Cregagh Community Association; NI103197 Annual Report to Trustees for the Financial Year 31[st] March 2017 to 31[st] March 2018
Cregagh Community Association is founded to, “ relieve poverty, sickness and the aged and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Cregagh area and its environs (hereinafter described as “the area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants; to establish or to secure the establishment of a Community Centre (hereinafter called "the Centre") and to maintain and manage or to co-operate with any local statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a Centre for activities promoted by the Association and its constituent bodies in furtherance of the above objects.”
For the year in question, the following persons served as Committee members and trustees of Cregagh Community Association
Margaret Montgomery Marlene Dodds Catherine Foster Nichola Bickerstaff Gwen Ferguson David Geddis Leanne Doak Thomas Sandford
This Report is for the financial year from 1[st] April 2017 to 31[st] March 2018 and a summary of the Associations Activities includes;
In the course of the year PCSP funding supported and facilitated a project between the Primary School and older people centred around the Irish Linen Museum and the second, an Intergenerational 8 week programme of 4 weeks activities within the centre and 4 outdoor trips, building on CCA having received an Age Friendly Belfast Award from Belfast City Council in recognition of the good intergenerational work undertaken in the area.
The Association has been able to continue to fund pensioners’ lunches which has enabled us to bring isolated older people into the centre to engage them in activities and to share important messages about their safety and their security in their homes; the Co-op Community Fund has supported the Pensioners Lunches with £1,200 and additional voluntary donations have been received. Members are asked to note the contribution of other partners in the running of the lunches, particularly young people from the school and from neighbourhood police officers.
The Association successfully undertook a number of key projects involving young people, notable the Fields in Trust project which resulted in a ladies’ boxercise class, a 3 day Halloween Sports Camp for children aged 4-13 with 50 kids each day and a Fun Day in August with climbing walls and a range of other activities.
The Parents and Toddlers group was still running well throughout the year with numbers of parents and infants remaining steady and a full programme of activities was run.
Following a series of engagements with local councillors, with officials from Transport NI and from the PSNI around the various issues relating to match-day parking at Kingspan Stadium, we have continued to meet and engage with the PSNI and Ulster rugby and other residents groups and elected reps during regular meetings hosted by Ulster Rugby.
Through our Interagency Partnership we have been able to pool the resources of all the stakeholders and groups in running events and activities, in exchanging information and experience and in building a community that experiences a genuine sense of cohesion and togetherness. Throughout the year we have taken part in shared projects and events with all our partners, particularly the local churches, the school, the Youth Club and the staff and councillors from Belfast City Council. The Association also acknowledges the support and the input from colleagues in the Public Health Agency, the Housing Executive, East Belfast Community Development Agency, Supporting Communities, NI Fire and Rescue Service and the PSNI.
Our Public Benefit
The committee members and trustees annually reflect on our activities set against our stated Public Benefits, which are,
Cregagh Community Association provides direct benefit to the local community by providing programmes and activities aimed at addressing issues of poverty and particularly those issues affecting people as a result of their age, their state of health and general well-being. The Association also provides an indirect benefit in assisting other groups in the locality, i.e. statutory bodies, youth and community groups and churches better target and deliver their services and activities to those in need in our community. Cregagh Community Association also provides a wider public benefit to the wider community in Northern Ireland by providing support, assistance and other benefits to those in need within the area of benefit; it is in the interests of the wider community that Cregagh Community Association continues to help those in need in the Cregagh area.
The committee, following a consideration, believes that the work of the Association continues to contribute to the public benefit by running activities across the generations, providing access to health and educational resources by providing direct services to and transport to those who need it, within our area of benefit and in working together with our partners to provide, promote and enhance services available to local people.
Financial Review
The committee can report that in the period in question the association raised funds to run a number of projects, notably the Intergenerational Project and the seniors’ lunches.
The Association is reminded that there has been some depreciation in the value of our fixed assets, namely the minibus. This figure has been arrived at following advice from a vehicle dealership and members are requested to note this accordingly.
The Association retained a healthy surplus from the previous financial year and members are invited to note the Annual Statement of Accounts provided.
The financial statement and report was presented to the Committee and trustees of Cregagh Community Association in February 2018
Signed;
Margaret Montgomery
Date; 28[th] February 2018