GLENCOLIN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION A.G.M. REPORT Wednesday 13 March 2024 The meeting began at 5.00F-. In Attendance: Sean Lennon Glencolin Residents Associatlon Josephine Tubrfdy Glencolin Residents Association Paddy Kelly Housing Executlve Betty Barr Glencolln Resldents Assoclatlon Meabh Scott Charlie Mc Glinchy Local Trader Teresa Hyland Resident Jackle Buntlng Marty Black Arder Carson Alec Trainer Frances Perry Welfare Advlce . Glencolin Residents Association Safer Neighbourhood Local Councillor Resident Resident -Ir Peter Bur Resldent Resldent Tutor Resident Resldent Malread Mc Crea Klds Together Bernle Coogan Resldent Danny Mc Garry Independant Patrlck Hardy Glencolin Residents Association Elllsh Mc Ginn l.T. Tutor/ Volunteer Jeannle Mc Dowell Resldent Chloe Quinn Famlly support Lorralne Gregory Conor Mackel Donna Mc Clean Bruce McLarnen l. Welcome and Chairpers0rf5 Report: Sean Lennon Sean Lennon welcomed everyone to the 2024 A.G.M. Sean said it was with a very heawi heart that we record the passing of our esteemed former Chairperson & current Vice-chair Dannv Barr. Many of you here tonight will have received this news with great sorrow and I want to extend our sincere sympathy to Betty on the loss of her beloved husband and soul mate.. He will be sorely missed. Prior to September 2007 the association had operated on an entirely voluntary basis, funding for a Project Manager was secured from B.R.O. (Belfast Regeneration Office). In this very difficult period as we emerge from the pandemic and enter a critical period of rising energy increases & what is known to us in the Community sector as an income related crisis and not as Governmnet like to call it a cost of living crisis . We have watched as our doctors, nurses. health workers, teachers, classroom assistants, bus drivers and other public sector workers have been forced to take strike action for better pay & conditions. This sector has not seen pay increases for almost 10 years and nervously wait every year to see If contracts are being renewed In order to continue to provide vital services and plan ahead. No anti- poverty strategy has been agreed to replace Neighbourhood Renewal and the Executive has stlll not resumed at Stormont. Glencolin will continue to represent & support residents in association with other members of the community sector & Statutory agencies. Throughout the year the organisation has dealt with an increasing number of residenys issues varying from Housing Executive, Belfast City Council & Community Safety. The withdrawal of the £20 Universal credit uplift has caused further hardship to families already existing on a very limited budget. The C.D.O. continues to represent the organisation on the following forums, Lenadoon Neighbourhood Renewal West Belfast Housing Network (Consumer panel) Belfast Hills Forum Housing & Environmental Forum West Belfast Partnership Board Housing & Environmental sub-group West Belfast Partnership Board Area Renewal Forum Kids Together Disability Organisation Board of Falls Women's Centre.. These meetings also provide an excellent opportunity for networking within the sector. We managed to get our senior citizens gardening and decorating scheme funded for second year, many thanks to all volunteers who assisted. We look forward to a successful summer scheme this year with funding support from Belfast City Council. The women's group. addiction & mental health self help groups & older persons group contins to go from strength to strength. Residents continued to receive support from welfare advice & family advocacy, buddy support,counselling services, a variety of training, health & social activities have also taken place throughout the year. Jackie continues to work effortlessly on our behalf to secure funding so that the range of services on offer can continue. I would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout the year. On behalf of the Management Committee & Safer Neighbourhood Project I would like to thank Jackie, our C.D.O. /Project Manager for her dedication and hard work throughout the year. We will contlnue to lobby and campaign for the Glencolin Community. 2. Mlnutes of A.G.M. 2023 and matters arlsin8 Secretarfs Report J05ephlne Tubridy Josephine welcomed everyone and asked those present to look over the minutes from the previous year. There were no matters arising. She then asked for a proposer and a seconder that the minutes were a true and accurate account. Proposed by Betty Barr and seconded by Patrick Hardy. 3. Staff Report Jackie Bunting (C.D.O.) I want to begin by endorsing Sean and expressing my sincere sadness at the passing of our esteemed friend & colleague Danny. We are so very sorry for your loss Betty and can only imagine what pain you are in. Sincere sympathy to the entire family circle. Danny was one of life's finest. he was always on hand to help out, no job too big or too small. He was one of the first people I met when taking up the post and we soon became great friends. Nobody who knew Danny had a bad word to say about him. We really appreciate you taking the time to be here with us Betty, anyone who knew them as a couple they went together like peas in a pod, it was always Danny & Betty/ Betty & Danny. They were childhood sweethearts and everyone I have spoken to since his passing have said Glencolin has lost one of its finest, neighbour, friend, colleague, community worker. He and Betty started this project to brin8 the community together and many a meeting was had over a cup of tea in their wee kitchen where activities etc. were planned for the community. It was a great honour to be part of their dream to see the area gain recognition from the Housing Executive who lease the premises and the Department funding the core post. I will continue to work with and for the local community and I hope I do you proud Danny as yours are big shoes to fill. Since taking up the post in September 20071 have had the pleasure of seeing the project grow to the extent that we have outgrown the capacity of the community flat. A priority for me has and will continue to be a permanent community facility for this area. I have worked with the Management Committee in lobbying everyone involved in the re-development of the Glen Road to ensure that this organisation retains a high profile and gets the social amenities it desenies. The children of this area deserve a community facility and parents and residents deserve service provision in a safe, secure environment. Our welfare advice & family support service continues to provide a vital service as more people feel the financial pressures on family life: this has increased mental & physical health issue5 and we hope to secure funding to enable us to continue this work. We have had another very busy year as we stru88le to meet the demand and support people through this economic crisis and flnd our new normal exitin8 the pandemic. Our wide range of service provision included l.T. for beginners, Silver Surfers, Essential skills, Personal Development, Culture & Diversities, Ending Hate in our Communities, Sexual Health & Drug Awareness, Healthy Eating on a Budget, Stress Man. & Colour Therapy, Looking after our Mental Health, Art, History & Creative Writing classes, Yoga, Salsa, Pilates for over 50,5 . 15 young people had the opportunity to go on team building residential to lusty beg island. would like to thank the Housing Executive who have continued to work closely with us to improve housing conditions in the area. 15 homes will receive bathroom upgrades this year and an E.C.M. scheme has commenced on 46 houses which will replace guttering repair porches and other additional outdoor improvement works. These were postponed during the pandemic and further delayed as the Housing Executive employed a new contractor. We are currently planning this yearfs activities, which will include another summer scheme and social activities for older people, details of which have yet to be confirmed. We will continue to addre55 residents social inequality issues. A priority for me has & will be the securing of funding to enable our service provision for families, women & young people's groups. We will continue to have a a strong voice on the lobbying front, particularly around, fuel poverty & the cost of livin& education, affordable childcare. gender equality, zero hour contracts etc. Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank the followin& without their support the work of the organisation would not be possible, The N.l.H.E. who lease us the building free of charge and have renewed our lease for a further three years. We would like to wish Paddy Kelly a long & healthy retirement and wish Margaret Marley and her team well and thank them all their help and support throughout the year. Department for Communities who fund the post, in particular Brenda Richards for all her support throughout the year. The out going Communities Minister Deirdre Hargy for the recognition from her department for the services provided by the sector. We hope to see Mlnlsters back in their positions in the very near future to help families through these financial crisis. Belfast City Council communities Department for all their grant aid support. Our political representatives in particular Alex Maskey who has retired, we wish him well. Our thanks to Arder Carson for all his support. Our funders: Awards for All, Ireland Fund, C.F.N.I, Good Relations Council, Children in Need, John Moore Trust and in Particular Bernard Black , we wish him well in his retirement, Halifax, Charlie Mc Glinchy and last but not least Danny Mc Garry who has moved to a new post. We would like to Thank Sharon & Sinead from Kids Together for taking on our salary accounts without charge. This is an example of Community organisations supporting each other and utilising skills. I would also like to take this opportunityto thank all our volunteers, in particular the men and women of the Safer Neighbourhood Project, our buddvs and our Management Committee whose dedication to the residents of this area never ceases to amaze me. A special thank you to Danny Mc Garry from Upper Andersonstown Community Forum, who will be our independent forthis evening and to Josephine for preparing the refreshments and helping to organise the A.G.M. 4. Presentation of Accounts and Appointment of Auditor Treasurers Report Patrick Har(ty Paddy welcomed everyone and also sent his condolences to Betty and family on the death of Danny. A great gentleman. He informed everyone that 202212023 had been a very difficult period for the community sector in general. With Jackie'5 continued drive and commitment we managed to continue our service delivery throughout the pandemic and beyond. He said sourcing funding was always ongoing and becoming increasingly hard in this current economic climate. He thanked Jackie on behalf of the Management Committee and for her assistance in preparing the year end returns for the auditor. He then asked everyone present if they were happy to ratify the accounts. He then asked if everyone was happy to retain the services of Joe Quinn our auditor for the forthcoming year. This was agreed by everyone present. 5. Elertion of new committee Chaired by Danny Mc Garry Danny began by asking the current committee to stand down. All said they were putting themselves forward for another term of office, this was agreed by everyone present. Betty was asked if she would take up Dannrfs position of Vice-chair as the members felt it Is what he would have wanted and she has stood side by side with him since the formation of the or8anisation. She said it would be an honour and this was endorsed by everyone present. The association would like to take this opportunity to encourage some more residents to join the Management Committee. The Committee will remain behind to set dates for meetings etc. 6. A.O.B. Resident's Thanked Jackie and the Management & volunteers for their continued work on behalf of everyone living in the area. For the continued service & support during a very difficult 2 years. Jackie thanked the residents for their continued 5UPPOrt and especially those who volunteer their time throughout the year and without whom service delivery at its current capacity would not be possible. Jackie then brought the meeting to a close by once again thanking everyone for attending and inviting them to stay for refreshments. The meeting ended at 6