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& a Gl % United We Stand + Together We Benefit
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“ WS) «122A Lagmore Drive 8717 076
> i & Email: info@lagmorecommunityforum.org
8 Commu Tel No: 02896949355
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Lagmore Community Forum
Trustees’ Annual Report
April 2025
1. Reference and Administration Details
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e Charity Name: Lagmore Community Forum e Registered Address: 12A Lagmore Drive, Belfast, BT17 OTG e Charity Registration Number: 105160 e Trustees: o Mary Smith o Paula Toner o Catherine McCormack o Pol Brennan o Aaron Hughes o Damian Broderick o Emma Smith
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e Independent Examiner/Auditor: Joe Quinn & Son Accountants
2. Structure, Governance and Management
Lagmore Community Forum is governed by its constitution as an unincorporated association. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing document. The charity prepares annual accounts, a Trustees’ Annual Report, and ensures independent examination where required, in line with Charity Commission NI annual reporting requirements.
3. Objectives and Activities
Charitable Purposes
Lagmore Community Forum's charitable purposes are to:
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e Reduce poverty and unemployment e Reduce social isolation
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e Improve community health and wellbeing
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e Improve the environment
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e Strengthen community capacity
These purposes meet the public benefit requirement set out in the Commission's public benefit guidance.
4. Activities Delivered in the Year
A. Reducing Poverty
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° Housing & Benefits Advice Clinics — offering practical support with benefits, housing applications, crisis intervention, and advocacy.
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e Addressing poverty through targeted advice and referrals to ensure residents access entitled support and improve financial stability.
B. Reducing Social Isolation
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e Crescendo Community Choir — promoting social connection, mental wellbeing, and participation through group singing.
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e Evergreens Women's Group — providing weekly social sessions for older women to foster friendships and reduce loneliness.
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¢ Blue Butterfly Theatre Group — supporting children and building confidence through drama, creativity, and community involvement.
C. Supporting Health & Wellbeing
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¢ Holistic Mums - Mother & Toddler Mental Health Support Group — helping mothers build resilience, peer support networks, and positive bonding with their children.
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e Arthritis UK West Belfast Support Group — hosting space for members living with arthritis to receive peer support, information, and wellbeing sessions.
D. Community Education & Skills Development
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¢ GCSE Maths and English Afterschool Revision Classes — supporting local young people to improve academic outcomes.
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¢ Nutrition and Cookery Classes — equipping residents with practical skills to improve dietary health and reduce household costs.
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° Craft Classes — including jewellery-making, candle-making, and wreath-making, Promoting creativity and skills development.
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° Christ the Redeemer Primary School — Community Outreach Cookery Classes — supporting children and families with low-cost cooking and nutritional knowledge.
E. Community Engagement and Environmental Improvements
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¢ Housing Community Network Meetings — representing community concerns on ‘housing, maintenance, and allocations.
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e Colin Environmental Sub-Committee Meetings — advocating for environmental improvements and sustainability projects in the area.
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¢ Consultation Survey to All Homes in Lagmore —a full-community survey issued to ¢ every household to gather priorities, concerns, and suggestions to guide future planning. Meeting Local Councillors — advocating for environmental improvements, road safety, community services, and investment in the Lagmore area.
F. Family and Community Support
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¢ Colin Area Contact Centre — Parent/Child Supervised Visits — facilitating safe, supported visits to maintain family connections.
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e Christ the Redeemer Primary School — Communion After-Service Celebration — supporting families during an important milestone with a community-based celebration event.
G. Capacity Building & Community Development
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° Assisting Glencairn Women’s Group with preparation of a business case for a new community centre.
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¢ General Capacity Building Work — supporting local groups, volunteers, and residents to develop leadership, governance, and project skills.
5. Public Benefit Statement
The trustees confirm that all activities during the year meet the public benefit requirement as outlined by the Charity Commission NI.
Lagmore Community Forum's work directly delivered identifiable public benefit through:
- e Reducing poverty via advice and targeted support e Reducing social isolation through groups and community activities e Improving health through mental health, wellbeing, and physical health programmes ¢ Improving the local environment through committee engagement and resident advocacy
6. Achievements and Performance
Highlights include:
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Successful delivery of multiple community groups, education programmes, and wellbeing initiatives
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¢ Growth in participation across choir, mental health groups, and family programmes
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e Strengthened partnerships with schools, councils, and health-related organisations ¢ Completion of a community-wide survey to ensure our work aligns with resident priorities ¢ Increased demand for housing and welfare support services
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e Support to external groups such as Glencairn Women’s Group with capacity and development planning
7. Financial Review
- e Total Income: £[Insert] e Total Expenditure: £[Insert]
The charity prepared its accounts in line with the Commission’s accounting and reporting requirements, which vary depending on income thresholds.
Reserves Policy
Lagmore Community Forum aims to maintain reserves of £[Insert] to ensure operational stability.
8. Risk Management
Key risks included:
- e Rising demand for poverty-related support e Funding insecurity e Volunteer capacity challenges
Trustees reviewed risks throughout the year and put in place mitigation measures, consistent with the Commission's expectations for good governance and monitoring.
9. Future Plans
In the coming year, Lagmore Community Forum intends to:
- e Further develop poverty reduction programmes e Expand mental health and community wellbeing groups e Strengthen environmental projects ¢ Continue capacity building for local groups e Enhance community education opportunities, including cookery, craft, academic support e Improve advocacy efforts for local infrastructure and community investment
10. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
Trustees acknowledge their legal responsibility to:
- e Maintain appropriate accounting records e Prepare annual accounts e Submit annual reports and accounts to the Charity Commission NI in line with statutory requirements.
Approval
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This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on:
Date: +) q Prey od.Ss
Signed:arrears Oh AWA SV AM7 elVE nena
Chairperson \
Trustee se,ana 7.Cry.;
TeenseeR
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