HEART OF THE GLENS FESTIVAL For The Year ended 31 March 2023 Trustees Annual Report Charity Name:. Heart of the Glens Festival - NIC 103080 Charlty Address:. Old Schoolhouse 25 Mill Street CUSHENDALL Co Antrim BT44 ORR Trustees:. The following served as trustees during the year and up to the date of this report Bernadette Delargy (Chairperson) Siobhan O'Grady loanne Quinn (Chairperson) Shauna Mitchell Carmel McKeegan (Secretary) Aine Campbell Una Mccambridge (Deputy Secretary) Christine McAlister Susan McLaughlin (Treasurer) Kieran Dempsey lames Mccurry (Deputy Treasurer) Katrina Delargy Accountants:. Park McKillop and Company 51 Springwell Street Ballymena Co. Antrim BT43 6AT Structure, Governance and Management:. The Heart of the Glens Festival Group (also known as HOTGF/The Festival) was officially established on 15rh April 1999 and constitution was amended in February 2015. The first festival was in 1990 under the guidance of Cushendall Development Group. Membership of the Festival shall be open to the following. irrespective of age, gender, ethnic identity, nationality, sexual orientation, race, religion or political opinion. The Committee shall meet at least 6 times in the year and shall consist of not less than 5 members and no more than 15 members as per election at AGM. The Hon Treasurer keeps proper accounts of the finance5 of the group. The financial year of the group shall run from l April to 31 March annually.
The accounts are audited by an auditor/s as appointed at the Annual General Meeting. A Bank account is held in the name of the group and cheques are signed by 2 out of 3 members of the group. Purposes and Objectives of Heart OfThe Glens Festival To advance education, promote arts and culture and sporting activities and enhance the health and wellbeing of locals and tourists through the organisation of a community festival and various community events and activities in the Mid Glens area. To network with other local voluntary organisations to enhance the health and wellbeing of locals and tourists through the organisation of a community festival and various community events and activities in the mid Glens area. To recruit volunteers to support the work of the group and hold meetings for the group and other relevant parties to plan and facilitate events and activities. To raise funds to invest in the work that we do, in the form of donatlons, grants, membership fees and fundraisers. Statement of Compllance:. In setting out our objectives and carrying out our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission Nl's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a benefit to its beneficiaries. Achlevements and Performance:. During the year 2022-23 Heart of the Glens Festival were delighted to see the return of the main festival in August A full 9 days of events were organised and were well attended by the vast number of people in attendance. In addition to our festival week, The Heart of The Glens Festival Committee also organised a Christmas Late Night Shopping event at the start of December to encourage the community to 'shop local, and support our local shops who struggle to survive over the winter months. Families were encouraged to gather at the Christmas tree to see Santa. Shops were opened as normal to allow the local community to avail of the bargains on offer. Heart of the Glens Festival also provided selection boxes to the local primary schools, festive music for the village and replaced more of the Christmas Festive lighting. During the first months of the year Heart of the Glens Festival organised a Winter Wellness Challenge for the local community. Local people joined and availed of the health and wellbeing talks. walks and cookery demonstrations a5 well as the wide variety of exercise classes on offer.
Financial Review: . Causeway Coast and Glens BC Tourism Growth Fund - £10,902.18 This funding was used to pay for entertainTnent, workshops and running costs of the Heart of the Glens Festival in August 2022 Rural Micro Capital Support Grant- £816.30 This enabled the group to purchase a generator, rope lights, a microphone and foldable tables Causeway Coast and Glens BC Festlve Fund . £250 This money helped towards the costs of facilitating a Festive evening in the village. Northern Area Communlty Network- Maklng Lfife Better Through Short Term Fundlng - £iooo This money was secured to facilitate Art, Craft and other recreational workshops for adults and children. Communlty Foundatlon Nl Mlcro Communlty Fund- £2000 This was used during the Winter Wellness Challenge and was used to facilitate exercise classes, wellbeing talks, cookery demonstrations, venue hire, and refreshments. Causeway Coast and Glens Policing and Communlty Safety Small Grants Fund - £999 This funding was used to purchase High Viz Vests and Torched for the participants of the Winter wellness Challenge. Natlonal Lottery Communlty Fund Awards for All - £10,000 This grant was obtained to help fund the Heart of the Glens Festival in August 2023. Income for Heart of the Glens Festival totalled.. £51,151 Expenditure activities, administration, insurance, workshops, sundry expense. Christmas expenditure and maintenance, totalled: £41,477 This has left a Profit of ( £ 9,674). Funds are held in reserve to cover any unexpected expenses. This report was approved by the Trustees on 12 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by: Signed Signed cyk Joanne Quinn Susan McLaughlin Chairperson Hon Treasurer