Aghagallon Community Centre (Ltd)
Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
The Directors present their Annual Report under the Charities SORP in accordance with FR102 and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Charity Name: Aghagallon Community Centre (Ltd)
Charity Number: 101542 Company Number: NI611575
Directors
Gerald Lavery Chairperson Daniel McCool Treasurer Joe Nelson Brendan Gorman Julie McCool Denis O’ Rourke Sheena Devlin
Public Benefit
Objects of the Company
The Company’s objects are specifically restricted to the promotion of the benefit of the inhabitants of the Aghagallon area and its environs of County Antrim, Northern Ireland without distinction of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability/ability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, political, religious or other opinion by associating the statutory and local authorities, 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 and in particular:
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a) To provide, maintain and manage a community centre in the area of benefit for activities promoted by the company,
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b) To advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the Directors may, from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity.
The three purposes of the public benefit which are embodied in the Company’s objective are;
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The Advancement of Community Development
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The Advancement of Education
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The Advancement Health and Wellbeing
1. The Advancement of Community Development
The centre’s programme of activities are now back to the 7 day level before the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s achievement was greatly enhanced by organising an open day in August 20 23, to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the opening of the centre. This involved participation of 30 activity groups, 12 agencies and over 400 members of the community that attended the celebratory event. Centre management were able where able to identify suitable funding to support some of the programmes. Eg: Lottery funding, Live Here Love Here (community improvement for flower beds throughout the village) , Rural Engagement Art Programme, PSNI grants (first-aid training), ABC council (Christmas tree lighting event). The programmes are managed and coordinated by a group of volunteers eg 7 Directors, 7 Members and 13 volunteers.
2. The Advancement of Education
The pre-school is operating at full capacity over 5 mornings per week for 24 children from the age of 3-5 years. Other activities include art class , mother and toddler group, girl guides unit, the Parish GIFT program - for 12-16 year olds and youth club for 8-14 age range.
The boys and girls of Northern Ireland Youth Club and the GAC All-Stars group - an inclusive Gaelic football team for children and young people of varying abilities. An autism support group has also been set up this year.
3. The Advancement of Health
All of our activities in the centre, which cater for the social and well-being of our members and our community has started again eg 2 different bowling groups, aerobics, yoga, Chi- me, Pilates and a Walking Group . The most recent addition to the program of activities is a chess club.
4. Summary
The above section outlines the public benefit of our Charity’s purposes. We have also appointed a part time clerical officer to support the work of volunteers who run this centre.
5. Financial Review
The Audit Report for the year ending 31[st] March 2024 shows a welcome increase in our assets from £43,402 to £52,092, an increase of £8,690. This year has been very challenging due to the cost-ofliving increases and increasing inflation rates.
6. Structure, Governance
Aghagallon Community Centre was registered as a ‘Company Limited by Guarantee’ on 21[st] February 2012. There have been no changes to the company.
The company was registered with NI Charity Commission on 16[th] February 2015.
There are no identifiable harmful consequences of our purposes. Procedures for the various activities are reviewed regularly by the Directors. In addition to our own public liability insurance each user group is required to provide their own individual insurance cover.
The intended beneficiaries are people from the Aghagallon & District Area.
There are no private benefits from any of our purposes.
The report was adopted at a Directors Meeting on
Signed: __________ Date:
(Gerald Lavery, Chairperson)