2023-03-31-annual-report

Donaghadee Community Development Association (making Donaghadee a better place in which to live, work or visit) Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: NIC103332

TRUSTEES’ REPORT 2022-23

1. The Organisation

• 1.1 The Donaghadee Community Development Association was recognised as a charity by HMRC in 2011 and by the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland in 2016.

• 1.2 The trustees met on 10 occasions during the year. Membership at March 2023 was as follows:-

Denis Waterworth (Chair) Karen Looney Carol Day (Vice-Chair) Martin Looney John Caldwell (Hon. Sec) Alan Maxwell Adrian Kerr (Hon. Treasurer) Kerry Melville Kate Boyd Murdo Murray Alison Bell Harry Wilson Alan Burnside

The following were members during the period but stood down at the AGM in September 2022 - Alan Cowan, Gareth Irvine, Bill Kirkwood and Gary McNinch

2. The Purpose of the Charity

• 2.1 The stated purpose of the Association is

“To promote the advancement of citizenship and community development for the public benefit in the Donaghadee area, in particular:-

1. To improve the area known as Donaghadee for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area

2. To encourage the goodwill and involvement of the wider community

3. To foster and promote community spirit and civic pride

4. To promote and encourage the development of Donaghadee”

5. 2.2 The public benefits that flow from this purpose are:-

6. Donaghadee is a more attractive place in which to live;

7. Improvements in infrastructure will encourage inward investment;

8. The town attracts more visitors which helps the local economy and increases employment opportunity;

9. An attractive townscape should increase awareness of the quality of the local environment and, in turn, promote a greater degree of responsibility in areas such as litter, dog fouling and re-cycling.

10. A much higher degree of social cohesion;

11. Residents take a keen interest in the development of their town and play a positive role in contributing to its development

12. There will be higher levels of engagement in local clubs and organisations;

13. Reduced anti-social behaviour

14. 2.3 In essence, this means that the Association focuses on organising events and projects, working closely with elected representatives and with other local organisations including schools and statutory bodies to improve the town and engaging in activities which will bring the community closer together.

3. Main Activities and Achievements during 2022-23

• 3.1 In any normal year the Association focusses activity on five strands:-

• Community engagement

• Improving the local environment

• Community support and development

• Expanding the local economy

• Campaigning and representation

3.2 Community Engagement

• a) Queens Platinum Jubilee – A full programme of events 2[nd] – 5[th] June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee;

• b) Summer Festival – The relaxation of COVID Pandemic restrictions allowed for a full programme of events with some 32 organisations delivering 50 different events. Gross attendances were of the order of 16,000 with large crowds at The Lifeboat Festival, the Horse Relay, the Beach Race, Country Comes to Town and the Supercars event held in June;

• c) Death of Queen Elizabeth – A Service of Reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth was organised in September 2022;

• d) Christmas – This year some 16 different organisations were involved in the delivery of the programme. The highlight continues to be Santa’s arrival by lifeboat on Friday followed by a parade to the market. Santa’s tour of the town on Saturday night was less popular than in previous years. Sunday’s activities included the Dee Runner’s Fun Run at the Commons, followed that evening by the community carol service and switch on but sadly attendance at this was affected by industrial action by teachers.

• e) Skateboarding – A Skateboarding event was organised for young people in the new car park adjacent to Copeland Distillery

• f) Website and Social Media - The Association uses its website (www.visitdonaghadee.com) to inform the local community and visitors of current issues.

3.3 Local Environment

• a) In Bloom – One of the highlights of the year was winning the Town category of the Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition. Supported by volunteers we arranged the planting and watering of hanging baskets, planting of containers including the planting of window boxes by Killard School.

• b) Crommelin Wood – Work continues on Cromellin Wood. A tree nursery has been created courtesy of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

• c) Marine Litter - Donaghadee’s four schools – Ballyvester Primary School, Donaghadee Primary School, Killard School and St Anne’s Primary School – continue to work with the Association on a Marine Litter Project. Each school

has been allocated an area of coastline and an attractive litter picking station installed at each. On each visit to the beach, pupils gather and analyse litter according to type, size and weight. They collect water samples for analysis using water testing kits and digital microscopes. Their findings are recorded and compared over time against previous analyses and the records of the other schools. Members of the public have also been encouraged to play their part by collecting litter.

• d) Climate Action Plan – Representatives of the Committee worked with Keep northern Ireland Beautiful to produce a framework for a Donaghadee Climate Action Plan.

• 3.5 Community support and development

• a) Information reel – The Association is a conduit for information on a wide variety of subjects ranging from government and public notices through to details of local events. All notices are now placed on a rolling display which is published on our website and social media platform each Friday. For those without access to the internet a copy scrolls on a television located in the front window of Dee TV & Radio.

• b) Supporting groups – Community Group members have access to a range of equipment including gazebos, a pa system, presentation boards, laptops and a digital projector and screen. Information on grant opportunities is also circulated.

• c) Royal Statistical Society – The Association was successful in an application to the Royal Statistical Society for Pro-Bono work on the 2021 Census. This will compare Donaghadee over a period of time and also against schools of similar size and characteristics. When available (early 2024) this information will support local groups in identifying priorities for action.

• 3.6 Expanding the local Economy

• a) Shop Local – A shop local event was organised as part of the Christmas celebrations with participating traders given free gifts to distribute.

• b) Painting Shop Windows The Association subsidised a shop window paining scheme with participating traders provided with a discounted Christmas themed painting on their window

3.7 Campaigning and representation–

• a) Town Advisory Group – The Association has two representatives on the Donaghadee Town Advisory Group which includes councillors and representatives of statutory bodies. The main issues were support for retail following lockdown and the review of the Commons

• b) Car parking – we continue to press for improved car parking. No success thusfar but efforts continue

• c) Seahill Right of Way - The Association initiated action to have the pathway from Seahill to the lane leading to the Water Tower asserted as a public right of way

• d) Five Towns – The association meets regularly with counterparts in Bangor, Newtownards, Holywood and Comber.

Thanks

• 3.8 The Committee acknowledges with thanks the help and support received from a wide range of individuals and organisations throughout the year, in particular:-

• Elected representatives and officers of Ards and North Down Borough Council without whose support the Association would not be able to function at the current level;

• Local MLAs and our local MP who have all been supportive of our efforts; and,

• The many individuals, local organisations, churches, sporting clubs and traders who support our work through volunteering, sponsorship and support.

4. Financial Review

• 4.1 The Association has a single bank account with the Ulster Bank, Newtownards and the accounts are prepared and audited by Stanley Woods & Co. The financial year is April – March. The Association’s finances are healthy. The Association has no paid employees.

• 4.2 The Association acknowledges with thanks the many organisations and individuals who provided financial support during the year by way of grants, advertising, sponsorship, donations and membership fees.

5. Community Involvement and Public Benefit

• 5.1 The Association is anxious to involve the wider community and general public as much as possible in its activities. The Association had 168 members in March 2023 with 3,000 following on social media.

• 5.2 In undertaking these and other activities during the year, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s statutory guidance on public benefit. No harm arose to any individual or organisation as a result of the Association’s activities.

6. Priorities for 2023-24

• 6.1 The Trustees have identified the following key priorities for 2023-24

• a) Subject to approval, organising festivals in the summer and at Christmas

• b) To make further progress with the Climate Action Plan and improvements at Crommelin Wood;

• c) To co-ordinate the floral displays for Summer 2023; and,

• d) To press for improvements to Donaghadee in meetings with Council officers and officials of other statutory bodies

7. Further Information

• 7.1 Further information on the work of the Association can be obtained from the Honorary Secretary, John Caldwell, c/o 21 New Road, Donaghadee, BT21 0DR

SIGNED

Date: 25[th] September 2023

Denis Waterworth, Chairman