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2025-03-31-annual-report

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025 and confirm that they comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2013.

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name:

Queens Park Women's Group

Charity Registration Number: NIC 100552 Principal Office: Lillian Bland Pavillion 30A Carnmoney Road (Unit1) Glengormley Co Antrim BT36 6HW

List of Office Bearers

Thomasina McTaggart - Chairperson Carolyn Nelson - Secretary Sharon Castle - Treasurer

Committee Members

Marsha Galbraith Michelle McCauley Tamsin McTaggart Katie Nelson

Accounts verified by -

Eileen Weir

Good Relations Co-Ordinator

6 Hesketh Park

Belfast

BT14 7JR

Bankers

AIB First Trust Bank, 92 Ann Street Belfast BT1 3HH

Queens Park Women's Group

Report on the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025

Structure Governance and Management

Governing Document

Queens Park Women's Group is constituted as a Charity, registered with the Charity Commission (Northern Ireland) in 2010, under Charity number XT34333.

Organisational Structure

The Office Bearers and Committee Members are entrusted with the control and management of the Group. Our Trustees generously offer their time without any remuneration or financial benefits. They gather as a collective each month, taking responsibility for decisions regarding the administration of the Group and its activities.

Recruitment and Appointment of Office Bearers and Committee Members

Office bearers and committee members are essential to our organisation. They are nominated at the Annual General Meeting. We seek individuals who regularly attend our events and are genuinely interested in our community initiatives. Those interested in these roles should be ready to collaborate, contribute ideas, and actively support our projects. Their involvement can significantly shape our future and enhance our community impact.

Induction and Training of Office Bearers and Committee Member

Following appointment, new Office Bearers and Committee Members are introduced to their new role, given a copy of the Group's Constitution and a guide to the policies and procedures adopted by our Group and receive induction from Office Bearers.

Risk Management

The Office Bearers and Committee Members have evaluated the risks that the Charity faces in relation to reporting public benefit. Insurance policies are in effect to mitigate these risks. Finances are reviewed and monitored monthly. Additionally, thorough background checks are conducted for everyone who works with children or other vulnerable groups at the Group's premises.

Aims, Objectives and Activities

Our Aims

Queens Park Women’s Group is committed to establishing a community organisation that reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents of the Queenspark Estate and the Greater Glengormley area. We aim to empower individuals by providing access to essential resources and opportunities, fostering a stronger and more connected community for all.

Our Objectives

Queens Park Women’s Group will achieve our aim through:

  1. Creating an infrastructure to consolidate and develop the organisation to its full potential by introducing programmes of social, economic and environmental benefit.

  2. Providing a range of development and training opportunities to enhance the skills and employability of local people, particularly young people.

  3. Providing a range of opportunities for local people to participate in programmes which promote peace building, generate community and civil respect, life skills, conflict resolution, confidence building and community leadership.

  4. Developing programmes of activities that will address the issues which impact on local people and their families, as well as the wider community to encourage reconciliation, Integration and Inclusion.

  5. Developing a range of programmes that will deal specifically with women's issues.

Strategies- Benefits

We are deeply committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in our local community. Our Group's premises are open to all members of the public and to community groups from various backgrounds. To ensure that everyone can access our services, the main hall and office is easily reached, both are on ground level with access to disable toilets and mother and baby changing facilities.

It is our mission to support those in need; our Group has been recognised as a 'safe place' by Women's Aid. We provide a supportive environment for women and families experiencing challenges, and we have trained volunteers available to assist them. Additionally, we are registered with The Food Bank Scheme, allowing us to refer clients to receive essential food assistance and other resources. These services are completely confidential.

In May 2025 at Buckinham Palace, Queenspark Women’s Group Was Awarded their Medal for Community Voluntary Service. This was such a special moment for all our volunteers and members.

Now that we have moved to Lillian Bland Pavilion our premises are centrally located, hosting a diverse range of community groups that reflect the different segments of our community. We offer various courses and workshops designed to meet the needs of participants of all ages and abilities, from young children to seniors. Importantly, we foster an atmosphere where no religious obligations or political views are imposed upon anyone engaging with our center.

Strategically located in the heart of Glengormley, our premises act as a central hub for community events and activities. We organise a range of workshops and family-oriented activities aimed at

reinvigorating the town's spirit. These initiatives enhance individuals, promote a sense of belonging, and encourage active participation within the community. Creating such opportunities can strengthen community ties and foster a more cohesive environment.

Use of Volunteers

Volunteers play a vital role in our community work. They participate in nearly all our community activities, generously giving their time without expectation of payment. We conduct appropriate checks for anyone who works with children or other vulnerable groups within our organisation.

Achievements and Performance – Evidence of Benefit

The lack of accessible community facilities has been a challenge but also an opportunity for positive change. This situation prompted volunteers to set up Queens Park Women's Group in 2010, a beacon of hope that has since been instrumental in steering young people towards peaceful activities and away from antisocial behaviour.

These actions led to the establishment of the 50/50 project, a shining example of how mutual understanding and respect can be fostered. The project, delivered on a 50/50 basis between young people from the Protestant and Catholic traditions, has been a testament to the power of unity in diversity.

Of the young people who participated in the 50/50 project, almost 95% went on to gain employment or engaged in further education opportunities. The success of the 50/50 project is a testament to what can be achieved with the proper support. However, much more must be done to build on our fledgling work.

The evidence of our programme delivery over the past 15 years demonstrates our ability to manage a broad range of projects. The Group has managed several funded and community engagement programmes from a range of organisations, including:

Our women’s and young women’s groups have all participated in several cross community/ cross border events. We have delivered a range of programmes including:

BENEFICIARIES

In the reporting year Queens Park Women's Group has delivered a number of programmes within our women's Group, including crafts classes, mental health and well-being, fitness, Yoga, and nutrition. Our Women's Group has its annual Christmas Toy appeal every year starting in November and ending on Xmas eve. This has been very successful. Our Toy Appeal is run strictly confidentially.

Queens Park Women's Group has successfully delivered several programs within our women's Group, including craft classes, mental health workshops, flower arranging and wreath making, well-being sessions, fitness and yoga activities, courses with Women’s Tech and nutrition education.

We have collaborated with local individuals of all ages, including those with little or no qualifications, early school leavers, individuals grappling with substance abuse, those from problematic family backgrounds, and people who have been or are close to the criminal justice system. As we do every year, we support individuals suffering from poor health, including mental health issues, and those coming from communities with a negative outlook on their future.

Additionally, we maintain strong relationships with the local high schools, providing work experience opportunities to pupils from several schools each year.

Throughout the year, our Group has continued to organise various events, including our 11[th] July fun day, coffee mornings at our center, Xmas Toy appeal, fun days for children in the Queens Park Estate, and community clean-up events held in the Queens Park Estate and Glengormley Town Centre and pensioners lunches in collaboration with the Community Relations Forum. Also collaborating with the Community Relations Forum we took part in the Great Glengormley Get Together held in Lillian Bland Park.

Partnership Working

We are a member of the HCN within the NI Housing Executive. Our volunteers attend monthly meetings to discuss our residents’ issues. We also have received funding over the years for a variety of programmes, most recently for a mural of Queen Elizabeth ll to cover a wall that had been booked for a paramilitary mural.

In developing our community programmes we are pleased to work in partnership with the Community Relations Forum, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, NI Housing Executive, PSNI, Glengormley High School, Shankill Women's Centre, The Greater North Belfast Women's Network, Impact NI, Women’s Tech and all our local community groups, all of whom have provided invaluable advice and support.

EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT

We will evidence the increased benefits through evaluation of programmes delivered and feedback from participants and funding organisations.

POSSIBILITY OF HARM

As the delivery of our activities is led by the needs of the participants, we cannot at this time identify any harm that would be caused to residents by improving their living conditions and assisting them in their own personal development.

PRIVATE BENEFIT

The only private benefit to trustees will be skills enhancement and experience gained through participation in activities. The group operates a programme of training which covers all aspects of good governance, and this is necessary to ensure the group complies with relevant legislation and requirements from funding organisations

Plans Ahead

It's urgent that we provide continuity, practical support, and leadership to improve the work we are currently delivering to young people and families from Queenspark and the Glengormley area. This is crucial to break the cycle of anti-social behaviour and sectarian violence which has blighted the area for the past 40 years. Our Group will continue to work with statutory agencies for the betterment of our community as a whole.

We also want to continue our plans for our women's Group, to increase in numbers, and add more volunteers to our centre. We will continue to pursue all funding sources available to fund programmes and training for all local people, ensuring that our community's needs are met and our programs can continue to thrive.

To this end, we are actively pursuing all Statutory Agencies that can help provide Funding opportunities for projects, mental health training, and courses. This stability will enable our Group to provide more hands-on practical support to Local people who need it now.

Financial Review

Principal Funding Source

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council EA

Impact NI Women’s Tec Room Hire

Statement of Office Bearers and Committee Members Responsibilities

The Office Bearers and Committee Members are responsible for preparing an Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and Northern Ireland Accounting Standards. This requires the Charity Office Bearers and Committee Members to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of incoming funding and application of all funding for that period.

The Office Bearers and Committee Members are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (NI 2013) and all accounting regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Office Bearers and Committee Members for the purposes of Charity law who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 2.

Approved by the Office Bearers and Committee members and signed on behalf of the Group by:

Thomasina McTaggart (Chairperson)

Carolyn Nelson (Secretary)

23[rd ] January 2026

Scan of signed paged below

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