CLOUGHMILLS CULTURAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY Registered Charity Number NIC103 128 Report of the trustees for year ended 31-03-2023 Main Ob ectives The main objective of the group is to provide safe and comfortable conditions at our place of meeting in CIou8hmills Memorial Orange Hall leased from the Trustees of Cloughmills District No.14 To provide a welcomin8 environment to the inhabitants of Cloughmills villa8e and the surrounding rural area, To engage with other like minded community based organisations to foster good relations and encourage social harmony. To organise activitles which teach new skills at weekly craft classes and indoor bowling practice. Provide support to three amateur music groups providing instruction in Ulster Scots and other inigendus cultures. To provide competent instructors for all organised activities. Provide lectures from Police, Fire Service,and public health bodies. To engage with inhabitants of the surrounding rural area who may be living in hard to reach locations. To address the issues of soclal and rural Isolation and loneliness. Main Activities durin the ear Craft instruction classes continued during the year an average of forty ladies took part learning new skllls, Indoor bowling practice involving twenty persons male and female, ran from October to March. Two successful outings were provided to places of historical interest these also involved organised walks to encourage physical fitness. During the year thirty ladies successfully completed the Discovery Award, the equivalent of the Duke of Edlnbur8h Award ft)r over flfty year olds. In April the group featured on the BBC One Show programme with crochet club leader May Altcheson being praised for her contributlon to community involvement. In the winter period an application was made to The Community Foundation for winter fuel payments to forty vulnerable people. Forty people received one hundred fuel stamps totalling four thousand pounds. Support during the year was given to three amateur music groups for training young musicians. A Christmas Dinner was provided in November for fifty older people. Support during the year was given to The Northern Ireland Air Ambulance. FINANCE INCOME AND FUNDING Grants received from
Awards For All, The Community Foundation, Energia Long Mountain Fund, Causeway Coast and Glens Council Coast Support Charles Hayward Older Peoples Grant OTHER INCOME Apprentice Boys of Derry Cloughmills District N014., Craft Sale, Cloughmills Crown Defender5 Sale of excess equipment General donations, Xmas raffle Total income during the year 16,775-00 Expenditure 15,387-00 VOLUNTEERING The day to day runnin8 of the group is carried out by slx trustees and nine volunteers all unpaid. Special mention has to be made of nlne volunteers who work tirelessly during the year provldin8 assistance such as caterlng at events, sourcing instructors required to safely manage events. TRAINING Upgrading and updating of children and vulnerable adults policies and procedures. Fire Warden training and general Health and Safety Issues. FUTURE PLANS To contlnue weekly craft and bowling instruction classes. To provide a number of lectures from Police regarding ongoing online and telephone scams. Special attention to be given to older people. Following the Covid 19 pandemic a number of events have been discussed to raise funds leaving the group less dependent on public funding. Rescheduling a number of group activities to suit people with caring responsibilities and enlar8in8 on our present car share scheme owin8 to rlsln8 fuel costs. Two trlps to places of Historical interest have been planned as Have vlslts to other community based groups to exchange ideas and increase frlendships. PUBLIC BENEFIT All activlties and events during the year have been attended by people from different cultures and backgrounds which is in Ilne with the groups good relations policy. Particular attention has been given to people living in rural isolation and those who may come from dlfficult famlly backgrounds. Involvement in our activities has attracted people who have not previously engaged in organised community events resulting in establishing new friendships . Support has been given to people who have limited acce55 to public tran5POrt and health care facilitles. Learning new skills has increased confidence and many Items produced at craft classes have been donated to charities whlch gives a sense of purpose. Lectures by Health Professionals have been of benefit to people who have issues with self confidence or health related matters. The group continues to support people of all ages involved in music instruction and exploring their culture by allowing low cost ac¢e5S to our place of meeting . We believe that during the year we have to the best of our ability done everything possible to support the local community and foster good relations.
DGAR ITCHESON SECRETARY PHE ANDERSON CHAIRMAN