Chai
rsons Re rt Dunl StTO
r￿M2￿se
mber 2023
Good evening everyone. You are all very welcome to our AGM. We especially welcome Damian
McGuckian WI￿ has very kindly offered to preside over the election of officers at our meeting
tonight.
This has been an extremely busy and successful year for Dunloy Stronger Together which is
evidenced by the 2023 calendar of events that is attached to this report. However, these brilllant
events are just the tip of the iceber8 with a massive amount of work in the background to make It all
possible. Every single one of these events/activtties are in support of our mission statement which is
"Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Community-.
The major developments this year are that Dunloy Stronger Together (thereafter referred to as Dsn
have formally taken over responsibility from 1° June 2023 for the running of the local playgroup
which has been renamed as Dunloy Wraparound Club Ithereafter referred to as DWC). A new
committee has been elected for DWC with a big in¢￿aSe in enrolments and extended opening hours
from I" September 2023.
None of thls would be possible without the drive, hardwork and passion of DST'S first full time
employee Lauren Elliott who took up post on 1° April 2023. Lauren has been a key part of DST for a
number of years but has now taken on the full-tlme roles of Events Manager for DST and Playgroup
Manager and Playgroup leader for DWC and has been doing an incredible job over the last 6 months.
Lauren recently singlehandedly secured over £20,OLXJ of funding for Dsf to support ongolng activities
as well as completely refreshing all policies and procedures so that DWC is now fully regIste￿d wtth
social seNices.
DST are also blessed with a fantsstfc committee of dedicated volunteers and helpers. Maire Buckley
has taken on the role of Vlce-chair of DWC this year as well as Victrchair of Dsf and dedicates a lot of
time and effort in these roles. Jane McFerran is treasurer of DST and brilliantly keeps everybody up
to speed on all things financlal throughout the year. Aine Mc Cullough as secretary of DST tsking
minutes of all meetings and keeping everything running smoothly. Similarly DSfs other committee
members Aldan Clifftird. Johanne Mc Michael and more re￿ntlY Bemle Mcclean who are a great
source of help, support and 8uidance throughout the year.
It would be wrong here not to acknowledge Sharon Gault who was Instrumental earlier in 2023 In
securing grant funding and running the health and well being project in January as well as the cross
community youth project with Green Pastures. We wish Sharon every success in her new ventures as
youth worker for the Education Authority. Similarly a huge thanks goes to Sardh Jane O'Donnell who
has been part of our commtttee overthe last few years but is nowfocussing any of her spare time to
establishing a new charity "Causeway Neurodiversity. to provide support for neurodiverse
individuals and their families in the Causeway Coast area. What a fantastic and much needed charty!

ThTS year we have had massive support from local businesse& Wrthout this support DST ab501utely
would not have been in a position to tsken on resFM)nsibility for the playgroup or to take on our first
full-time employee. I hope I don't leave anyone out and if I do then I sincerely apologise. Fibrus,
Maine Surface Finishing. Premier Electrics. DB Contracts, Creagh Concrete. Sean & Rosemary
Cochrane's Charity have all made signfficant financial contributions alongside other contributors who
have asked to remain anonymous. Your help and support has been criii(31 and is very much
appreciated by all in the community.
Flnally, the Suc￿sS of DST and everything that we do ts a refiection of the brilliant community of
Dunloy that we are blessed to live in and to serve. As I said eartier. our mission ststement is simple;
"Healthy Minds. Healthy Bodies, Healthy Communtrf. We are passionate to provide whatever
services we can to contlnue to support the people and the village of Dunloy and the surroundlng
areas. The support we receive througlK>ut the year from the whole community helps to energise and
motivate and encourage all involved to keep goin8 from strength to strength and expand the services
and activities that we offer.
Thank you all for being here tonight and for your support in my role as Chairperson.
I will now hand over to Damian forthe election of officers for the new committee.
Bobby Carlin
Chairperson
Dunloy Stronger Together
Ih
28 September 2023