th
AGM Thurs 19 Oct 2023 17 30pm-11 Oopml
Institute of Irlsh Leadership ,Pomeroy
Commlttee present. M Quinn, K Burns, M O'coinne. B Burn5
We have had another very busy and successful year at Institute of Irlsh Leadershlp throughout 2022,
with the first full year of uninterrupted activities after the Covid pandem ic. The activities included
many of the annual and seasonal initiatives we regularly deliver, as well as a large number of new
activities. All of the activities had a community focus and we were very glad to welcome 50 manv
new faces into our centre and engage in our activities. Over the course of the year, we worked with
such a large number of people from a wlde range of backgrounds, a8es and genders. All with the
focus of increase opportunity to engage in community, cultural and heritage based activities. We had
our largest year on record for number of particlpants and reach of our activities and have set a
fantastic platForm for all of this work to continue 8rowin8 in 2023.
We were glad to work wlth so many funders again throughout the year. Many of whom were
instrurnental in the dellvery of certain programmes and inStratives, Thelr support has been invaluable
and we look forward to working wlth many of them agaln to dellver Inltiatives to the communltv,
Some of the funders included: Mid Ulster District Council, The Communlty Foundation Nl, Public
Health Agency, Fibrus etc.
We were so happy to welcome people back into our facility over the course of the year. However we
did still facilitate some of the service5 and events online, as our participant5 had requested this and
we were able to engage wSth people from much further afield online. We believe that we achleved a
good balance of quality service delivory to tho highest level, while also al lowing our community to
corno together in our space 3nd incre35e levels of social interaction and loarnin8.
Please see a brlef descrlption of the activltle5 dellvered over the course cf 2022 below..
Wo facllitated our annual Ciorcal Comhral Irlsh Lan8uage Conversation Circle from Jan 2022 for a
period of 12 weeks. Thls Included both on Zoom and In person, allowln8 as many to particlpate a5
Possible, also not being Ilmited to the centres capaclty.
We run a number of programmes and events wlth the local prlmary school, St Mary's Primary School.
Thls Included li nking In wlth Healthy Kidz agaln to run a programme with the help of fundin8 from
the Publlc Health Agency, The aim of these actlvldes where to enhance the health and well-belng of
some of the youngest members of our communityi while also engaging them in cultural and
educational activitres.
Community Pharmacy Project May-june 2022 for a period of 6 weeks. Here we brought older
people in the community together here ￿n the centre , with our local pharmacist delivering different
topics and to advice them on health and well-being. They a150 educated them or) key issues such as
Alzheirnerldementia, mental health, diabetes etc. This gave older people a forum to come and ask
questr'ons and get clarity on many issues they were having or were unsure on. This project was very
successful and was a good example of new programming we introduced this year and will continue
to do so in future years.
We a150 developed a number of outdoor focused project5 3nd activities, such as a sensory walk
through the forest. This brought people together, while also engaging them in Irish and local Stories
and heritage along the way. This was instrumental in bringing people back together socially and
engaging them in community based activitie5. They enhanced their knowledge in the outdoor5, such.