Hillstown RURAL COMMUNITY GROUP Trustees, Annual Report 2022123 Charlty Name: Hillstown Rural Community Group (HRCG) Charlty Re8. No: 102669 Correspondence Address: c/0 223 Portglenone Road Randalstown Co. Antrlm 8T413RP Prem15e5 Addre55: 130 Glebe Road Randalstown Co. Antrim BT413DT Trustees: The followln8 served as Charlty Trustees durin8 the year and up to the date of this Report: Alan Nlcholl Gary Adair Sharon Nlcholl Alex Wallace Sheldon Murray Hubert Nlcholl The Trustees have regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's Public Benefit requirement statutory guidance when exerclslng any powers or duties to whlch the guldance is relevant. In the Activities and Achievements section below, HRCG has reported on the activities the group has carried out to further its purposes for the Publlc Beneflt.
Bankers: Ulster Bank 8 Market Square Antrlm Co. Antrim BT414AT Governance: Hillstown Rural Community Group operates under its th Constltution dated 12 June 2012. Charlty Purposes: Hlllstown Rural Community Group was established to help Improve the Ilves of the local community by offerlng a variety of activities within the local area that will increase community cohesion and reduce social isolation. Charlty Beneflclarfes; Residents of Hlllstown and surrounding district. Flnanclal Revlew: Throughout the year Hillstown Rural Community Group sourced fundin8 from various funder5. The Opening Balance at l April 2022 wa5 £16,810.46. Income durln8 2022123 Flnanclal Year totalled £3,150.00 and Expenditure totalled £10,645.03, leavin8 a Balance at Year End of £9,315.43. Artlvltles and Achievements: In the 2022123 financial year Hillstown Rural Cornmunlty Group {HRCG) actlvlties were slow to get started because of the COVID pandemlc wlth many older people stlll reluctant to get involved In face to face activitles in the early months of the year. The first activity of the year was an outdoor walklng artlvlty at Antrlm Castle Gardens in June 2022 followin8 which regular activities 8Ot underway in the hall from July 2022 onwards when most older people were content to meet again inside for face to face social interactlon. Between that and March 2023 there were varlous events and actlvitles or8anised by HRCG for the beneflt of the local community at Hlllstown and surrounding district. Durlng the 2022/23 year HRCG continued to partnership wlth Grange Cross Community Assoclatlon in dellverlng a number of events aimed at seniors in the local area. These events Included information sessions delivered by the local Pharmaclst on various health issues as part of the Communlty Development & Health Network, Building the Community Pharmacy Programme. There were also other information se551on5 dellvered by the Nl Consumer Council, PSNI Crime Preventlon Officer, Nl Fire & Rescue Service, and The North of Ireland Family History Society. These sessions proved popular and resulted in increased awareness by seniors in the local community regarding the services offered by these organlsations.
Throughout the year we organi5ed a number of reminiscence sessions which provided opportunities for the seniors within the local community to come together and reminisce. A number of these sessions were delivered by the Armstrong Storytelling Trust and funded by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland. These sessions culminated In an Intergenerational attivity wlth chlldren at the local Groggan Prlmary School which proved very popular with both seniors and children. Similar reminlscence sessions were also provided by the Nl War Memorial Museum and Nl Screen. These sesslons prompted discussion amongst the Senlors and helped contribute towards reduced Social isolation and promoted positive mental health and well-belng. During the year group members participated in a Good Relations Vlsit to Derry/Londonderry and Donegal where the group vlslted the Doagh Famlne Villa8e and the Siege Museum. The visit was funded by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the group examined the hlstory and Impart of the Farnlne In Ireland and the 1688-89 Siege In Derry. A better understandln8 of these periods In history and their impart was achleved. Two of our group members had opportunlty to particlpate in a PEACE IV funded programme withln the Antrlm & Newtownabbey Borou8h Council area, the Key Institutions Programme was designed to brin8 communities from dlfferent backgrounds, reli8ious bellets and cultures together so the particlpants can increase knowledge and gain positive experiences across communities and cultures. Throughout the year members of HRCG played an actlve role in the committee of Bann Malne West Community Cluster which involves varlous groups from the villages and rural areas west of Ballymena who work In partnershlp to or8anise and dellver various events and activities for the community. The focus thls year was activities for Seniors, attivitles to break down barriers with minorlty communltles living in the local area, and the commencement of a Men's monthly group meetlng as well as other and other health and informatlon sesslons. For the first tlme HRCG hosted a Christmas Wreath Maklng Workshop at Hillstown whlch proved very popular and a number of new people attended this actlvlty who hadn't previously engaged with our group. We also hosted an event to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Ellzabeth11 and an Ulster Scots Concert, both of which proved very popular events and were well attended. At Christmas we held our Annual Communlty Christmas Dinner which was one of the first big communlty actlvitles in the local area since COVID wlth over 60 people attendlng. The dinner provided opportunity for the community to come together and Important relationship building has been achleved which has resulted in new people participating in other communlty events and activitie5.
The Informatlon se551ons, attivltles and vislts organised throughout the year have resulted in positive relationship building and friendships have been forged within the group resulting in improved quality of Ilfe, mental well-being and reduced social isolation particularly for the older generation. The Good Relations visit also offered the opportunity to visit new places and learn more about various places, cultures and history. Signed: Chairperson: Hubert Nicholl Date: 30 January 2024