Doury Road Development Group Annual Trustees Report ptVELo •• WELCOME &4LLYMEW
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Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………3
Summary of main activities and achievements…………….4
Accounts……………………………………………………………………………….7
Charity Trustees……………………………………………………………….10
Charity Details ………………………………………………………………….11
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Introduction
Doury Road Development Group
The Doury Road Development Group (DRDG) was formally established in 2010 to act as an advocate for community change in the Doury Road housing estate in Ballymena.
DRDG have provided a range of services and programmes in the community to develop capacity and confidence at a local level. The additional benefits include improving community engagement, and addressing the serious issues that continue to have a detrimental impact on social, economic, physical and environmental living conditions of local residents. The group have made significant improvements to the quality of life of local residents and have progressed with a number of support programmes and initiatives.
Doury Road Development Group is governed by a Constitution that was adopted by the membership on 22/08/11
DRDG was successful in registering with Northern Ireland Charity Commission in May 2014.
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Public Benefit Compliance
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission NI’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
The following report reflects the work of Doury Road Development Group during the period of 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023.
Like other communities, our group is still trying to recover from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many groups have found it difficult to regain previous levels of involvement as people have become used to a different way of living.
Therefore, we are grateful for the funding and the faith shown in us by the organisations we work with, particularly the Department for Communities, Mid and East Antrim Council, NI Housing Executive and the Tudor Trust.
Whilst we emerge from the restrictions of the pandemic, we have been able to start to return to the previous level of programmes on offer. We continued the Fairy Good Wood on Saturdays, which pulled in up to 38 youngsters and adults at its height. As we couldn’t have an Easter party we offered the alternative of Easter packs, including Spring clean kits with relevant Covid information for the time and biscuits and tea and coffee.
The Ladies’ afternoon club enjoyed a variety of activities including ceramics, flower arranging, making birdboxes and planters, jewellery and soap making and also working with Bill in the community allotments. We held Halloween parties in the allotments and in Fairy Good Wood for young people providing each child with a Halloween gift pack. Christmas was again an alternative to the annual Christmas party, whereby we supplied 25 cooked Christmas lunches to the elderly and vulnerable at home, with Christmas veg supplied to every home. With the recent cost of living crisis, we have also delivered 170 warm packs to each house and the 30 children who attended the fairy trail were also provided with a Christmas themed warm pack. We have also joined the Council funded warm spaces programme.
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The Tudor Trust grant continues to enable us to employ the two part time workers. Bill is doing a great job with the Allotments and the grounds work on Fairy Good Wood. Jan’s role as community development worker is keeping her busy on the organising and running of all the programmes. Both have done a great job, and we thank them both. Unfortunately, our previous finance and admin assistant did not work out and left due to personal issues within a few weeks and after another recruitment process, again assisted by Supporting Communities NI, we welcomed George into the position. One which he has fitted into really well and we certainly hope funding comes through to continue his good work. On which note, we welcome Paddy Kearney of the DfC who has recently taken over from Louise on our Areas at Risk programme.
We are very grateful, as usual, to Gillian Forrest and all at Supporting Communities for all their guidance and help.
The Building Successful Communities project, funded by the Department for Communities, has helped us achieve many of the improvements such as the new houses built by Triangle housing and the last of the derelict houses being rebuilt. Thanks to Triangle for their engagement and further funding for community projects including the “English as a second language” course. Our latest news is that the long-planned Council community centre, funded by DfC, is now progressing well. We would particularly like to thank Frances Brown, who recently retired from the DfC for her extremely supportive work on the project.
As this report covers a longer period than usual it is unfortunate to have to say that most of us have lost people dear to us over that time. Only very recently, George’s Father passed away, a particularly sad time as his Partner lost her Father only two weeks previous. Our own Secretary, Sandra McCahon, Bob’s Wife, passed away and previous to that Jan’s Mother died in England, while a few months before that again, I lost my own Father. It comes to us all, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Our thoughts and condolences to all that have lost someone close.
Given all that, the continued hard work and determination from our staff and all of our Committee is remarkable and the progress of all the projects would not be possible without it.
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As always, we would welcome any other residents who wish to join the group as volunteers or to help in any way and look forward to working with any individual or organisation who are willing to assist us as we are only a few residents trying to affect these large organisations.
On behalf of all our committee, I can say that our aim is always to act on behalf of all of the community in order to work towards ‘‘Supporting, developing and improving the quality of life for all the residents of Doury Road.’’
We look forward to being able to continue to do so over the next 12 months.
David McGuckin Chairperson
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DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP
I report on the accounts of DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 2 to 4.
Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner
As the Charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is my responsibility to:
· examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act 2008;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act 2008;
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s report
I have examined your Charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Charity Trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:
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That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act.
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That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records.
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That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act.
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That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland; I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
KHA Higgins FCA Chartered Accountant
9 Knockanully Road Martinstown Ballymena BT43 7LZ
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DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP 31 March 2023
| RECEIPTS Revenue grants from government and public bodies Dept for Communities Mid & East Antrim Council Revenue grants and donations from non- public bodies Tudor Trust Allotments Room Hire & Sundry Income PAYMENTS Staff Costs & Expenses Programme & Development Costs Rates, Electricity, Room Hire Stationery & Postage Insurance Bank fees Tudor Trust Wellness Fund Telecoms Professional Fees Miscellaneous Asset / Investment Purchases Surplus / (Deficit) for the Year |
Current Year Current Year Current Year Prior Year Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds Funds Funds 2023 2023 2023 2022 £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|
| 26,196 26,196 17,866 2,831 2,831 22,000 2,000 22,000 925 925 897 897 410 |
|
| 1,822 51,028 52,850 40,276 |
|
| 33,132 33,132 21,846 17,004 17,004 14,291 1,399 1,399 1,055 798 798 450 1,406 1,406 1,300 131 131 93 391 391 762 762 601 350 350 431 150 |
|
| 1,530 53,843 55,373 40,216 |
|
| 292 (2,815) (2,523) 60 |
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| DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP | DOURY ROAD DEVELOPMENT GROUP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Assets & | Liabilities - Year End: | 31 March 2023 | ||||
| FUNDS | Current | Current | Prior | |||
| RECONCILIATION | Year | Year | Current Year | Year | ||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |||
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Total Funds brought forward 01.04.22 |
14,172 | 5,442 | 19,614 | 19,554 | ||
| Surplus / Deficit this | ||||||
| Year: | 292 | (2,815) | (2,523) | 60 | ||
| Total Funds carried forward 31.03.23 |
14,464 | 2,626 | 17,091 | 19,614 | ||
| FINANCED BY: | ||||||
| Bank & Cash | ||||||
| Balances | Ulster Bank | 17,091 | 19,614 | |||
| 17,091 | 19,614 | |||||
| Other Assets (Unrestricted Fund) | - | - |
||||
| Liabilities (Unrestricted Fund) | - | - |
||||
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 17,091 | 19,614 | ||||
| This report was approved by the Trustees on | 05 July 2023 and signed | on their behalf | by: | |||
| David McGuckin | ||||||
| Mr David McGuckin | ||||||
| Chairperson | ||||||
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Doury Road Development Group Office bearers were elected as follows :
Chairman – David McGuckin Proposed by Mark Rainey & seconded by Bob McCahon
Treasurer – Bob McCahon Proposed by David McGuckin & seconded by Mark Rainey
Secretary – to be recruited considering recent bereavement.
Committee Members:
Mark Rainey
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Charity MJm¢: Doury Road Development Group {DRDS) Address". The Blue Box I W¢yside Green BallymeYKI BT43 6JZ Tel: 07879 767878 Charity n1Xr. NIC1017Q) St9ned for as a true ond accurote report and behalf of Doury Rood Development 6roup Si9wI.. Print Kknrne.. Position: 111F"'age