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Tourguides NI

Registered

  • Charity no. 110595
  • Date registered. 22/05/2025

Public benefits

Benefits arising are mutually beneficial contact and collaboration between guiding professionals and training and education providers including feedback on and future planning of recognised professional qualification paths. With growing numbers of visitors to NI, a steady supply of qualified guides is needed; the Charity offers some direct

training and personal development opportunities to its members, resulting in knowledgeable guides, who enhance visitor experiences. Peer-to-peer learning, as offered by the Charity, creates and continues to enhance a pool of people with solid understanding and knowledge of the Arts and Heritage in NI. The Charity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OCNNI, the awarding body for Levels 2 and 3 in Tourist Guiding, which directly benefits students through joint planning of courses and qualifications by OCNNI and the charity. Links between the Charity and local Colleges of Further Education and the Ulster University ensure that knowledge of the NI Arts and Heritage is paired with best practice considerations in guiding, resulting in professionally competent tourist guides. The benefits can be demonstrated through the level of uptake of training and educational programmes (Colleges and UU). The qualifications and training programmes are valued by students, as are the opportunities to engage in continuous professional development offered by the Charity. Tourist feedback on the performance of the Charity’s guiding members and feedback from tour operators, who engage members of the Charity further enable the Charity to measure to what extent its purposes are translated into measurable outcomes. A wider benefit is the enhancement of the public image of NI in the eyes of visitors who have availed of the services of the members of the Charity. No The direct beneficiaries are the members of the Charity, who benefit from the collaboration between the Charity and educational bodies which results in courses and qualifications which are suitable and tailor-made for tour guiding. Indirect beneficiaries are the visitors to NI, who have access to well-educated, qualified and professional guides, as well as the local population when participating in history and arts-themed events and tours, which involve the Charities’ guides. The only indirect private benefit might flow from the fact that the Charity’s members will be fully qualified and recognised as such and therefore be able to demand the appropriate fee for their professional services.

What your organisation does

Founded in 2015 TGNI is Northern Ireland’s tourist guiding body focusing on quality, training and continuous professional development of its guides. TGNI is governed by a number of established, experienced, professional guides elected annually from within its membership. TGNI’s key aim is to offer visitors to Northern Ireland a warm welcome and to

show them the best we have to offer, inspiring, educating and entertaining them along the way. Through the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage and science this aim is achieved. Our vision is to be an Association whose members are all professionally qualified and skilled to deliver consistently high-quality experiences.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science

Who the charity helps

  • General public
  • General public

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information

Charitable purposes

To support the advancement of culture, heritage and arts within the tourism sector in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through: 1. the maintenance and development of professional standards, conduct and status of tourist guiding; 2. the maintenance of an adequate supply of tourist guides trained to national educational standards, who are competent and experienced, to meet the needs of tourists and the tourism industry; 3. continued access to adequate training, information and advice for tourist guides, thus developing their skills and knowledge to share with the beneficiaries; 4. involvement in the planning, provision and evaluation of professional development of tourist guides with colleges, universities and awarding bodies in Northern Ireland which offer such training and education, to ensure consistency. For the avoidance of doubt, the system of law governing the constitution of the charity is the law of Northern Ireland.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

  • 4 Trustees
  • 0 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Trustee board

  • Rodney Ferguson
  • Mr Donal Kelly
  • Miss Christine Donnelly
  • Ms Nicola Jones

Contact details

Public Address

Rodney Ferguson, C/O 5A Island Park, Greenisland, Carrickfergus, BT38 8TW

List of regions

  • In Ireland
  • In Northern Ireland

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