Crafts with Love – Charity number – 103747
Trustees Report
1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
Crafts with Love is a voluntary community organisation which is open to everyone regardless of age, ability, colour, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political opinion, ethnic origin or disability. We are a constituted group and meet in a neighbourhood renewal area of Coleraine, which has an ageing population, and where there are high levels of unemployment, sickness and isolation.
We meet in Coleraine West Community Centre once a week where we provide a comfortable safe venue for our members to socialise and learn new skills. We offer an active crafting environment, providing a framework for cross community relations, social interaction and networking while developing arts and craft based projects.
The purposes of the charity are to alleviate loneliness, isolation, advance education and promote health and wellbeing to those living within Coleraine and the greater Causeway Coast and Glens area.
Trustees in office as follows: Betty Gilkinson (Chairperson), Elizabeth Nevin (Secretary), Roberta Campbell (Treasurer), Margaret Creighton, June Baird and Prunella McCausland. All trustees give of their time freely and none are paid.
In order to achieve our objectives, we organise a range of different craft workshops, including knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery, patchwork, jewellery making, flower arranging and paper crafts. Our sessions are aimed at providing activities at a level to suit all participants. We encourage members to learn new skills and socialise, which in turn improves their health and well being, builds their confidence and extends their friendships. We provide door to door transport where necessary which ensures that mobility is not a barrier. This is invaluable in keeping our elderly members involved and active. Light refreshments are provided at all sessions.
Those who benefit from these sessions are the elderly and vulnerable members of the community, people with caring responsibilities, disabilities, isolated people and those with ethnic minority backgrounds. These sessions also help to keep traditional and modern crafting alive.
During this period we received a grant of £19,570 from the Community Fund. This will be used over the next two years and will help to cover the cost of tutors, speakers, venue hire, insurance, two summer trips, transport, two Christmas lunches, materials and refreshments.
Funding towards the cost of materials allows us to donate 100% of what we raise to our annually chosen children’s charities. In this financial year we raised £2,173 from the sale of craft and quiz sheets and also donations. Our charities this year are HOPE 365 Ethiopia and the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Royal, Belfast who each will receive £1,000 each.
Accounts have been examined and verified by an independent examiner. His report stated “I have no concerns and found no matters that require drawing to your attention”
Finally, a big thank you to all who have worked so hard and helped in any way to make this another successful year.
Signed
Roberta Campbell