Charitable Archives - ATG Group | Environmental and Waste Solution Services. Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Land Remediation, Contaminated Water Remediation and Invasive Plant Eradication. https://atg.group/category/charitable/ Environmental and Waste Solution Services. Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Land Remediation, Contaminated Water Remediation and Invasive Plant Eradication. Mon, 22 Apr 2024 08:08:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Celebrating Easter with the Local Community https://atg.group/easter-with-the-local-community/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:19:44 +0000 https://atg.group/?p=5751 We hope that Easter and these sunny days brought peace and happiness in your life. Easter is a time of joy, hope and renewal. It signifies new beginnings and the revival of nature. The Easter weekend is the perfect time to gather with your close ones and we could not have missed the occasion to […]

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We hope that Easter and these sunny days brought peace and happiness in your life. Easter is a time of joy, hope and renewal. It signifies new beginnings and the revival of nature.

The Easter weekend is the perfect time to gather with your close ones and we could not have missed the occasion to celebrate together with the community. It was great to have so many kind people around us and to celebrate together the Resurrection of Jesus and the arrival of spring.

Ashes to Gold, our charity, organised some traditional Easter activities at Moorbrook. The charity’s café bistro was fully booked for our Easter Sunday special. The team hosted a lunch on Sunday and many games for the little ones.

 

 

The atmosphere was joyful, and people took the opportunity to greet each other and have a chat while eating some delicacies and watching their children having fun. The sun came out, and we were also enchanted by the visit of the Easter Bunny. Age does not matter as we all love the Bunny, and we will let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

There were activities during the whole weekend. On Friday, kids eagerly participated in the scavenger hunt. They searched for eggs and other treats around the beautiful lakes which we might have strategically placed in some hidden spots to let them enjoy the sunshine and keep them busy for a bit.

We can truly say that everybody made a day of it, and we are thankful for all the help and support which made these events possible.

P.S. Keep this secret! The team at the café is hard at work with plans for lots of exciting activities over the coming month!

Wishing you all the best! To the next time!

ATG Group and Ashes to Gold teams

 

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Ashes to Gold – 10 Years of Empowering People to Make a Difference in Their Lives https://atg.group/ashes-to-gold-10-years-of-empowering-people-to-make-a-difference-in-their-lives/ Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:46:24 +0000 https://atg.group/?p=4933 This month we celebrated a decade since our charity made a positive impact! Ashes to Gold was founded with the aim of providing activities for people who want to increase their confidence, motivation and self-belief while learning new skills.   10 Years of Activity From a humble beginning in a 2nd hand furniture outlet and […]

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This month we celebrated a decade since our charity made a positive impact! Ashes to Gold was founded with the aim of providing activities for people who want to increase their confidence, motivation and self-belief while learning new skills.

 

10 Years of Activity

From a humble beginning in a 2nd hand furniture outlet and upcycling facility to where Ashes to Gold is now stands testimony of amazing, yet unexpected growth! To see this journey of expansion unfold and the many beneficiaries’ lives impacted has been totally heart-warming and inspirational. Moreover, this brings a massive increase in value to the daily and often unseen activities of the charity staff, volunteers and the ATG Group team who are also sowing daily into this growth.

 

Peter Finch – Charity Director

When I reflect on the support that the ATG Group have provided for Ashes to Gold my mind goes into overdrive! It is actually overwhelming to properly consider how fruitful this collaboration is in the lives of our precious guests and the wider connected community. ATG Group’s investment of administrative energy, financial support and staff community and wisdom has been essential in ensuring that lives are reached and impacted and all in a more sustainable fashion. ATG Group’s activities in the field of “Land Restoration” ensure that the same is going on in human lives through the charity as we encourage and empower others in “Restoring a Life’s Purpose” through our counselling, horticultural therapy, and workshop activities!

 

Future Plans

Through collaboration with the local church and their purchase of a neighbouring building, our charity hopes to see the establishment of a community café at the Ashes to Gold Oasis project as the church and the charity get together to further reach out to the people of Coleraine through this shared space. It is hoped that the expansion of space and resources will enable the enhancement of all the services currently offered through the project and will provide added dignity for individuals who may find themselves in need of emergency help with food or other essentials.

Ashes to Gold plans to continue the development of the Moorbrook project with the appointment of a general manager who will be responsible for the day-to-day running and development of all facets of the project. The charity hopes to see continued enhancement of the fishing experience, more fun-filled nature-based events, the introduction of new accommodation and wider use of the facility as a place to find sanctuary and improved well-being in this fast-paced world.

Through the combination of horticultural therapy and cooking/healthy eating sessions delivered through Ashes to Gold’s Grow project, many lives were impacted as people discovered that growing your own food and preparing a healthy and nutritious meal isn’t as hard or expensive as it may seem. To build on the success of the current provision, Ashes to Gold is looking to gain appropriate funding to enable the development of a fully operational training and production facility with a view to providing opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and greater sustainability for the running of the project.

Furthermore, a permanent office provision at the Grow project for the charity manager and funding coordinator would be great if adequate funding could be sourced!

 

The Party

Ashes to Gold Anniversary Ashes to Gold hosted the anniversary party on 24th November and everybody celebrated it in our fun style with good food and great company.

There were many familiar faces in attendance including a team from the Department for Communities, our local health trust, PBNI and various veterans support organisations. Mayor for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Steven Callaghan, took time from his busy schedule to visit and was very impressed to hear about the great work we do at Ashes to Gold.

The theme of the day was Thanksgiving, and this event was aimed at highlighting the great work of our team. The volunteers at our various projects not only give up their time each week but they deliver a service at the highest standard. They are truly priceless, so this event was to recognise and celebrate the magic that happens when the community come together.

 

Special Thanks

Special thanks to everyone who supported us. It would have been impossible to help so many people without your help! Your commitment, generosity, and time brought smiles to so many faces and pure joy to many souls. From a small gesture to significant contributions, your support has made a huge impact.

Let’s continue to spread kindness, joy, and support together! ?

 

Ashes to Gold and ATG Group Ashes to Gold Anniversary

 

 

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We love looking after people and the environment https://atg.group/looking-after-people-and-the-environment/ Tue, 06 Oct 2020 13:22:10 +0000 https://www.atg-group.co.uk/?p=1779 At ATG Group, we love looking after the environment! And we love looking after people, too! That is why we give 10% of our profits to a charity local to our head office. Ashes to Gold was founded by ATG Group Managing Director Mark McKinney and his wife, Jacqui. It supports people with special or […]

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At ATG Group, we love looking after the environment! And we love looking after people, too! That is why we give 10% of our profits to a charity local to our head office.

Ashes to Gold was founded by ATG Group Managing Director Mark McKinney and his wife, Jacqui. It supports people with special or additional needs, mental health issues or long-term unemployed in the Causeway Coast and Glens area..

Last year alone, Ashes to Gold welcomed 3,573 to a range of activities. It also delivered 963 emergency food packs and saved 219 items from landfill.

Project Manager Alastair Christy explains, “The core aim is to provide purposeful activities to those people who want to increase their confidence, motivation and self-belief while learning new skills. We support our clients by teaching them new skills, providing counselling and empowering them with the ability to make a difference in their lives.”

The charity, which employs eight people, does this through four specific projects: Oasis, Restore, Grow and Bakery.

“Our projects have different functions,” says Alastair. “Oasis provides support and help for those who are with or recovering from mental health issues, such as counselling. The other projects provide skills that can help them find employment.”

A total of 29 people gained training qualifications last year and nine found jobs thanks to the training being given.

Alastair says 16 people were put into emergency housing thanks to Ashes to Gold. During lockdown, four people received counselling and one lady, who was the victim of domestic violence, was also rehoused and given support.

ATG Group staff also give their time with special projects, such as tree planting, and raise money through fundraising activities to support the charity.

Oasis

Oasis provides support through a drop-in service, where anyone who feels isolated or lacking in confidence can meet our staff for a chat. Counselling is also on offer with one-to-one support that can help people achieve goals and move and live independently.

Restore

The project not only helps those who take part but the environment, too. People with mental or physical disabilities along with the long-term unemployed recycle and upcycle furniture. As a result, they learn new skills and confidence, which can help them gain employment.

Grow

Ashes to Gold’s Grow project focuses on inspiring the community to get physically active. It also encourages them to produce their own food in a sociable and supportive environment. Alastair says, “Working with nature and gardening increases physical, mental and social well-being. It is also rewarding when harvest time arrives and the gardens produce delicious fruits and vegetables.”

Bakery

The Bakery was formed as a social enterprise four years ago and supports people with mental and physical disabilities through catering. As well as helping people understand that a healthy diet is beneficial to health, Alastair says it has also helped some people find work after learning new skills. Ashes to Gold ploughts profits back into the charity, he adds.

ATG Group Managing Director and Ashes to Gold founder Mark McKinney says giving back to the community is key to the company’s work.

He adds, “It has been remarkable and humbling watching the work of Ashes to Gold help so many people over the past seven years. ATG Group is proud to support the charity through donating 10% of our net profit each year. The ATG team also regularly donate their time to help out where they can.

“Our daily work is in helping the environment, but people are central to the company and the heart of our business. It is why I wanted to do something more than contribute financially to charity and set up Ashes to Gold.”

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Supporting Home-Start Causeway https://atg.group/supporting-home-start-causeway/ Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:04:46 +0000 https://www.atg-group.co.uk/?p=1528 Every year we raise money from our office tuck shop and through workplace activities. At the end of the year we add the money up and select a local charity to donate the proceeds to. In 2019 we raised £214.99 and chose Home-Start Causeway to receive it. Home-Start is a fantastic charity that support parents […]

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Every year we raise money from our office tuck shop and through workplace activities. At the end of the year we add the money up and select a local charity to donate the proceeds to. In 2019 we raised £214.99 and chose Home-Start Causeway to receive it.

Home-Start is a fantastic charity that support parents with young children in the Causeway area. Their volunteers provide assistance and friendship to families who might be struggling with a variety of issues, such as illness, bereavement, disabilities or isolation. Their services are invaluable to the families involved and are entirely provided by volunteers, who are trained by the charity.

ATG staff giving a cheque to the manager of Home-Start Causeway

This morning some of our team visited Home-Start Causeway to drop off the donation. While there, they were able to learn more about all the valuable work Home-Start do and found it very interesting and heart-warming.

If you are a parent or grandparent who would be interested in a new challenge, why not consider becoming a volunteer? If you can offer a few hours each week to help a young family, then Home-Start would love to hear from you! They are holding an information session on Tuesday 28th January at 10am, in the Home-Start premises at 74-76 Railway Road, Coleraine. You can also contact them on 028 7032 1765 / hsc01@btconnect.com.

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Helping to keep our area beautiful – Live Here, Love Here https://atg.group/live-here-love-here-litter-pick/ Thu, 11 Jul 2019 14:59:37 +0000 https://www.atg-group.co.uk/?p=1397 Today our awesome Coleraine team were out on their adopted stretch of road for their quarterly litter pick. We thought that it would be a great time to get our local area looking great, especially since in only a few days time 1000’s of international visitors will be arriving to enjoy the 148th Open at […]

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Today our awesome Coleraine team were out on their adopted stretch of road for their quarterly litter pick. We thought that it would be a great time to get our local area looking great, especially since in only a few days time 1000’s of international visitors will be arriving to enjoy the 148th Open at Royal Portrush.

Some of our Coleraine team pictured outside our offices with their litter pickers and 12 bin bags full of litter

In just 2 hours our team managed to collect over 12 bin bags full of litter from this 1.5 mile stretch of road. They picked up a huge variety of litter, from plastic bottles and aluminium cans to polystyrene food containers and car parts!

A member of our Coleraine team out on our adopted stretch of road picking litter

A massive well done to the team for their hard work this morning. And if you’d be interested in doing something similar, give the team at Live Here, Love Here a shout. They can kit you out with all you need to start your own litter pick and help Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful!

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ATG Group hold Charity Golf Day https://atg.group/atg-group-hold-charity-golf-day/ Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:43:42 +0000 http://www.atg-group.co.uk/?p=705 21st September 2018 saw ATG Group hold their first-ever charity golf day to raise funds for a local charity, Ashes to Gold (Registered Charity NIC 101209).   Ashes to Gold’s core aim is to improve mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing in those they work with. They engage with people throughout Northern Ireland and provide […]

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21st September 2018 saw ATG Group hold their first-ever charity golf day to raise funds for a local charity, Ashes to Gold (Registered Charity NIC 101209).

Ashes to Gold logo

 

Ashes to Gold’s core aim is to improve mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing in those they work with. They engage with people throughout Northern Ireland and provide them with support to help increase their confidence motivation and self-belief. In an average week, they provide counselling to over 60 individuals and hold drop-in sessions for an additional 50. Ashes to Gold relies on the generosity of the general public who give donations and commit their time to voluntary work in order to ensure they can continue providing support to those in need.

Golfers pictured at one of the tee boxes at ATG's Golf day

The golf day was a massive success with over 14 teams turning out to Greenacres Golf Centre, Ballyclare. On this windy Friday, we were able to raise an amazing £6011.40 for our chosen charity. The 4-ball teams battled it out to make sure they were on par to win the team prizes and try their hand at winning a brand new Mini at the Hole-in-One competition. Not only did Willis Insurance kindly supply us with the Mini but their team went on to win the competition, taking home the Claret Jug and some well-deserved bottles of whiskey.

ATG Group Managing Director, Mark McKinney handing prizes to winners of some of the golf day competitions

We would like to thank everyone who showed their support by entering teams, giving sponsorship and donating prizes. We hope to firmly establish this event in the industry calendar as a day to enjoy a challenging game of golf, network over food and drinks and win some impressive prizes. See you all again next year!

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