2024-03-31-annual-report - Lislea Community Association

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LISLEA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT 01 APRIL 2023– 31 MARCH 2024

This is the Lislea Community Association (LCA) annual report for the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

ACTIVITIES HELD DURING THE YEAR:

Bootcamp exercise sessions took place each Saturday during the year with an average attendance of 11 people at each session.
Children’s Dance-Drama (Jo’s Dance) classes were held on Mondays and Saturdays during the year with an average attendance of 50 children at each class. Twelve Children’s Hip-Hop, Art and Puppet sessions were also held on Wednesdays during the year with an average attendance of 25 children at each one. Jo’s Dance-Drama summer camp was held from 05/07/23 – 07/07/23, with 20 children attending each day. The children also put on an excellent show on 27 and 28/10/23 attended by 85 people per day.
Yoga - Mindful Movement sessions were held weekly throughout the year. The classes were attended by 8 - 14 adults - average 10 per class.
Ballet/Dance classes were held weekly throughout the year, with an average attendance of 14 per class.
The “More than Words Autism Support Group” held 8 sessions, in the Community Centre, attended by an average of 20 per session. The Barnardos Junior Group also held 2 sessions attended by 26 people per session.
A Summer Family Fun Day was held on Sunday 09/07/23 with 23 adults and 63 children attending. The children were entertained by a Magician, balloon maker and a bouncy Castle was erected in the Community garden. The event ended with a barbeque followed by ice-cream for all. The weather stayed dry for the afternoon and the children thoroughly the event.
The Lislea annual road bowls competition was held from Wednesday 09/08/23 to Friday 11/08/23 with an average attendance of 21 people per night. A barbeque took place at the Community Centre on the final night and the “Tony O’Reilly “ Perpetual Cup was presented to the winners Oliver Gribben and Reilly McCourt.
LCA held a surprise party and presentation night on 29/08/23 for Fr Peter McAnenly, Armagh Cathedral Parish Administrator, who was leaving to take up a new appointment in Carrickmore. Fr Peter attended many enjoyable functions in Lislea Community Centre and worked closely with the Directors when the Lease agreement, for the Community Centre, was being drawn up.
A Treasure Hunt, around the Lislea/Keady area, was held on 03/09/23 followed by a barbeque back at the Community Centre. This enjoyable event was attended by 64 people.

A series of six Sewing workshops were held during the period 07/09/23 – 12/10/23, attended by an average of 8 people per workshop.
LCA ran a project entitled “Mind your Health – Get Active” during the period 18/10/23 – 15/12/23. The project was funded by The PHA CLEAR Project and facilitated by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Activities included: Six Art workshops with an average of 11 people at each workshop; Four guided nature walks in Forests/Parks/Community gardens ending with a picnic for 13 people; Two children’s bird box making workshops for 24 people; a floral Art workshop for 10 people and a Christmas wreath making workshop for 12 people.
The November Mass, for deceased members of the Lislea Community, took place on Thursday 23/11/23 with 63 people attending. Light refreshments were served after the Mass providing an opportunity for people to socialise with friends and neighbours.
This year’s Christmas Lights Switch on event took place on Sunday 03/12/23. The switch on ceremony was performed by Willie Nugent. Over the afternoon 85 children and 35 adults attended the event. Father Christmas also paid a visit to the children and gave each child a selection box.
The annual Christmas dinner was held on Friday 08/12/23 with 43 people attending. A lovely three course meal was served and a dance was held after the dinner.

THURSDAY GARDENING GROUP:

The Thursday Gardening Group continued their weekly meetings throughout the year with an average attendance of 8 people per week. Members worked on planting out this year’s fruit and vegetables in the poly tunnel and outdoor vegetable beds.
LCA obtained £250 worth of flowers and plants, via the ABC Small Floral Grant Scheme, in July 2023 and the Gardening Group planted them in the Community gardens creating a lovely colourful display for the summer and autumn months.
25 members of The Westenders Grow Group visited the Community gardens on 19/07/23 to see the vegetable, fruit and flower displays. LCA members gave a talk on gardening/flower growing and a demonstration on potting plants. The visitors were very impressed with the selection of vegetables, fruit and flowers grown there and were delighted to receive a bag of produce each to take home with them.
A group of 18 people from The Eden Project spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Community Gardens on 31/08/23. They were very impressed with the range of produce grown in the raised beds and polytunnel.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) held their end of summer celebration event at Lislea Community Centre and gardens on 31/08/23. 50 people from 7 gardening groups attended the event and all had entries in the competition events. LCA Thursday Gardening group members were delighted to win four prizes for their

entries. A very enjoyable evening ended with a barbeque and salad bar for all in attendance.

Keep Northern Beautiful Green flag award 2023: LCA Thursday Gardening Group entered for this competition in March 2023. The judges visit to the gardens took place on 11/05/23 and recommended the group for the Green flag award. Four LCA representatives attended the award ceremony in Killeavy Castle on 24/07/23 to receive their green flag award and certificate.

• PRIVATE PARTIES/EVENTS HELD IN LISLEA COMMUNITY CENTRE:

During the programme year, members of the Lislea Community used the Centre for five Children’s birthday parties/First Communion parties with an average of 26 people attending. An after funeral meal was also held with 75 people attending.

On 04/07/23 and 16/07/23, the Community Centre was turned into a very colourful nightclub filled with dancers for the recording of Kiera Dignan’s music video.

MEETINGS LCA/OTHER GROUPS IN LISLEA COMMUNITY CENTRE:

LCA Executive Committee held 10 monthly meetings during the programme year and the LCA Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 29/11/23.
The Westenders Ukulele Group held seven practice sessions, in the Centre, during the period 25/07/23 to 10/10/23 with an average of 25 people at each session.
The Tynan and Armagh Point to Point Race Committee held nine meetings in the Centre, during the year with 14 people attending each meeting.
Callan Productions Drama Group held 10 practice sessions in the Community Centre with an average of 18 people attending each session. The Group then staged their production “The Greatest Show – Armagh” in The Armagh Market Place Theatre.

CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

LCA held a fun bingo afternoon on 26/11/23 with 90 people attending. The proceeds from the event along with private contributions (final total £2,000) were donated to two local families who lost a parent/parents in tragic circumstances in the previous month.

COMMITTEE FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES:

During this financial year, the following fund-raising initiatives took place:

Annual £5 monthly draw : The £5 monthly draw for the 2023/24 year was held. There were 111 members in this years’ draw and the monthly prizes were: £100 1[st] prize, £50 2[nd] prize and a one off prize of £60 for fully paid up members. The net income from the draw was approximately £4,800.

FUNDING RECEIVED FROM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS:

During this programme year, LCA submitted a number of applications to various funding programmes and received awards as follows:

ABC (FAP) Call 1 - Core running costs 2023/24 : £ 2,000 received for 2023/24 financial year.
ABC (FAP) Kings Coronation Grant - £399 received for LCA “Fun Day” on Sunday 09/07/23.
ABC (FAP) Call 2 - £300 received for “6 sewing workshops for 10 people” 07/09/23 to 12/10/23.
ABC (FAP) Call 3 – Christmas Lights Switch on event 03/12/23 . £375 funding received for the cost of selection boxes, a replacement Santa costume, Christmas decorations and tablecovers/napkins.
ABC Small Floral Grant Scheme 2023 :- LCA received £250 worth of flowers/shrubs for planting at the Community Centre in July 2023.
PHA CLEAR project 2023-2024: LCA were awarded £2,570 for project “Mind your Health – Get Active”. £2,315 was for the activities outlined earlier in this report and £255 to purchase 15 table coverings for use in the Community Centre. 80% of the funding (£2056) was paid in 2023/24 programme year with the remaining 20% (£514) to be paid in the 2024/2025 financial year on the successful completion of the project.

ALL ISLAND IPB PRIDE OF PLACE – RUNNERS UP AWARD 2023:

Armagh city, Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council ran this competition in conjunction with Cooperation Ireland IPB Pride of Place 2023 and final judging was on an allIreland basis. LCA entered in the “creative place” category and despite stiff competition, were one of the three entrants selected, by ABC Borough Council, to go forward to the All Island stage of the competition. A lot of time and effort went into preparing the oral/visual presentations and setting up the exhibits to showcase the Community Centre and gardens to the judges. The “Pride of Place” awards ceremony was held in Armagh City Hotel on 10 November. The six LCA representatives, who attended, were honoured to receive the “Runners Up” award on behalf of the Group. Bearing in mind that LCA was competing against Cities, Towns and Villages, on an All-Island basis, winning the “Runners Up” award was a momentous achievement for the Group . The award included funding of £430, to be spent as decided by the Group. Consideration is being given to purchasing a wall mounted display cabinet to showcase the Groups’ awards.

SUMMARY:

This has been another successful year for Lislea Community Association. Undoubtedly the outstanding event was receiving the “runners up award” in the All Island Pride of place competition.

During the year the Committee members have continued to work hard to maintain the Community Centre and provide a varied programme of activities for the people of Lislea and its environs. The Thursday Gardening Group have also done a splendid job in keeping the Community garden and flower beds looking magnificent all year round.

I thank all the Committee members/volunteer workers and the Thursday Gardening Group for their hard work, dedication and commitment during this programme year.

Sheila McCreesh: Date: 27/10/24