lower Ards without distinction of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, political, religious or other opinion, in accordance with the equality provisions of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary and community organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to promote facilities in the interests of social welfare, recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

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