The Drummond Centre Project Ltd
Chairperson’s Report
April 2022-March 2023
I’m delighted to be able to present our annual report for year ending March 2023. This has been a busy year for volunteers, committee and the youth club members with COVID restrictions being lifted and getting many of our activities up and running again within the Centre.
The junior youth club meets every Monday night between 6:30pm-7:30pm. There is 41 youth club members attending regularly. The activities include arts & crafts, football, cookery and many games that the children just love to play with their friends.
The senior drop in club meets every Monday night between 7:45pm – 9:00pm. There are 28 senior members attending regularly. The activities include football, games and cookery. These young people are able to access the internet and computers for support with their homework, if necessary.
In Summer 2022, we working in collaboration with Dennett Interchange in hosting a week long programme of activities for primary school children. 62 children enjoyed many activities including football, cricket, arts & crafts, games, cookery and an outing to Rosepark Fun Farm. This was funded by Derry & Strabane Police & Community Safety Partnership to provide diversionary activities for children during the summer.
We have managed to secure a number of different funding streams during the year which has really supported and provided a wealth of resource for our small centre.
We secured £1,007.23 from DEARA Rural Micro Capital Grants scheme to purchase an outdoor notice board and two PS 5s for children to play with when in the centre. The outdoor notice boards provide a connection with the wider community as we strive to promote the activities we provide to children and young people within the community.
SSE Renewables Community fund provided £2,500 towards the costs of additional equipment for the youth club. This funding was used to update office and storage equipment within the centre and allow us to continue to meet needs identified within our community.
In February 2023, we were delighted to secure £5,500 towards the costs of equipment for the centre including water pumps, boiler, pool table and general office resources. This funding was secured from Groundwork Northern Ireland, ESB Fund application.
The NIHE funded the group £4,841 towards the costs of a family fun day, volunteers recognition event and an intergenerational project. This funding allowed us to bring families together from across the Sperrin District which was fabulous; reducing isolation and building relationships between parents, grandparents, carers and children.
In September 2022 we organised a bonus ball to raise funds for the youth club, £195 was raised and was very helpful in starting up young club after the summer break in 2022.
The group were delighted to be recognised nationally at the Pride of Place awards which took place in Killarney in May 2022. The community resilience award recognised the Project as an award winning group from across Ireland. We, Youth Club, made enormous contributions to the community through the pandemic by volunteering and supporting residents and the wider community.
We have finally been successful in securing the support of Education Authority to provide a staff and cross community programme to the children and young people aged 8-24 years. This has been a great achievement for the community as we have lobbied for a similar project throughout the years.
This work would not be possible without the support and generous contribution from our volunteers who give their time and skills to support us daily. The work is invaluable in providing the children of this rural community the opportunity to come together in a friendly manner to reduce isolation and promote better relationships across the village and rural community.
Thank you everyone for your time and support.
Margaret McLaughlin
Chairperson
11 January 2024