Newcastle Community Cinema
34 Main Street, Newcastle, County Down. BT33 0AE. NIC:102474
Trustees’ Report 2023
Period of report: 1 January 2023 to 30 December 2023
NCC Charity Trustees
NCC’s Trustees during the reporting period are:
Chairman Mr Rob Manley Treasurer Ms Felicia Matheson Secretary Mr Matthew Grainger Trustee Dr Lucy Royal-Dawson
No other trustees served in this year.
How is the charity constituted and our governing document
Newcastle Community Cinema is a constituted charitable organisation operating under its Constitution dated 10 February 2022.
Summary description of our purposes
The Charity’s objects are specifically restricted to the following:
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a) To promote film, cinema, the arts and culture by:-
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i. establishing and managing premises as a cinema, arts centre and a cultural and social amenity;
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ii. organising, promoting and delivering a programme of film, film-related events, arts and cultural events, including without limitation, film screenings, concerts, performances, workshops, exhibitions and discussions;
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iii. advancing the education of the public in the knowledge and understanding of film and cinema, and arts and culture more broadly.
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b) To provide facilities and activities independently and by association with other entities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure activities with the object of improving community cohesion and the conditions of life of members of the public.
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c) To promote these and other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined for public benefit to wide and diverse audiences in Newcastle, Co. Down and its environs without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion.
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d) To advance environmental protection and conservation in our charitable purposes by promoting:-
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i. recycling and sustainable waste management;
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ii. sustainable means of operating and developing our charitable purposes.
Activities for the public benefit in 2023
Public cultural events
NCC provided weekly events for the public offering a varied and stimulating programme for many different sectors of the local community. Our main activities were film screenings and film-based events:
Film Screenings
NCC’s regular screening profile continued at 8-10 screenings a month. We hired heaters to warm the hall in the period when the heating was not working. The newer threads of Toddler Club and Relaxed Screenings for families living with neuro-diversity bedded down, but the Baby-Friendly screenings for parents with babe-in-arms and Silver Screen for seniors did not take off as well. These will be revisited in the coming year. Seasonal programmes for Easter, Halloween and Christmas were again important features of the annual programme.
Teaming up with NI Science Festival, BFI Collective and the local Eats and Beats Music and Food Festival, we screened films to tie in with concurrent community and national events.
Full Moon Film Festival November 2023
In November 2023, we ran our annual film festival, screening 25 films over a two week period, attracting good audience numbers and feedback. The programme included screenings for schools and stop-motion film and make-up workshops for children. We received sponsorship from local businesses to fund the event.
Additional events of public benefit
In 2023, we continued to increase the availability of NCC to local cultural, social and community groups to offer a more varied, and locally relevant programme of events. These events attract people from all quarters of the local district. These included:
NCC Markets
Every month, we held NCC Markets indoors and outside giving local entrepreneurial producers and craftspeople a location to sell their wares and produce.
Awareness-raising events
NCC worked with local groups to hold awareness-raising events around important social issues such as the cost of living crisis, and health matters with the local GP surgery.
Community group activities
NCC provides a central location for local community groups to hold their annual competition fund-raising or prize-giving events, such an annual drama festival, the local boxing clubs competitions, the local netball club prize-giving, fund-raising events for the local foodbank and a youth public speaking competition.
Lyric Theatre production
In March, we hosted an eco-themed play ‘Waste-Busters’ from the schools production team of the Lyric attracting young audiences.
Amateur Dramatics
NCC has a large proscenium-arch stage well-suited for theatrical productions. We hosted a local amateur dramatics group to put on their play for 3 performances.
Regular hires
Our regular hall users expanded to five weekly classes.
Volunteer mobilisation
We operate with the support of a strong volunteer base and offer opportunities for people to get involved in running a cinema and community events. In 2023, we were able to offer meaningful placements to volunteers qualifying for Duke of Edinburgh awards. In addition, we attracted a number of young cinephiles interested in running a new screening thread ‘Young Programmers.’
Achievements of NCC
Staffing
The presence of a full-time member of staff had a transformative impact on NCC’s operations, allowing an increase in activities and presence in the town. Sadly, however, due to illness, the member of staff stood back in November on sick-leave for the remainder of the year.
Fundraising
This year started with a funding campaign to raise funds to pay for a new heating system - Some Like It Hot. Through a combination of events, quizzes and a donation from NI Screen/DfC, we were able to raise £55,000.
Infrastructural improvements
NCC closed in May 2023 so that the old oil-fired heating system could be removed and the new gas heating system installed. The interior and exterior of the building was re-painted to refresh the place for re-opening in June 2023.
Reserves Policy
The Reserves Policy remains active and we continue to hold a reserve to address any future short-fall due to unforeseen closure and to cover emergency repairs to high-value essential equipment.
Declaration
As Trustees of NCC, we declare that we have had regard of the Charities Commission of Northern Ireland guidance on public benefit and hereby report on the activities that have been carried out to further NCC’s purposes for the public benefit.
Trustees’ signatures and positions
Robert Manley Chairman 2 August 2024
______ Felicia Matheson Treasurer 2 August 2024
________ Matthew Grainger Lucy Royal-Dawson Secretary Trustee 2 August 2024 2 August 2024