**ANNUAL REPORT 2022** ## **Ballee Community Association** Ballee Community Tel: 028 2563 1350 Centre, Ballee Drive. BT42 3EX **2** ## **ANNUAL REPORT 2022** The Committee of Ballee Community Association present their Annual Report for the year 2022 and Accounts for the year 01.04.21 to 31.03.2022 and confirm that they comply with requirements of The Charities Commission for Northern Ireland. This report has been prepared in line with the Objectives and Constitution of the Association by the Committee with the assistance Ballymena South Cluster. Registered Association Address: Ballee Community Centre 3 Ballee Way Ballymena BT42 3EX **3** ## **MEMBERS 2021 – 22** ## **Committee Office Bearers** ## **List of Committee Members** Ronnie Crooks Sydney McKeown Iris Smyth Margaret McKeown Diane Young Maureen Waring Joan Ferguson Cllr. Elizabeth Adger (MEABC) Richard Hastings (Green Pastures) Stephen Johnson (Victory Praise) Chairperson - Ronnie Crooks Secretary - Iris Smyth Treasurer - Sydney McKeown ## **Professional Advisors** **Bankers** Ulster Bank **Insurance Brokers** AJ Gallagher Support Services: Ballymena South Community Cluster Ballee Community Centre, Ballymena, **4** ## **OUR OBJECTIVES** Ballee Community Association is an Unincorporated Association governed by an adopted Constitution. Application has been successfully made to the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland and is now recognised as a Charity. **Charity Registration Number: NIC100100 Charity Name: Ballee Community Association** **5** ## **CHAIRMANS SUMMARY** ## **Strategic Highlights** It has been an active year in which we have seen the return of “normal” activities, including the weekly Ballee 60+ Lunechon Club and an additional short term project which saw the delivery of a Warm Space. This initiative, supported and funded by MEABC, was to ease the burden of the rising cost of living, and to offer an opportunity for friendship, as well as helping the community to save on their own heating bills by accessing a community space. The committee continues to support Ballee Community Childcare Centre. Kim Rodgers provides an excellent service to the community in her role as Childcare Manager. The Pre-School is funded through PEAGS and in the academic year from September 2021-June 2022 there were 41 funded places through PEAGS. While the After Schools provision was not required due to lockdowns imposed by the Covid Pandemic, a growing need for Pre-Pre School provision was identified and is now part funded through the DfC Neighbourhood Renewal Program and the Pathway Fund. The Education Authority’s Ballymena South Area Youth Worker continues to offer targeted youth provision in Ballee and has completed weekly sessions with a small group of youth. This group is increasing in numbers and EA have pledged to continue this work in Ballee throughout 2023. Free classes continue to be offered to the community through the CALL Project and a Soft Furnsihings Class started in March 2023. These classes continue to provide an opportunity for both learning, and social bonding. BCA continues to be part of Ballee and Harryville Community Enterprises and the Enabling Scheme/Wind Turbine Project is coming to an end with the sale of turbines. The Ballee & Harryville Workspace units continue to be a success with 100% occupancy at all times. B Holmes, I Smyth, D Young and M McKeown **6** continue to represent the committee on the board. W. McDowell has now resigned from the Board of Ballee & Harryville Community Enterprises. We have seen some changes to the committee in the past year and we are sad to say goodbye to our Treasurer, Mr. Sydney McKeown, who put in over 10 years of service and maintained the accounts for the Association. We thank Mr. McKeown for all his hardwork and dedication over the years. Ms. Smyth is instrumental in supporting the 60+ Club each week and we thank her her for everything she does for the Association and our members. We continue to be supported by the Ballymena South Community Cluster staff team, including H. Bowyer in her role as Community Development Officer, and A. Stewart who is the Administrative Assistant. This support is vital to our ongoing success and we thank them for assisting us with funding applications, promotion of our work, and general admin support. We appreciate Cllr. Beth Adger as she continues to support us as our local councillor on the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. We also thank our Honourary President Mrs. Margaret McKeown, who has had Ballee Community in her heart for many years. The Association continues to do everything it can to improve the lives of Ballee residents. It has been my privilege to continue to serve as Chairperson. I would like to thank all the members for all their work in the various aspects of the Association and in particular the Office Bearers who have been an invaluable help and constant source of encouragement. ## **Ronnie Crooks** ## **Chairman** **7** ## **REPORT ON ACTIVITIES** ## **Luncheon Club** The Luncehon Club has attracted a few new members this year and each week up to 25 older people are supported with a hot meal and an activity. During the past year the Club has received talks from the Dog’s Trust and Diabetes UK and a visit from Wee Critters. Funding was also accessed through MEABC to host a special Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration, which was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. ## **CALL Project** Members of the community were able to attend a Soft Furninshing Class, as well as some members meeting on a Thursday to partake in knitting and croteching. ## **Community Centre** Ballee Community Centre has been utlised for the Ballee 60+ Club, targeted Youth Work, Linedancing classes, and focus group sessions, Child Bereavement Counselling Services, and NIHE Drop Ins. **8** ## **Childcare Centre** Ballee Community Childcare has continued to deliver first class childcare services to the community. The Pre-preschool and Pre-School continue to have healthy waiting lists and K. Rodgers continues to run the childcare centre smoothly and efficiently. ## **Ballee and Harryville Community Enterprises** The letting of the workspace units (beside the Childcare Centre) continue to generate much needed revenue for the community. Currently the units are at 100% capacity and BHCE continues to be Lead Partner in Ballymena South Community Cluster and are working hard to finalise the Cluster's Wind Turbine Project. FINANCIAL Oall•• CommuhtyAwtlrtlon SI•thm•ntofRtt•￿ & P•ym•fitsl•rYMr End.. Funds 2012 FundA 2022 AtCEim Oonations ind 81ft5 fruffl Ind￿1￿￿ ChorltcbltActlvIt￿X.' antsl MEA SLA 604 aub & Fundra￿nI User Groupj 6,6LI 3.945 815 1.945 815 5,260 11124 PAYMEiif5 Runnln8 Costs Eventsl Pioleets Bank Fees & Intèrest Equlpmtnt & Flttln8S Oonatk*ns lo Ixher Groups Ilee CommunltyChlldc•re 5.410 5.410 3,717 3.717 5%74 1721 IL>J 10.0 19.311 Ass•tl In¥¢stm¢nt Purch• Surplwl Ir)•lldtl forth•Ywr 641 454 10 8allee Cofflrnunlty As%>c5 St4ternentolAsMts & Ll•bllttl•s-Y•ar Enth. 31 Mxth 2022 FUND5 RECOPICIUAMON Curr•ntYui Unrestrki•d Funds 2022 Cumt Year Cuir•ni Yw R•strkted Tot•1 Funds Funds 20ZZ PrfwY••r Tittl F¥na Total Funds brought forward 01.04.21 Surplus1 Deflclt thls Year.. TotJl Funds carrled forward 31.03.22 47.391 47.391 7,187 40304 51,281 1.454 38.750 Bank & ￿la￿•S ljlster &nk Current Account 204 47,39t 47 Oth•r AM•ts IUnr•strkt•d Fundl Ll•bllltl•i IUnr•rtrfd•d Fund) TOTAL NET ASSETS 40.204 47,391 Thls r•port was •pprov•d by the Trurt••$ OTr 28Jun• 2022 and slined on thelr behall by: Mr Sydney McKeown Tr•4wMr Ballee Community Association