TRUSTEE REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1[ST] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
Causeway Down’s Syndrome Support Group
Registered Address is 178c Loughan Road, Fish Loughan, Coleraine, BT52 1UD
NIC No 101226
Trustees are: Mrs Mary Hunter, Mrs Jill Gurney, Mrs Karen Allen, Mrs Gwen Doak, Mrs Sally Martin, Mrs Deirdre Logan, Mrs Ame Arnscheidt and Mrs Connie Kearney.
Our meetings are held every two months at the Elite Connected Offices, 17 Queen Street, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on the second Tuesday of every other month excluding July and August. We, the trustees have had regard to the charity commissions public benefit for this financial year.
Our focus for this financial year was to try and secure the sustainability of the group by ensuring our financial situation was more favourable. In simple terms we want to continue to be able to fund essential services to our members. We continue to ask families availing of specific services to contribute 25% of the cost to ensure buy in and consistent attendance. Another year post covid has made fundraising more possible.
It is important to note that we received several monetary gifts in lieu of flowers following the deaths of Mrs Heather Tweedie and Mr Hugh Nevin. We are incredibly grateful for those friends and families supporting our local charity. In total this contributed £2700.00 towards our income this financial year.
Work continued on our new outdoor space kindly donated by the Moore Family Dervock. The ‘Garden of Eatin’ officially opened on 29[TH] April 2023. This new allotment space is open to all our families and provides a space to enjoy the outdoors, learn new skills ad grow some tasty fruit and veg. Events were planned through the year – Summer BBQ, pumpkin patch and build a bug hotel morning.
17 of our parents and carers braved the Rampage obstacle course at Jungle NI on the 6[th] May 2023. £7222 was raised and lots of bumps and bruises were picked up along the way.
The social highlight of the year was the Christmas Party held on the first Sunday in December in the Royal Court in Portush. A wonderful celebration of what makes our group unique and special.
Fundraising Activities:
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Straidbilly PS, Dervock donated £601 following events on World Downs Syndrome day and in lieu of Christmas gifts for colleagues. Straidbilly continues to support us frequently and we are thankful for their generosity.
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St Patricks PS Rasharkin, another school that has supported us frequently also held an event on world downs syndrome day and raised £212.
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Mr & Mrs Bruce donated £250 in lieu of wedding favours at their wedding.
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Mr &Mrs Acheson counted their spare change box and donated £155.
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Crafted with love – donated a very generous £1000 from their crafting activities.
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Kerry group Coleraine also donated £1000.
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Kaleena Murphy raised £440 from candle sales. She commissioned a candle specifically for our group. Etain No 21
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Dunclug College, Ballymena raised £550 from our teenager group ‘allstars’ performance at the Dunclug carol service.
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Baby Zone Portstewart supported us with their annual pramble. £655 was raised!
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Spar Knocklyn organised a fundraising day and locals donated £428
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Nigel White organised a local ride out wearing Santa outfits and raised £140.
Philip Tweedie & Co has made us their nominated charity for 2023/24. They organised an event for 21[st] March – The grand total will be revealed in next years accounts.
This income has allowed us to continue to preserve, protect and improve the health, education and wellbeing of individuals with Downs Syndrome in the Causeway Area, by way of music therapy sessions, speech and language sessions, multi skills classes (physical exercise and games) as well as supporting each other through the highs and lows of schooling, toileting, health promotion or the ability to signpost to existing services.
We are governed by our constitution dated 11[th] March 2008 – no amendments have been made during this period. Our financial position is as follows with a balance of £18,199 in our current account and a further £ 6996 in our savings account.
Signed: Frances-Ann Archibald. Treasurer 19/12/2024