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GLENCOLIN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
A.G.M. REPORT
Thursday 19th March 2026
The meeting began at 3.30pm
In Attendance:
Sean Lennon Glencolin Residents Association Josephine Tubridy Glencolin Residents Association Paddy Hardy Glencolin Residents Association Betty Barr Glencolin Residents Association Meabh Scott Welfare Advice . Alison Mc Glinchy Local Trader Teresa Hyland Resident Jackie Bunting Glencolin Residents Association Marty Black Safer Neighbourhood Arder Carson Local Councillor Alec Trainer Resident Frances Perry Resident Peter Burns Resident Lorraine Gregory Resident Conor Mackel Tutor Donna Mc Clean Resident Bruce McLarnen Resident Mairead McCrea Kids Together Bernie Coogan Resident Sharon Mc Closkey Independant Martine Barr Resident Eilish Mc Ginn 1.T. Tutor/ Volunteer Jeannie Mc Dowell Resident Chloe Quinn Family support
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1. Welcome and Chairperson’s Annual Report:
Sean Lennon
Sean Lennon welcomed everyone to the 2026 A.G.M. Sean said it was a tough year and we are going into the new financial year with the same heavy heart as yet again our future service delivery is uncertain due to the current funding crisis.
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) and known hereafter as D.F.C. (Department for Communities). In this very difficult time we 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 Government 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 15 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 still not agreed on the way forward. Glencolin will continue to represent & support residents in association with other members of the community sector & Statutory agencies.
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Throughout the year the organisation has dealt with an increasing number of resident’s issues varying from Housing, Belfast City Council & Community Safety. The current uncertainty around utilities has caused grave concern among households. The financial strain on families & individuals is having a severe impact on everyday life and is taking it’s toll on mental health. We have been fortunate to continue our vital services, welfare advice and family advocacy, health programmes and distribution of food vouchers provided through the B.C.C. Social Supermarket programme.
The C.D.O. continues to represent the organisation on the following forums,
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e Lenadoon Neighbourhood Renewal
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e West Belfast Housing Network
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e Belfast Hills Forum
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e Housing & Environmental Forum
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e West Belfast Partnership Board Housing & Environmental sub-group
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e West Belfast Partnership Board Area Renewal Forum
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e Kids Together Disability Organisation
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e 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 a second year, many thanks to all volunteers who assisted.
We have been able to continue with our service provision this year with support from the Housing Executive who continue to lease us the premises, Belfast City Council, D.F.C The Lottery & Social Supermarket
The women’s group, addiction & mental health self help groups & older persons group continues 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.
| would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout the year. On behalf of the Management Committee & Safer Neighbourhood Project | would like to thank Jackie, our C.D.M. /Project Manager for her dedication and hard work throughout the year. We will continue to lobby and campaign for the Glencolin Community.
2. Minutes of A.G.M. 2025 and matters arising Secretary’s Report Josephine 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.
- Staff Report Jackie Bunting (C.D.
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Since taking up the post in September 2008 | 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. | 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 deserves. 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 issues and we hope to secure funding to enable us to continue this work. We have been successful in our bid to deliver food vouchers through the Social Supermarket scheme and | hope we are successful in retaining this for another year as it enabled our welfare service to assist those in the greatest need,
We have had another very busy year as we struggle to meet the demand and support people through this economic crisis. Our wide range of service provision included I.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’s . 10 volunteers had the opportunity to go on team building residential. | 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 just been completed, which replaced guttering, repaired porches and other additional outdoor improvement works. These were postponed and further delayed as the Housing Executive employed a new contractor.
We are currently planning this year’s activities, which will include another Social supermarket voucher scheme and social activities for older people, details of which have yet to be confirmed. We will continue to address residents social inequality issues. A priority for me has & will be the securing of funding to enable our service provision for families, women & Travellers groups. We will continue to have a a strong voice on the lobbying front, particularly around, fuel poverty & the cost of living, education, affordable childcare, gender equality, zero hour contracts etc.
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Finally | would like to take this opportunity to thank the following, without their support the work of the organisation would not be possible,
- @ The N.I.H.E. who lease us the building free of charge and have renewed our lease for a further two years. We would like to thank Lisa, Alison & all the team at the Diary Farm office. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Margaret Marley the very best of health in her retirement and to thank her for her dedication and friendship, she will be
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sorely missed. We want to wish Theresa Maguire well in her new role and look forward to working with her and her team.
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e Department for Communities who fund the post, in particular Karen, it has been a pleasure working with you and we look forward to continuing this throughout this coming year. We had hoped to see a future plan for the sector in place but as yet we are still waiting for confirmation from the Minister as to our current level of funding for the coming financial year. This sector is facing a crucial financial crisis and the continuation of services is under severe threat without a clear anti-poverty strategy in place.
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e Belfast City Council communities Department for all their grant aid support. Inj particular Jacqui Whyte, Ellen Kelly and all the team.
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e Our political representatives, Arder Carson and Orlaithi Flynn for all their support.
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e Our funders: Awards for All, Ireland Fund, Children in Need, John Moore Trust, Halifax, Charlie Mc Glinchy and last but not least 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.
| would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers, in particular the men and women of the Safer Neighbourhood Project, our listening ear buddy’s and our Management Committee whose dedication to the residents of this area never ceases to amaze me. A special thank you to Sharon Mc Closkey from Kids Together West Belfast, who will be our independent for this 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 Hardy
Paddy welcomed everyone to the A.G.M.
He informed everyone that 2024/ 2025 had been a very difficult period for the community sector in general. With Jackie’s continued drive and commitment we managed to continue our service delivery throughout the year. 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.
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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. Election of new committee
Chaired by Sharon Mc Closkey
Sharon 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 Josephine’s position of Secretary as the members agreed she had the most experience. She said it would be an honour and this was endorsed by everyone present. Josephine accepted the position of Vice-chair.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 years.
Jackie thanked the residents for their continued support 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 4.45pm