## **1 LOWER WATERLOO ROAD** 

## **LARNE** 

## **BT40 1NP** 

## **ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -2024** 

## **MESSAGE FROM CHAIR** 

Factory Community Forum’s commitment to the community is ongoing and several programmes/initiatives throughout the year has taken place, inclusive of older person’s programmes, youth programmes, summer school, women’s group and the men’s group projects as well as ongoing training for committee and volunteers. 

Factory Community Forum has been established for fifteen years and are continuously expanding. This success is due to ongoing funding from IFI for the Peace Impact Programme and DFC Areas at Risk enabling FCF to carry out all the work that has been achieved. Other sources of funding from CIT has been of great benefit.  With Alternatives and Extern also under the roof of the community hub, this has been advantageous to all the community and surrounding areas. The 



Men’s group have completed a successful programme with the help of Extern building their own Santa Sleigh, allowing Factory Community Forum to create a more successful Christmas programme for everyone in the area. 

The redevelopment and opening of a Community Garden and new park with disability access in 2023 has been the initial start of the redevelopment of the space at the Greenland Drive area. These redeveloped areas have been enjoyed by everyone in the community and has given children a safe place to play. The community garden provides a quiet place for all to enjoy. This is just the first few stages and we will continue to work until the area has been completed. 

Youth Programmes are constantly on going, interacting with young people steering them away from anti-social behaviour, and the influence of paramilitarism, giving other opportunities and other avenues to focus on was a key priority. 

The youth engagement programme (Youth Club) is ongoing with two nights per week for children, encouraging them to come along meet new friends and join in different activities. 

Community Events were particularly successful this year with the spooky trail for Halloween and the Santa sleigh at Christmas. 

Factory Community Forum’s volunteers worked tirelessly throughout and no job was too much. Recruitment for Youth Engagement volunteers is continuously ongoing. We continue to engage with a range of outside agencies inclusive of voluntary, statutory and other community associations throughout the year to ensure development of good relations moving forward. 

I would like to thank all involved for their continued support especially the committee who work tirelessly to uphold the good work and progress within Factory Community Forum. 



## **FACTORY COMMUNITY FORUM COMMITTEE** 

|**OFFICE BEARERS**|||
|---|---|---|
|**N. Thompson**|**-**|**CHAIRPERSON**|
|**R. Rice**<br>|**-**|**VICE CHAIR**|
||**-**|**TREASURER**|
|**L. Morrow**<br>|||
|**K Reid**|**-**|**SECRETARY**|
|<br>**COMMITTEE**|||
|**L. McKay**|||
|**B. Adamson**|||
|**A. Rice**|||
|**S. Mawhinney**|||
|**W. Blair**|||





## **PROFESSIONAL BODIES** 

**BANK DETAILS** 

**DANSKE BANK** 

**PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BT1 6JS** 

**INSURANCE LOCKTON COMPANIES LLP 8[TH] FLOOR THE CLARENCE WEST BUILDING 2 CLARENCE STREET WEST BELFAST BT2 7GP** 

## **EXTERNAL AUDITORS  BLACK OAK** 

**CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 17 WHINFIELD LARNE BT40 2LD** 



## **OBJECTIVES** 

**The Community Forum is established to promote and advance community development, promote social inclusion, advance education, relieve poverty, hardship, sickness and the aged and to promote the benefit and wellbeing of the communities’ resident in the Ferris Park and Greenland Crescent areas of Larne, Co. Antrim and their environs. This will be achieved through delivery of community events, volunteering opportunities and regular contact meetings with relevant statutory/voluntary bodies.**