2025-08-31-annual-report - Larchfield Community Development Association

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Larchfield Community Development Association

Trustees’ Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities

For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

Larchfield Community Development Association

Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] August 2025

Contents	Page
References and administrative details of the Charity	3
Trustees’ report	4
Receipts and payments account and Statement of assets and liabilities	7-8
Notes to the Accounts	9-10
Independent Examiner’s Report

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 103278

Larchfield Community Development Association

References and administrative details

Charity Name: Larchfield Community Development Association

Charity Registration Number: NIC 103278 Contact Address: 35 Cabra Road Hillsborough Co Down BT26 6NB

Trustees

Mr Edgar Brownlie Mr Robert Brownlie Miss Patricia Halliday Mr James Halliday Mr Robert Harron Miss Valerie Harron Miss Heather Magowan Mr Brian McCallister Jnr Ms Sharon McKnight

Principal Office-bearers

Chairman: Mr Brian McCallister Jnr Vice Chairman: Mr Robert Brownlie Hon Secretary: Ms Sharon McKnight Asst Secretary: Miss Patricia Halliday Hon Treasurer: Miss Valerie Harron Asst Treasurer: Miss Patricia Halliday

Independent Examiner

Aubrey Campbell, Aubrey Campbell & Co., 631 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7GT.

Bankers

Danske Bank 62-66 Bow Street Lisburn Co Antrim BT28 1YS

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 103278

Larchfield Community Development Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] August 2025

The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Larchfield Community Development Association for the year ended 31[st] August 2025.

Objectives and Activities

The purpose of Larchfield Community Development Association is to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Annahilt, Aughnaleck, Cabragh, Duneight, Legacurry & Magheradartin areas and their environs and those who have associations with, or roots in the locality, without distinction of age, sex, race, political or religious or other opinion. It will do so by associating with the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of the social welfare, education, recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. In addition, the Association aims to advance the knowledge and appreciation of a diverse range of cultures.

The promotion and advancement of our programme has been achieved throughout the year by actively engaging with our local council, voluntary organisations and the inhabitants of the area ensuring facilities are provided in the interests of social welfare, education and recreation with the emphasis on supporting and improving the lives of those living in the area and beyond.

Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit

The Association normally meets on the third Thursday of each month in Legacurry Orange Hall, Glebe Road, Hillsborough. These meetings can take the form of a formal members event led by the Chairman, discussing Association business; a speaker coming to share information on a specific subject; a visit to a place of interest that holds some historical, educational or cultural content; or a social occasion. These meetings are open to all members and the wider community of all ages, race and religion to allow achievement of our charitable purpose.

Social welfare, education and recreation are all core to the advancement of our activities. We provide support, friendship and interaction between those who attend our activities and events and this reduces social isolation and is of benefit to all.

September 2024 saw yet another very successful Family Fun Day, Vintage Rally and Road Runs for cars and tractors, financially supported by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.
We cancelled our October meeting due to the passing of a very close friend of the Association.
In November we had our charity presentation evening when a cheque for £5300 was presented to Mr Stephen Thompson on behalf of the Motor Neurone Disease Association NI. This was the proceeds of fundraising events during the year.
December saw the Christmas party for Association members and members of the community.
In January, after a couple of earlier postponements we finally had our Scottish ceilidh evening and hosted the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
February saw our monthly meeting and then our Annual General Meeting chaired by Councillor James Baird, followed by a social evening.
March was busy with a dinner in the hall for volunteers and seniors, Community Festival (Rally) planning meeting and a Big Breakfast fundraiser for the Association.
At the April meeting we had a very interesting talk on Beekeeping and Honey by Mr Michael Young MBE.
In May we celebrated the 80[th] anniversary of VE Day with a Family friendly BBQ and social event.
In early June we had the second part of our VE80 event when Mr Nigel Henderson from History Hub Ulster shared with us information on 24 soldiers from the Lisburn area who has lost their lives as a result of the second world war.
Later in the month we had a very informative evening visit to Parliament Buildings at Stormont.
Also in June the Trustees reviewed the various policies of the Association and introduced two new ones, in keeping with Good Governance.

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 103278

Larchfield Community Development Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] August 2025 (Cont’d)

The monthly walks in HRP Hillsborough Castle grounds as part of the Community Access Scheme commenced in April thanks to Patricia one of our CAS leaders who has also involved other members of the community to these walks.
The Gardening Club met in May and June planting plants and tidying the grounds.
Planning for the 2025 Community Festival (The Rally) continued during the summer.
In August we visited The Ulster Transport Museum where we had an opportunity to view the “Black Ferguson Tractor” among the various exhibits of transport from past decades. This was followed by a delicious meal at Rockmount Golf Cub. This once again provided a tremendous opportunity for members of the community and volunteers to come together for a relaxing social occasion.

Our thanks are expressed to Patricia Halliday who put together the various grant applications and also for the tremendous work she put into arranging most of the programme and activities.

Our thanks are also expressed to the Management Committee of Legacurry Hall for the ongoing use of their facilities.

Financial Review

We wish to thank Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for their continued support of our activities during the year. The LCCC support is crucial to our on-going programme. In addition to the Community Support Grant we received monies under the Community Festival Fund for the Rally and from the Community Facilities Fund towards repairs to the hall and grounds.

The balance at 31[st] Aug 2025 across both accounts was £30,173.63. £19,219.35 of this is grant money yet to be spent and £461.76 is charity funds, both being carried forward into the 2025-26 year. There is £832.54 Unrestricted funds held in Number 2 Account in case of need prior to receipt of grants.

Going Concern

The Trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Association can continue it’s activities and that the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] August 2025 can be signed off as a going concern.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity

The first Constitution was adopted by members of the Association at a Special General Meeting on 16 December 2004. A revision was adopted at an EGM held on 15 June 2017. The Committee members are the Charity Trustees.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Committee/ Trustees are elected by the Association members on an annual basis and serve to the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting. Committee meetings are held as required between Association meetings. Sub-committees and/or Officers meet as necessary to progress activities.

Pay and remuneration

The Association has no employees.

Organisational Structure

The Trustees are responsible for the day to day management of the Association following guidance from the Association members. There are nine trustees from which the Vice Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer are

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 103278

Larchfield Community Development Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31° August 2025 (Cont’d)

elected. The office of Chairperson is elected by the Association members and will not be held by any one person for more than three consecutive years. Other positions are appointed by the Trustees as required.

The Association meets monthly and the Trustees meet on various other occasions to progress much of the administrative function in order to keep the monthly meetings interesting and maximise time for speaker input and fellowship/socialising. In 2024-25 the Trustees met in-person formally and on occasions informally.

Compliance with Public Benefit

The Association has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the actives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Association’s objectives, as well as providing public benefit.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year.

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Association’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the Association. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Association and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on Behalf of the Trustees

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Brian McCallister Jnr
Chairman
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Valerie Harron Hon Treasurer

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 103278