## Loup Women’s Group - Trustee’s Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2025 

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Loup Women’s Group Group for the year 31st December 2025. 

## References and Administrative Details 

Charity Name: Loup Women’s Group Charity Registration Number: NIC104831 Principal Address/Registered Office: Mrs Helen Andrews 6 Dunronan Road Magherafelt BT45 7SU 

## Trustees 

The trustees who served during the year are as follows: Chairperson: Helen Andrews Vice Chair: Ann Cassidy Secretary: Patricia Toner Treasurer: Irene Johnston PRO: Mary Frances McGuckin Committee Members: Anne Conway Mary Hogg Rosaleen McMahon Bernadette O’Neill Dympna Wilson Doreen McLernon Jennifer Bell Maura Johnston 

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## Objectives & Activities 

The benefits flowing from the purposes of Loup Women’s Group is that the people of The Loup and surrounding areas have access to a range of educational, social and recreational activities promoted by the group. People benefit by learning new skills in a variety of crafts. They benefit from being introduced to IT which in turn helps them to work with their children with a better knowledge of modern technology. The community benefits because individuals who might otherwise be isolated in a very rural area are given an opportunity to meet and interact with each other. Individuals with disabilities benefit because the building used by the group is wheelchair accessible so that those with disabilities can participate. A major benefit for everyone participating in the activities is that they meet new friends, learn to trust each other and share individual problems with each other. Local volunteers benefit by becoming involved in the work of the group and deriving a sense of achievement and purpose and ownership of everything that happens. All participants benefit from the educational classes, talks and lectures, often from eminent speakers on a huge variety oftopics. Those who participate in social outings benefit from visiting interesting places, learning by networking with other groups and as a result reducing their feelings of isolation and loneliness. While most activities are organised for women by women many of the talks and classes are open to the entire community so everyone can benefit. The benefits are measured by internal evaluations which are held at the end of each series of classes or courses. They are also measured by the number of people wanting to attend the activities and by the feedback from the general community to the management committee. 

Our group has had another interesting and successful year. 

We judge success by the increased number of new participants who have joined our what’s app group and taken part in our activities. This is very encouraging for our committee, and we thank everybody who has come along. 

We ran the usual classes in scrapbooking, crochet and stone painting taken by Yvonne, Celine and Fern. The ladies produced some beautiful, varied craft items. Unfortunately, numbers were down for the stone painting class due to other commitments. 

In the Spring we had exercise classes provided by a tutor from Mid Ulster Council. There were 18 ladies in this class, and they all benefited from the work outs. Then in September we had 8 weeks of exercises funded by The Public Health Agency and taken by a new tutor Thomasina Birt. 8 ladies took part and benefited a lot especially 2 who suffered from different health problems. 

The gardening continued throughout the year with Jenny, Senior Project Officer with The Conservation Volunteers. Numbers have increased to 8 which is very encouraging. Having extra people means we can get more work done. We all benefit from Jenny’s guidance. In the summer months we enjoyed eating the lovely soft fruits. On 28" August 4 of us attended The Conservation Volunteers Summer Show in The Millenium Court in Portadown. This is always a very good event with competitions,2 workshops anda delicious meal to finish the evening. Joan won 1* prize with her flower arrangement and Helen got 2" prize with a photograph of a bird in the hand. We started a woodworking class in December which is funded by The Public Health Agency. This is ongoing and is proving to be very interesting and enjoyable. Jenny is teaching us how to use the tools safely. There are now 9 ladies taking part. The workshops we run each year are also popular with the ladies. 

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In October we had 3 sessions of Ceramics taken by Laura O’Kane, Rose Gifts Crafts, Portglenone. 10 ladies made a variety of items using clay. The more adventurous ladies made beautiful pumpkins. Everything turned out very well and it was a very therapeutic exercise. 

As usual in December we had 2 workshops making wreaths. Alan was unable to take the class but Collin Lyttle stepped in at short notice and we thank him for that. The wreaths turned out well. There were 10 ladies at each workshop. 

As well as all these activities we like to have Talks. Stephanie Lavery, Time Steps, provided 2 of these. The first one was on 3' November entitled “Washday in The Big House” Stephanie gives a good insight into what life was like in Victorian times and makes her talks hilarious with audience participation. 

Her 2™ talk on 15 December was entitled Victorian Christmas. This one was also very enjoyable and ended with Stephanie’s own take on “The 12 days of Christmas”. “20 ladies attended each talk. 

Our programme wouldn’t be complete without a Trip or two. On 13" September we visited Auntie Sandra’s Sweet Factory on The Holywood Road in Belfast.42 ladies boarded the bus and were well entertained by Chris in the shop. He demonstrated how the sweets were made includinga lot of banter as he did so. Everybody was given a shamrock shaped lollypop. 

After the visit we travelled a short distance to The Forestside Shopping centre for the essential retail therapy. 

5 ladies went by public transport to Hillsborough Castle Gardens in August. Entrance fees were paid for by The Conservation Volunteers group. 3 ladies from the committee attended The NICHI health event in The Dunsilly Hotel on 9" September. There is always a hot meal at this event and interesting speakers on health matters. Then on 11" October 2 members attended” The Great Days Out “ event in Ranfurly House organised by Mid Ulster Council. This showcased lots of different venues in Mid Ulster which would be worth a visit,. We got speaking to the people from these places and also got a guided tour of The Hill of O’Neill. We were fortunate to come across a cookery demonstration where we got a lovely lunch of Potato and leek soup and freshly made soda bread. 

In September we were invited by The Northern Ireland Regional Women’s Network {NIRWN} to join a project entitled Animate, Build, Connect. This involved a series of discussions and workshops to look at how our group is functioning and how it could be improved. 

The project is divided into 3 elements and if we compete each one our group will receive £1000. The project leader is Nicola McGuinness who has been very encouraging. Paula McAliskey has also been involved. She organised several free talks on Digital landline switchover, Make the call [All about benefits}. Breast and Bowel cancer awareness and Digital inclusionx2. We appreciate all these events given free and they have all been very informative. 

We are on the second element of the project which ends in March 2026. Our funders this year have been: 

Awards for all 2™ year of grant for running costs and events. £9898 : 

Mid Ulster Council for Stone painting and kitchen equipment. £855 

Public Health Agency,{ Clear} Woodwork, exercise and reminiscence classes. 

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## £3400 {£2760} given at the start and £640 remaining. We are very grateful for these generous grants without which we could not continue to provide our enjoyable programme. 

As ever I would like to thank the committee of Loup Women’s Group for all their work and dedication in managing all that we do. I also wish to thank all participants who come to the classes, workshops, gardening, talks and trips. This gives us great encouragement and we enjoy your company. It makes our efforts worthwhile. A big thank you also to Will who keeps us right when certain things need attention and also for keeping the heat on and cutting the grass. 

I wish the new committee every success in running Loup Women’s Group. 

## Compliance with Public Benefit 

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

## Financial Review 

Total Payments (£11,838) for the year ended 31st December 2025 exceeded Total Receipts (£8,254) by £3,584 decreasing the total cash funds held to £12,610 from £16,194. (Pages 8&9). 

## Charitable Purposes 

The purposes of the Loup Women’s Group is to promote activities for the benefit of people in The Loup and surrounding areas without distinction of age, race, political, religious or other opinion. The group will associate with statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and local inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and provide facilities for social interaction with the aim of improving the conditions of life for the said people. 

## Structure, Governance and Management 

Loup Women’s Group is a Registered Charity and is governed by the terms of its constitution, which was adopted by the membership on 26" February 2015. Loup Women’s Group is registered with the Charity Commission and is placed on the Northern Ireland register of charities from 7" March 2016. 

The objectives and activities of the Charity are administered by a Management Committee, which shall consist of not less than five and not more than twenty members and who are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM is held each year and not more than 15 months after the preceding AGM. There shall not be less than five members of the Management Committee present at all General Meetings, including the AGM. Voting is carried out at General Meetings by way of a show of hands or ballot with the Chairperson having the casting vote. 

## Approved by the trustees on 23 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by: 

Helen Andrews Patricia Toner Chair Secretary 

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