Thursday 25th October - Much done but much left to do

Just in case you think we are nearly done on our amazing renovation of Wellington House.........  we still have lots to do.   This is currently what the coffee shop looks like!   Use your imaginations and you might just be able to envisage it as a light, bright, comfortable space with art on the walls and lovely new furniture.

This area is where we are hoping to have our wood burning stove and a lovely comfy snug leading out into the conservatory

And this.......  is what the shop looks like at the moment!!    Just a bit of work to be done in here!!

 So whilst we have made astonishing progress in a large part of the building there is still an awful long way to go before we are up and running as we intend to be.    We still need volunteers to help out - our stalwarts who have been working like crazy for the past six or eight weeks are starting to get tired now.   So if you can help us in any way please do let us know.   And if you aren't able to help us physically but would love to be involved with this great project you can always make a donation here. https://www.justgiving.com/viawings

Happy to report that Gail and Donna have finally got their office sorted out.  True leaders always ensure their workers are sorted out before they look to their own needs - but we are delighted to see that after years in a tiny cramped office the bosses will now have a lovely place in which to work.

Monday 22nd October

We closed the Olive Branch on Friday and today we started packing up and moving all the gear over the road ready for our new cafe when it happens.   It is going to take us a wee while to complete the renovations because our new cafe is going to be big, wonderful and perfect in every possible way 😊

Caroline, Rachel, Roy, Harrison and Mark have been working so hard today.

Meanwhile over in Wellington House......

the stair carpet has gone down!  

Saturday 20th October

Another weekend another work party. 

The outside loo is going to be turned into a prayer room - some imagination required at this point in time, but over the weekend the space was cleared of all the rubbish that had been stashed in there.

 The office store cupboard is now full of files and paper and paperclips

The stockroom for the shop has been moved across and Laura has got everything shop shape.  A lot of hard work has gone into this.  Well done Laura

 The outside store which was looking a bit disorganised has had a good tidy and sweep out

 And there is the beginnings of a staff kitchen in what used to be the bathroom.  It might be a while before we can get a cup of tea whilst we work  :( 

Thursday 18th Brilliant people doing excellent work

These two terrific young men have worked themselves into the ground this week.  Meet Zack and Ryan, two students from Dromore High School who picked this week of all weeks to volunteer to do their school work experience placement with us!!    They have cheerfully and uncomplainingly lifted and shifted and swept and cleared and been such a HUGE help.  Thank you lads.  You have been brilliant.  



Meanwhile the sun has been shining as the painting and papering fairies have been in again putting the finishing touches to various bits and pieces in the Hope for Life Center.

Donna the paint fairy

Carly the papering fairy

                                     Do you like our funky new armchairs?   😊

Meanwhile we are taking advantage of the glorious sunshine to get the archway painted.  Doesn't that look so much better?



AND FINALLY.......................   ( drum roll please)

Our new Administrator Audrey Knowles had the honour of awarding Volunteer of the Month for October to Carly Martin ( on the left of the picture)    My goodness does this woman know how to work!   She has given us hours and hours of her time and expertise in decorating to strip and sand and fill and paint and wallpaper and everything she has touched has been done to perfection.   We didn't really know you a month ago Carly and now you are well and truly one of the family.  Thank you so much for all your help on Wellington House.

                                                             

Friday 12th October

Everything is coming up roses :)

Office chairs arrived late yesterday along with some filing cabinets.   Pictures have been put up in the mentoring room.   Now all we need are some doors!!

                                  

Thursday 11th October. Offices!!

You have to believe us when we say that not much of our work here at Via Wings is focused on ' us'.  We make do and mend, we go the extra mile.  We all understand that the focus of our work is the people in our community and not us.   However, today we pause for a moment to be a teeny bit selfish  😃

 This is our office space today and has been for the past several years

And THIS is what we shall be moving into next week  !! 😊

Val won't know what to do with herself  😃

Yesterday and today we have seen the whole of the top floor carpeted, furniture moved in and now all we need to do is pack up all the files and drawers and office supplies and get moved across the road.

The counselling and mentoring rooms now have their beautiful sofas installed.  Both were gifts form a longstanding friend of Via Wings and they are perfect for the space.   The Mentoring room has a matching armchair, coffee tables and artwork ready to go up on the walls.  The old bathroom has been ripped out and new flooring has gone down in what is to become our staff room.   Fancy that!  Our very own kettle and possibly even our very own fridge and microwave!!   We are beside ourselves with excitement.   Not only because this will make all our working lives so much easier, less stressful and hopefully more productive, but also because in having this amazing space in which to work we know we are going to be able to offer so much more to the people of Dromore and the surrounding area.   Thank you to every single one of you who are helping us to make this dream come true

Soon to be staff kitchen

Mentoring room

                                                     

Counselling room

Monday October 8th

Great progress was made over the weekend by our  intrepid volunteers, so today the men (and Donna) have been wielding paintbrushes and rollers getting all the upstairs rooms ready for carpet. 

 

Isnt it amazing what a coat of white paint will do?   This is the stationery store cupboard before and after.  We can't wait to actually have a place to put everything all neat and tidy and in order.  Thanks for doing such a great job in quite a tight space today

Karl hard at work finishing off painting the landing

Over on the other side of the property our spotlights have arrived and are up so that the Highlight Afterschools club can now actually live up to its name :)


At midnight tonight voting closes for the Guardian Public Servant of the Year awards.  SO we will stop pestering you to vote.   But until midnight we are still in pestering mode.  So PLEASE do add your vote if you havent done so already.  This is a really big deal for us as a small charity and Im sure all of you who have been following this blog would agree Gail deserves every vote for having the vision, determination, drive and courage to undertake something as crazy and wonderful and daunting and amazing as Wellington House.  :)

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/27/vote-now-public-servant-year-2018

Thursday Oct 4th

Nobody told me they had put a disabled toilet into the Hope for Life Center !!  When did that happen?

Today Pauline, Carly and some of our lovely volunteers have been doing the not terribly interesting job of prepping the walls and ceilings upstairs in the offices ready for a coat of paint next week.  The countdown is on because carpet is going to be laid there at the end of the week so it all needs to be ship shape for that.  Acres of walls to be rubbed down, cracks to be filled and skirtings to be painted.   If you are around on Saturday and have a couple of hours to spare we shall be there - please message us or just turn up.  Painting clothes a must!

  Fireplace wall all painted

Counselling room reboarded and ready to go.

  Peoples project kitchen starting to look like a proper kitchen


And just to let you know the Fareshare food is now available at the gateway of Wellington House.  Please do help yourselves.

Monday 1st October

It is hard to comprehend that it was only  during the first week in August that we got the keys to Wellington House and here we are in the first week of October ready to send out our first food parcels from the new Compassion Center tomorrow!!    Look at all that lovely grub.

In other news Harrison is trying to put together a portfolio for his modelling career.  Here he demonstrates his hoovering skills whilst cutting a dash in a paint splattered hoodie.   Hee hee hee.