ALTNAVEIGH HOUSE TRUST (2005) LTD
Charity No: 105050
TRUSTEE REPORT - 2023
Address: 51 Downshire Road, Newry, BT34 1EE
Trustees:
Harry Thompson (Chairperson) William Hanna Myrtle Nummy Anthony Russell Wil Glendinning
Public benefits
The direct benefit which flows from this purpose is to help, support and develop the community and its beneficiaries through activities and resources which develop the physical and mental capacities of all participants. This will improve the quality of life of the most marginalised by tackling social inequality and poverty, thereby enabling people who might otherwise be excluded to play a greater part in the local community. This can be demonstrated by improving conditions and providing appropriate facilities, thereby improving health and wellbeing in the area. Further evidence is provided through regular feedback by group members and other participants. The beneficiaries are those living in the Newry, Mourne and Down area and who are identified as marginalised and in need of various forms of support. This purpose does not give rise to any harm. A private benefit may arise from support given which could be transferred to other settings. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to as many beneficiaries as possible.
What Our Organisation Does:
The organisation provides facilities and organises programmes of training and education for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area, in particular with regard to the local needs which relate to the relief of poverty and a better knowledge of the arts and culture.
Aims and objectives:
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Provide support to all local communities and encourage participation in wider society;
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Communicate effectively with the wider society;
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Ensure the sustainability of the organisation;
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Promote good citizenship across all Communities through the provision of services and facilities within a neutral and safe environment in the interests of social welfare and recreation;
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Situated on the Belfast Road in Newry City it is the only community organisation of its type that offers both a neutral environment for all sections of the diverse community to which it serves, while also providing these facilities to all minority groups that includes the now minority Protestant and also Ethnic minority communities;
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Prides itself, and holds a reputation in, supporting a wide cross section of the community;
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Develops programmes aimed at raising local aspirations by encouraging a greater degree of interest and involvement within and between local communities.
The Board is pleased that the organisation continues to recover from the negative effects of the Covid pandemic. However, it is unfortunate that a number of community groups have not returned to make use of the facilities. We are again grateful for the financial support of the Executive Office and Newry Mourne & Down District Council allowing us to develop good relations opportunities with several like-minded community groups and local schools. A series of training workshops, good relations workshops and two study trips allowed the charity to again establish itself as an important shared space within the community.
All necessary repairs and maintenance projects required in 2023 were completed although the increases in core costs, especially fuel and electricity, put a burden on all but essential work. A grant of £10,000 from Lottery Awards for All allowed the charity to completely refurbish the kitchen in the Front House and it is hoped to continue this work throughout the building in the future as finance becomes available. The charity will continue to seek out opportunities to improve its position as a leader in shared community experiences and training.
The trustees are pleased that the Trust has been able to demonstrate increased activities and improvements to the resource centre all of which help to provide a service of value to our communities.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a direct benefit to the beneficiaries and the communities at large.