Trust& annual re
ort 202> M hera Cross Communi
Chari
nUM￿r 101215
Link-
The purposes of the charity remains 'to provide facilities for recreation and leisure, to improve the image of the
community, closer community co-operation and to provide children's artiwties. The group also provides a
foodbank to assist the neediest families and indThiiduals within the local Maghera area,.
The following were elerted as trustees for the gr￿p on 28, November 2023:
Ruth Watterson Ichairpersonl
lon james 8oyd
Claire Sweeney (Treasurer)
Paula C(￿very (Secretary)
Kirsty McFall
Jane Mullan
Ross Nicholl
Brian Davey
Personal Youth Dwelopment Programme:
Cohort 3-
March 2023 concluded Cohort 3's time on Maghera PYDP, with 21 participant5 engaging in the prcgramme. Of
these participants:
11 participants gaining full time ernployment
I participant Starting his own soy wax candle business, as well as part time empScyment,
3 participants prcEressing to further education,
4 participants didn't find employment,
I participant disengaged from the programme
I participant sadly passed away.
Be￿￿en April 2021 and March 2023, all young people made significant progress. Many of the young people
I￿ned the programrne with little or no qualifications after leaving school earty/ struggling to cope with the
formal sch(x)I setting. They have enjoyed the relaxed, informal setting Maghera PYDP provided, as well as
having the extra support in placeto help them with their written work. The young people gained many new
skills and personal qualities, including increased confidence levels, teamwork, leadership and community
relations.
In addition to non-aCcredit￿ training programme5, the participants had the opportunity to complete 14
qualifi￿tIon5- L￿e1 3 Emergency First Aid at Work, Level 2 Food Safety in Catering, Manual Handling, Fire
Warden, OCN Level 2 Good Relations, OCN Level 2 Personal Dwelopment, OCN Level 2 Employability Skills, OCN
Lwel 2 Citizenship, Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, Essential 5ki115 Maths, OCN Level 3 Business Development
Skills, (XN ￿e1 2 Information Communication TechnolcEy, OCN Level 2 Social Media and OCN Level 3 Working
Children with Special Needs.
colm￿ 4.
M4hera FryDP began recruiting for cohort 4 in April 2023. with the programme running to De￿mber 2024. To
date. 24 participant5 have been recruited within the programme..
16 are male, 7 are female and l identifies as non-binary
8 of Protestant faith, 10 of Catholic faith and 6 are other/ no religious beliefs
3 of the participants, who joined the programme in August are Syrian refugees. 2 of these
individual's have now recewed their UK resident status, in which we assisted thern with this
progress.
The group have completed many qualification, including,. Manual Handling Awareness, Level 2 Food Safety,
Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work, OCN Level 2 Gcx)d Relations, Mental Health First Aid, Fire Safety
Awareness, OCN Level l Managing risk and OCN Level 2 Personal Development.
The group have also engaged in non-accredited training and workshops, including- Mental health workshops,
driving theory support, cookery, caring for the ￿ntre'S allotments, physical activity, one to one mentorin&
teambuilding ￿tiVItIes1 trips, good relatI(￿S trips, hosting a charity coffee morning and volunteering

5 participants have now left the prcgramme, all on a positive note, with 3 gaining full time employment, I
gainin8 an apprentI￿ShIp and I going into further education.
Education Authority funded programme:
Maghera Cross Community ￿nk worked in partnership with Fairhill Youth Club, for the Maghera area local area
based funding, between April 2022 and March 2023.
Maghera Cross Community ￿￿k worked with 2 groups of young people, aged &13 years and 14-16 years, with
57 young people engaging in targetingyouth work.
Both groups att￿Ided the ￿ntre twice each week to take part in a range of activities, including,. baking, art,
football, games, team building workshops, caring for the centre's allotments, positive mental health, study
group, as well as a wide range of excursion5, which included Emerald Park, Jet Centre, Streamvale Open Farm,
Windsor Park and the cinema. The senior group also had the opportunity to complete 4 qualifications- Level 3
Ernergent¥ First ￿d, Level 2 Food Safety. OCN Level l Youth Leadership and OCN Level 2 Customer Service.
In addition to this, the funding provided the opportunity for the Link to run several out of school programmes,
including summer schemes and a Halloween scheme-
rh
4"_ 8 July- 79 young people engaged
12 August- 52 young people engaged
15"_ 19 August- 78young people eng2ged
th
31% October4 November- 44 young people engaged
All targets were metwithin the pr￿r￿rnMe, with no issues were rais￿ afterfinal reportswere submitted. A
f inancial verification was completed by the Education Authority in October 2023, with no issues raised.
BSG Famity Trust:
Maghera Cross Cornrnunity ￿nk is currently in re￿Ipt of funding from the BSG FamilyTrust, up to March 2024,
which funds 2 X 25 hour staff members, who are re5pmsible for the running of Maghera Fcx)dbank, as well 35
working within the pre-school ￿spIte services.
The funding ha5 allowed us to continue to work with the junior and senior group who had preViou￿V attended
our Education Authority programme, where these young people continueto partake in weekly activities to
increase confiden￿, improve ernotional well being, a5 well as community relations.
Through thefunding four6 week blo¢*s of adult cookery classes were run, with one ofthese being an ￿r-fryer
course. The cookery programmes have been a great opportunity for local adults to come together to socialise,
as well a5 leam a range of cooking techniques. The classes have also f￿USed on cooking on a budget, to
compliment our focKlbank services.
The organisation has recently been awarding further funding from the BSG Family Trust, comrnencing in April
2024, which will fund 3 X 25 hour staff mernber positions, as well as all previously funded activities, with the
additional of our newW formed friendship group.
Through this funding the organisation will be able to continue to run our friendship group. Staff have seen first-
hand the impact rising household bills are having on local individuals, and therefore the importance of providing
a warm. safe space to socialise in.
The group is open to all. but is partiojlarly beneficial for those who live in a hard to heat home, are isolated or
worried about energy bills. Activities on offer within the prcgramme inc5ude cookery demonstrations, arts and
craft5, educational talks (fire safety, medical etcl, gardening and excursions.
The organisation re￿iVed initial funding from NIHE for the friendship group, but as this is due to end, the
support from BSG Farnily Trust will allow this to continue.
BBC Children in Need..
The organisation received funding up to Septernber 2023 for tutor and material costs for our children and young
people's classes (baking, art, dance and boxercisel, a5 well as contributing to our summer schemes. 383 children
and young people have benefited from thisfunding. The children attendingthe centre comefrom a variety of
backgrounds, with a diverse range of children taking part in activities. All of the children in which we work with
are disadvantaged in at least one way, with the most COMM(￿ being poverty related.

The organisation successfulw applied for BBC Children in Need'5 large grant. commencing in November 2023.
The funding will fund a 25 hour per week youth worker, to manage all children and ytxng people's classes, as
well as assist within the running of the Clas￿5. The fund will also cover tutor and material costs f(r our classes,
including,. baking, art, dance, boxercise and study groups, as well a 3 weeks of surnrner scheme actThiities each
year, which will be open to those aged 4years.
Foodbonk
Between October 2022 and October 2023, the centre has prowded 910 food parcels to local families and
individuals facing financial hardship. Demand has continued to Increa￿ as we face a cost of living crisis, wth an
increased number of working families needing support.
In addition to food parcels, the oreanisation has prcvided 141 households with fuel support, including coal, turf
and firewood.
The organisation recognised the increased financial pressure on families during school holidays, especially those
who re￿1ve free school meals, therefore we provide packed lunche5 during holidays, to ensure the children
have a nutritious lunch each day.
The trustees reviewed all organisation policys 3nd procedures.
The group continues to operate under the terms of its constitution.
The tharity remains in a healthy financial position and is appreciative of all funding received.
Signed..
Ruth Watterson Ichairpersonl
Date: