Our Mission & Vision

Our mission at Windermere is to improve wellbeing in children, families and communities by helping to realise their potential, building resilience and connecting people to the community.

Our vision is to be a leading community-based agency, which makes a significant difference to the life of every child, family and individual with whom it works.  Our innovative services provide clients, staff and the community with opportunities to learn, grow and achieve their life goals.  Windermere's values are essential to an organisation's mission, visions and goals.  In a sense, they underpin our actions and in many ways motivate us individually and as an organisation.  The challenge for all of us is to live them.

The organisation's values are complemented by our code of conduct that embodies many human, shared values we aim to uphold.  Sometimes values are better understood if we explain 'what they mean to us'.

We believe in...

• Leading with courage
  Sometimes to bring about change we must do what is difficult or brave, so we will often take the lead, speaking up for what we  believe in, encouraging debate on issues and advocating for our clients, as well as simply providing a voice for the voiceless.
• Striving to make a difference
  This is central to our mission and relates to our commitment to not only be compassionate, but to seek outcomes.  We have a responsibility to measure whether we are playing a positive, discernible role through our involvement in people's lives.
• Recognising and building on people's strengths
  As in our work, the best outcomes result from appreciating strengths and building on them.  In a service are where people constantly face serious problems, this approach can be liberating - helping people to take control of their lives.
• Being learning focused
  Knowledge is a powerful force in social change.  In that sense, we are committed to working with our clients, each other and colleagues to share knowledge, ideas, resources, findings and skills.  This is also about constantly looking at ways to improve as individuals and as an organisation - growing through learning.  Working together through caring partnerships, we always approach our clients, each other and colleagues as equals and partners; working together to explore potential and improve wellbeing.  The value is also about caring for each other and acknowledging and respecting people's cultures, traditions, needs and aspirations.
• Encouraging people to seek meaningful connection
  In a time of increasing social isolation, it is vital that people feel included and connected through family, friends, community and the broader society.  We are committed to, whenever possible, referring people to other organisations that may be able to assist in ways that we cannot.
• Equality of access
  Sadly in our society, not everyone has adequate access to things we take for granted.  If people are to reach their potential they need good access to services and resources.  All members of society have basic rights that we seek to protect or help people secure.

About our Strategic Plan
The plan is underpinned by a new way of viewing the potential of organisations, call Appreciative Inquiry (AI).  It originates from the art sector and is based on the practice of considering the best aspects in a work of art.  As an approach, it is revolutionising organisational development, change process and conflict resolution.  Focussing on 'what works', the strengths and energising aspects of an organisation, this new approach builds an appreciation of what 'could be'.  It runs counter to problem solving approaches, which are often preoccupied with 'what doesn't work'.  While Windermere is still exploring its application, AI is having a profound effect on the way in which we provide services, manage our staff and develop the organisation.

Click here to view Windermere's Strategic Plan