HEART OF THE GLENS FESTIVAL
For The Year ended 31 March 2024
Trustees Annual Report
Charfty Name:.
Heart of the Glens Festival - NIC 103080
Charity Address:.
Old Schoolhouse
25 Mill Street
CUSHENDALL
Co Antrim
BT44 ORR
Trustees:.
The following served as trustees durlng the year and up to the date of this report
Bernadette Delargy (Chairperson)
Anne Quinn
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
Maureen McAlister
Evelyn O'Neill
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 HOTGFrrhe Festival) was officially
established on 15th April 1999 and constitution was amended in February 2015. The first festival
was in 1990 under the guidance of Cu5hendall Development Group.
Membership of the Festival shall be open to the followin& 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
member5 and no more than 15 members as per election atAGM.
The Hon Treasurer keeps proper accounts of the finances of the group. The financial year of the
group shall run from l April to 31 March annually.

The accounts are audfited 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 Objertlves of Heart Of The Glens Festlval
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 organisatlon of a community festival and various cornmunlty
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 activitles,
To raise funds to invest in the work that we do, in the form of donations, grants, membership
fees and fundraisers.
Statement of Compllance:.
In setting out our objectlves and carrying out our artivities for the year the trustees have glven
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 Perforniance:.
During the year 2023-24 Heart of the Glens Festlval were delighted to see the continued success
of the main festival in AugusL
A full 9 days of events were organi5ed and were well attended by the vast number of people In
attendance.
In addition to our festival weeK The Heart ofThe 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 vlllage and
replaced more of the Christmas Festive lighting.
Duringthe flrst 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 as well as the wide variety of exerclse classes on offer.

Flnanclal Revlew: .
Causeway Coast and Glens BC Communfity Festlval Fund - £3000
Funding used to cover venue and equipment hire, workshop tutor and printing costs during the
Heart of the Glens Festival 2023
Causeway Coast and Glens BC Festlve Fund - £2500
This money helped towards the costs of facilitating a Festive evening in the village.
Northern Area Communlty Network-mental Health and Suldde preventlon Communlty
Development support Model - £470
This money was secured to facilitate exercise classes and motivational talk during the Winter
Wellness Challenge.
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 Pollclng and Communlty Safety Small Grants Fund - £999
This funding was used to purchase LED Reflective Sashes for the participants of the Winter
wellness Challenge.
Income for Heart of the Glens Festival totalled.. £36,787
Expenditure actlvfities, adminlstration, insurance, workshops, sundry expense, Christmas
expendlture and malntenance, totalled: £40,605
Funds are held fin reserve to cover any unexpected expenses.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 7ih Ottober 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Signed
Signed
loanne Quinn
Susan McLaughlin
Chairperson
Hon Treasurer