## **ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT 2023-24** NIC: 103162 February 2025 ## FOREWORD This is the annual report for the financial year 2023-24 summarising the activities of Armoy Community Association. The report shows the progress made across our activities and priorities, the partnerships we’ve built and the tangible success we’ve had across the board. . ACA is deeply grateful for the time, energy and effort so many of our volunteers put into all the activities, events and initiatives supported by the Association over the last year - we deeply appreciate your generosity. This report includes a summary of our principal activities, as well as a financial report and a statement of compliance with all our legal obligations. Dated: 3rd February 2025 ## OUR CHARITABLE PURPOSE _Below are the charitable purposes of Armoy Community Association._ The Association is established for: - The advancement of community development and active citizenship for the public benefit of the inhabitants of Armoy and its environs in Co. Antrim. - The relief of those in need. The association seeks to relieve the burden of poverty. It seeks to promote educational, social, and developmental opportunities for the aged and the young alike in Armoy. - The promotion of the inhabitants of Armoy and surrounding area, without distinction of age, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating statuary organisations, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort: - To advance education in Armoy, and provide for social welfare, recreation and leisure-time occupation. - The improving of conditions, living, working and general life conditions for the inhabitants of Armoy and the surrounding area - The Association seeks to see advancement in conflict resolution and reconciliation by promoting opportunities for the people of Armoy to mix in a caring, cohesive and united environment. - The Association seeks the advancement of equality and respect for diversity in the carrying out of its activities. - As an organisation seeking to bridge together two communities, the principles of equality and diversity are cornerstones for the Association. ## STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE In setting our objectives and planning and carrying out our activities each year, we give careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit. This is important to ensure that we have helped achieve the purposes we set out to achieve and provide a clear and tangible benefit to our beneficiaries. The following report outlines the highlights of the principal activities for the year of 2023-24 ## LIMEPARK The Community Association continues to invest time, money and volunteer support into building up the success of the regeneration of Limepark Playing Fields and Parklands regeneration. Our parkrun has continued going from strength to strength, and we celebrated our first birthday and had passed the milestone of 2,023 finishers in the year 2023. Dozens of volunteers and now thousands of finishers have since gathered in Limepark on Saturday morning at 9.30am to run, walk, jog or push their prams around track - hail, rail or shine. This is a major achievement for our community and is a testament to the hard work of so many volunteers who give their time and the park runners who join us each week. 2023-24 also saw our work with partners continuing at Limepark. The Causeway Giants American Football Club continue to go from strength to strength at their home ground of Limepark - hosting teams from across the island of Ireland. Limepark has also been a hub of much community activity. It’s been used to grow and plough crops for the Vintage Club, as a starting and ending point for several charity tractor runs, the hub for the summer scheme in 2023 and for many of the primary school activities as well. ## ONGOING COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES 2023-24 saw the continuation and growth of many community building activities built up around the Community Association: **Youth Club** : The youth club (now in its second year following its reestablished) saw dozens of children attending on Friday nights throughout the year. A special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the Youth Club such a success over the last two years. **Summer Scheme:** The third year of the ‘hybrid’ summer scheme took place between Tilly Molloy’s and Limepark. For the second year in a row, we had two weeks of summer scheme for 140 primary school attendees and then delivered a second teen-specific scheme later in the summer for a smaller group of secondary school children. All the kids and staff and volunteers had a great time together over the summer weeks. **Over 55s** : The Over 55s club continued with their programme of weekly meetings with an average of 40 people attending and a range of trips, celebrations and classes enjoyed by all. In February 2024, our Over 55s Chair and ACA Trustee, Margaret Fitzsimmons, sadly died. For 18 years, Margaret made Armoy her home and threw herself into community life - always willing to lend a hand - whether that was running the Over 55s club, tending to her garden or helping us get the parkrun up and going at Limepark. She blessed so many of our community with her generosity and kindness and her memory will live on in so many of our hearts. The community association extends our deepest condolences to Margaret’s children, grandchildren, extend family and friends. **Seasonal festivities:** 2023-24 saw a calendar of seasonal activities established around Armoy with community activities built around the turning on of the Christmas lights, an easter-egg roll/hunt, and halloween festivities as well. These seasonal activities will continue to built upon in the coming years as great opportunities to bring the whole community together. ## COMMUNITY SUPPORT, EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY **Community Consultation:** Following the council’s successful funding application to upgrade parts of the Riverside Playpark, ACA played a key role in co-ordinating with the schools, youth club and others in the village on the priorities for the regeneration of the playpark. **Community development** : One of the key responsibilities of the community association is to help with broader community development in Armoy and the surrounding area. Our thanks and congratulations go to Ruth McNeill and Debbie Rouke who graduated from the University of Galway in November 2023 with a 1st Class Diploma in Community Development Practice NI. The lessons learned by both Ruth and Debbie will be invaluable to the community association going forward. **Continuing advocacy:** ACA has continued to advocate about the needs of people in Armoy and what should be done to better meet those needs. This has included direct advocacy to politicians and elected representatives on issues including sewage, housing needs, schools, jobs, economic development and regeneration. This will continue in the coming years. ## TILLY MOLLOY’S CENTRE ACA has continued to keep the Tilly Molloy’s Centre open all year round and maintained to an excellent standard. A special thanks to Josie and all the team who keep the centre safe, clean and tidy for all those who need to use it and rely on it. ## FINANCIAL REPORT This year’s financial report shows an income of £57,051 and an expenditure of £61,993 This is down on the 2022-23 due to the absence of a major capital improvements project which was spent and completed in 2022-23. ACA is grateful for the grant support it was able to receive in the financial year 2023-24. A copy of the receipts and payments and assets and liabilities accounts as well as the Independent Examiner’s Report is available alongside the annual report of Trustees. ARMOY C O M M U N l T Y A S S O C l A T l O N