Knockmore Community Association
Trustee Report
For year ended March 2022
Trustees
C Belshaw (Chairperson) C Toner (Secretary) A Green (Treasurer) D Belshaw (Snr) M Moran G Watson K Campbell-Kerr J Park
Objectives & Activities
Knockmore Community Association was set-up to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Knockmore Estate, Lisburn without distinction of age, gender, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and the 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 do this, we run various activities, programmes and events. We have two housing executive community lets where our organisation is based from. One is used for the pensioners’ activities and as the community office, the other is used for youth engagement. We also run seasonal events for the wider community.
We provide signposting services and lobby for improvements with various stakeholders and agencies including NIHE, PSNI, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Transport NI etc
Achievements and Performances
2021 – 2022 was unfortunately like 2020-2021 with the world still dealing with a pandemic. The association during this time once it was safe and there was warmer weather, we started a bingo night in the garden for anyone that wished to attend. It was self-sustaining and when we stop for the colder weather, we had profit that we were able to bank and build off for 2022.
With the guidelines for social distancing still in place we had to adapt how we reached the local community when it came to our festival/fun days. Easter, we had a small gathering at the community flats garden that allowed the local community to call and collect an easter egg for the kids also see the Easter bunny. We then moved on to organising our Fun Day with us missing out in 2020 we decided that 2021 had to be big.
The guidelines at this point had lessened even more than before so we were able to got a petting farm, carnival rides and did a BBQ for the local community. We had also helped the local PSNI hold Pizza Night for the teenagers of the area to help deal with any anti-social behaviour. At Halloween we had a Movie fright night with some games in our garden. Then Christmas like in 2020 we had Santa drive around the estate on his sleigh for us to hand out treats for everyone.
The Men’s Shed has seen an increase in membership to 10 individuals who all attended appropriate training to properly be equipped to use machinery within this group. Furthermore,
they were approached by the local primary asking if we could help them update and repurpose their green area to help teach the kids how to garden and start vegetables and plants from seedlings.
In addition to this, several members of the committee have been working closely with our stakeholder agencies through our quarterly inter-agency meetings. These meetings are the perfect environment for networking and having a collaborative approach to tackling emerging issues within the area. Such members on this board include, PSNI, PCSP, NIHE, Elected Members, LCCC and Supporting Communities.
Financial Review
The Trustees have comprehensive financial procedures in place for the income and expenditure of Knockmore Community Association. Spending on activities was carried out as stipulated within funding letters of offer and/or verbal consultation with funders. Management of funding is monitored by the entire committee throughout our organisation.
We have no other investments aside from the finances within our bank account and cash in hand. Our petty cash is mainly made up from donations. During the 2021-2022 financial year, the opening balance was recorded as £790.78. Income totalling £10,590.92 was derived from local grants including LCCC Community Support Grant, NI Housing Executive Grants, Live Here Love Here, Radius Housing Grants and donations. The expenditure was mainly spent on maintenance of the building, overheads, stationery, programme costs associated with the holidays and Men’s Shed. The total expenses for the reporting period were £10,445.70, which resulted in a closing balance of £898.27.
Structure, Governance and Management
The activities and objectives of Knockmore Community Association are managed by the management committee which consists of locally elected residents from the Knockmore area, in line with our constitution. All management committee are elected annually at our AGM.
----- Start of picture text -----
Signed
13/04/2023 13/04/2023
Date Date
----- End of picture text -----