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