ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT OF MONEYGLASS COMMUNITY CENTRE
January-December 2018
Update on trustees
The trustees for this period up to the AGM on the 21[st] of October were as follows; Michelle Kelly, Thomas McStocker (Chairperson), Des Taggart, Patricia McCoy, Clare McCann, David Griffin (Secretary), Ann Marie McStocker (Treasurer), Sean Kerr, Henry Marron. At the AGM on the 21[st] of October Michelle Kelly, Thomas McStocker, Des Taggart and David Griffin resigned as trustees. Des Taggart was a trustee representing St. Ergnat’s GAC and agreed to identify a volunteer from the GAC to join the charity as a trustee representing the GAC.
Update on activities
The main hall activities and achievements over the past 12 months are as follows; dance classes remain popular every Friday evening with the Allen School of Dancing. The bowling club continue to grow their numbers with practice every Sunday and matches every Sunday afternoon. The annual bowling tournament in September attracted players and teams from all over Ulster. The GAC continue to use the hall to provide a programme of circuit classes to develop on the health benefits gained through past programmes. This class now runs twice a week and has large numbers of people attending. St. Ergnat’s also continued this year to use the hall for indoor training of youth teams during winter months and for fundraising events. Young Doves Youth Club continues to be the main user of the centre, funded by the Education Authority. The youth club completed health projects and provided support for a local village planning initiative. This programme was facilitated by the local Antrim and Newtownabbey borough council that provided an artist to work with local groups. The groups developed an image to represent the area and the resulting artwork is proudly displayed on the front of the centre. The local women’s group continue to hold successful classes and events. This year the community centre has been booked for private functions such as birthday parties and funeral dinners and also has been used by Gemma McMeel drama summer school and CMAC drama on Saturday’s during term time.
This is possible due to the commitment of the trustees and with support from the Antrim and Newtownabbey council funding. The Education Authority also contributes to costs through the youth club. The community centre continues to be a hub for community activity, learning and socialising for people in the Moneyglass, Toome and Duneane areas who enjoy outcomes such as improved mental, physical and social health and wellbeing. We would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of the outgoing trustees.
Update on Finances
The opening balance at January 2018 was £20,925.11 and the closing balance at December 2018 was £18,908.39. Of this closing balance £11184.08 is restricted funds. This is made up of £6244.56 of restricted funds from Diabetes fundraising
events that continues to support local young people with type 1 diabetes in cooperation with the Paediatric Diabetes Team in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. In 2018 this included a residential for young people with Type 1. Funding of £4939.52 from Antrim and Newtownabbey Council is also restricted for maintenance and contribution towards insurance and heat and light as in the Council letter of offer.
The Year Ahead
The Community Centre has strengthened its links with the various groups that use the hall. This included providing a support letter to St. Ergnat’s GAC to help them secure funding for a community hub at the existing GAC site until plans for a new site come to fruition. This highlights the demand for community space in the area and also the Community Centre Charity’s commitment to supporting all the organisations and groups in the area. We aim to develop on this support for all the groups in the area.