Bloomfield Community Association Trustees Report – 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023 NIC 102448
Group Public Benefits
At Bloomfield Community Association, our mission brings direct benefits to the community by enhancing living standards, health, and overall well-being in the following ways:
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Information Access: We keep residents informed about our activities which are designed to improve connection, mental, physical, and social well-being.
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Community Engagement: We foster connections among residents through events and activities, creating a stronger, happier community.
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Feedback & Success: We listen to residents through community surveys and feedback forms, helping us meet their needs and improve life in the area.
The beneficiaries are primarily Bloomfield Estate residents and its surrounding areas. Another key benefit comes from the Community House, offering a safe space for social and recreational
activities. This leads to social, physical, and economic improvements.
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121 Support & Signposting: We assist residents in accessing vital information and support on housing, benefits and safety.
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Multi-agency Forums: We represent residents and participate in strategic forums, to try to improve services and support for housing, welfare reform and disability.
Our efforts are focused on the community with no harm from our purposes. Trustees may partake in activities if needed, but this is the only private benefit.
Trustee board during this reporting period:
Isobelle Hamilton Robert Turner Darren Adams William McCrea
Financial Year 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023
Please see the financial report and independent examination of accounts for full details. Our assets equate to approximately £1,000 to include laptops, furniture and office equipment.
Activities this year:
Bloomfield Community Association had another busy year continuing to try to improve the lives of those living in Bloomfield Estate and its surrounding areas.
Our weekly seniors’ group was able to launch properly again, and it was encouraging to see regulars and new members joining us for vital friendship and routine. As well as providing a comfortable, warm space, we delivered a programme of activities designed to reduce their sense of loneliness and support better mental health and well-being including magic workshops, music lessons, chair-based yoga, arts and crafts and a Christmas dinner.
Thanks to our efforts, the Community House was extended in recent years, meaning it is now accessible for people with disabilities. This year, we re-launched our valuable work with adults with learning disabilities, delivering a new programme of activities for those who attend the Ravara Day
Centre and Balloo Day Centre. Through this programme, we created a safe, non- judgemental space for those often isolated and vulnerable members of society to build social connections, take part in fun activities and integrate with their local community. Adults with learning disabilities have had another particularly disruptive year; especially with their extra vulnerabilities, and this is set to continue with under resourcing in the Day Centres and wider sector. We will therefore continue to use our position to advocate for better.
Our advocacy and lobbying work have been even more vital due to the additional challenges that the pandemic and cost of living crisis has brought, especially with regards to housing, benefits, education and accessibility, and we have continued to offer 121 support to residents, as well as represent them on Forums such as the Housing Community Network, campaigning for better services within the area. We also continue to refer residents on low income in for practical and financial support, to the likes of Bangor Food Bank for emergency food parcels and St Vincent de Paul for emergency gas and electric top-ups. We see this type of support continuing well into the future with food and energy bills continuing to rise.
We were delighted to be able to run a small Jubilee celebration and inter-generational Christmas event last year, which increased community participation and spirit, and brought lightness to what remains a difficult period of time for many.
It has been more important than ever for our small charity to work collaboratively, and we are particularly thankful to organisations such as North Down Community Network for their support.
Approved by the Trustees on 6th June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Robert Turner Treasurer, Bloomfield Community Association