## **Hamsterley, Low Westwood Community Association Annual Report 2024** 2024 has been another busy year for the Community Association. We have continued to create engaging community events and activities. While we have faced challenges in developing new regular activities, we successfully hosted a range of one-off events. We have also made further steps to improve the community centre through the development of a feasibility study to understand potential to redevelop the centre to ensure its success for future generations. ## **Summary of Activities Undertaken in 2024:** Following a very successful Christmas and New Year period the centre provided a range of regular activities including the toddler group and bingo have continued as have the mature movers classes. Following successful funding in 2023 for a trim trail play area on the Recreation area which was initially unsuccessful but a later application was successful the play equipment was installed. We delivered a range of seasonal events from Easter events, Summer Fayre, Halloween and Christmas. The Hamsterley and Low Westwood Summer Fayre, was held at the Community Centre which featured a range of entertainment and cultural activities, including live music, and traditional games. Although the fayre was smaller than in previous years due to the lack of volunteers we made slightly more money for the Association due to lower outlay costs. We hosted a successful annual Macmillan Coffee Morning. In addition to these events, we continue to offer regular activities. The youth club remains very popular, and special thanks go to Caroline and Mark for their dedication. Newsletters were distributed through out the villages across the year, the newsletters are hand-delivered to every home in the village and support the sharing of events and activities at the Community Centre and Dene Court. This year, we have continued to make upgrades to the community centre and have worked on a more detailed redevelopment programme for the centre with a feasibility study developed by D3A and business plan completed by our team. We submitted a bid to Durham County Council under the UKSPF programme for funding to redevelop the centre of over £201,000. If successful work is anticipated to start in January 2025 which will mean a period of closure for the centre whilst the work takes place. We have continued to work on the merger with Dene Court and hope that will be finalised in the next year. We have worked closely with the Council to address community issues, including environmental concerns, play provision, speeding traffic, and footpath conditions. Speeding in particular is a major issue and we have worked with other local communities to voice these concerns though the regular PACT meetings. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our committee members, officers, and volunteers for their invaluable support over the past year. We could not have achieved this without your dedication. I look forward to 2025 and hope it brings a year of exciting changes for our Association and the Community Centre leading to increased engagement, activities, and community inclusivity. Thank you! ## **Susan Ross** ## Chair Hamsterley and Low Westwood Community Association Hamsterley & Low Westwood Communlty Assoclatlon Year endln 31st December 2024 Cash in hand Barclays Bank Balance NS&I balance 399.31 Cash in hand Barclays Bank Balance NS&I Balance 466.66 34000.26 14885.67 12020.89 11901.55 46301.12 27373.22 CICh Toddlers Group BiThJo Bonus Ball Junior Youth Club Hall Hire & Donations Mature Move 432.00 Gas/Electric 1774.53 590.65 Water 518.51 955.00 Intemetltelephone Cleaning Junior Youth Club duties Repairs & Maintenance Activities 363.59 293.12 59.00 1350.00 35867.01 45.00 3202.46 Activities 2972.90 Grants Bank Creditsrrransf ers NS&I Interest 20828.00 Insurance Misc. expenses Bank Debits/Transf ers Raff le Bonus Ball Bingo Youth Club 361.83 1165.00 1912.94 1165.00 119.34 Raff le 482,00 830.00 186.57 Dancercise 24.00 74.18 99.29 28772.01 47699.91 Signed Signed t Date £r Date CHAIRPERSON TREASURER Signed Signed Dat Date SECRETARY AUDITOR Hamsterley & Low Westwood Communlty Assoclatlon Year endln 31st December 2024 Cash in hand Barclays Bank Balance NS&I balance 399.31 Cash in hand Barclays Bank Balance NS&I Balance 466.66 34000.26 14885.67 12020.89 11901.55 46301.12 27373.22 CICh Toddlers Group BiThJo Bonus Ball Junior Youth Club Hall Hire & Donations Mature Move 432.00 Gas/Electric 1774.53 590.65 Water 518.51 955.00 Intemetltelephone Cleaning Junior Youth Club duties Repairs & Maintenance Activities 363.59 293.12 59.00 1350.00 35867.01 45.00 3202.46 Activities 2972.90 Grants Bank Creditsrrransf ers NS&I Interest 20828.00 Insurance Misc. expenses Bank Debits/Transf ers Raff le Bonus Ball Bingo Youth Club 361.83 1165.00 1912.94 1165.00 119.34 Raff le 482,00 830.00 186.57 Dancercise 24.00 74.18 99.29 28772.01 47699.91 Signed Signed t Date £r Date CHAIRPERSON TREASURER Signed Signed Dat Date SECRETARY AUDITOR