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