MAGILLIGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Accounts for Year Ended 31 March 2023
Objectives and Aims
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. Our principal activity is to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Magilligan area and its environs of Northern Ireland without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
The Association operates a community centre for use by all groups in the community. It provides a range of educational and recreational classes. The Association hold weekly social events for the elderly, parent & toddler group, craft group, Social Singing Club, Community Fridge, Community Warm Space, Allotment Project, Yoga Classes and a youth club for the young people of the area. It provides opportunities for people to get involved in volunteering and it has annual seasonal events to bring the community together.
Ensuring Our Work Delivers Our Aims
Our aims and objectives and activities are reviewed, monitored and assessed throughout an ongoing programme of regular committee meetings. Our committee ensures adherence to the charity commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
The Focus of Our Work
To provide courses and classes, both recreation and leisure; to offer our summer programme of events with a focus on the younger members of our community. Our local residents can meet and take part in activities in our centre.
How Our Charity Activities Deliver Public Benefit
Older People and People with Disabilities
We currently have 30 older people who regularly participant in a variety of activities including art and crafts, lunch club, social singing and coffee morning.
Our purpose built Community building is fully accessible and equipped to accommodate service users with disabilities.
Young People
Our Youth Club current has 93 members registered and are accommodated over 3 sessions on a Friday evening. These children are the age range 4 – 17. The majority also take part in out summer programme of events.
Families
Local families are benefitting from our childcare provision through our summer scheme activities. Parents are also welcome to take part in activities and programmes. We facilitate a Parent and Toddlers group once a week and provide various other sensory activities for younger children and their families in the community.
Volunteers
The charity is reliant on voluntary help. We have 30 core volunteers from the local community who assist with our classes, groups and activities. Without our volunteers we would be unable to run many of our services and we would like to thank them for their continued service.
Food Hub
We continue to manage a Community Fridge with the main aims to reduce food waste and provide affordable food for the local community. In addition to this we organise cookery classes and demonstrations to educate the local community in cooking economically and healthily. Part of our Food Hub Provision is our Grocery Bag scheme through Fareshare that makes affordable food accessible to local residents.
Allotments
The charity manages a Community Allotment scheme providing individual growing space for participants with access to polytunnels. We run workshops and social events on site that are open to the whole community.
Achievements
We have provided the following courses and classes for our volunteers
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First Aid Training
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Safeguarding Training
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Health and Safety Training
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Autism Awareness Training
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Walk Leader Training
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Basic Food Hygiene Training
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Epic Awards for Volunteers
We have been successful in securing funding from, Hubbub, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Halifax, Community Foundation NI, Live Here Love Here, Public Health Agency, Linking Generations, COAST and the Education Authority.
This funding has helped secure the provision of more services which benefit the local residents. The funding has also enabled us to employ a Community Development Officer to manage the project.
Our charity has no private gain in relation to our activities and programmes as we are a charitable organisation. Additionally, there is not harm in terms of our provisions.
Mrs Alice Conn Trustee
26[th] January 2024