LDDG.Y tter5handoney and Developmen rict Trustees Re ort- Financial Year Ended 31 March 2023 Charity Name: Lettershandoney and District Development Group Charity Number: NIC 106081 Principal Address". 32 Lettershandoney Avenue, Lettershandoney, BT47 3HY The Management Committee presents this report together with its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2023. Trustees The following individuals served as trustees during the financial year 2022/23: Denis Harkin {Chair); Oliver McGlinchey (Vice-chair); Elizabeth Deans (Treasurer). Matthew Bradley; Noleen O, Hara; Theresa Madden. The following individuals were serving trustees on the date the report was approved: Martin Mccartney (Chair); Oliver McGlinchey (Vice-chair); Feldhlim O'Neill (Treasurer); Kat Healy (Secretary); Matthew Bradley. Public Benefit In line with its Stated objectives and aims, the trustees affirm that the charity is undertaking activities which provide public benefit to those who avail of its services and have due regard for the public benefit requirement.
Ob ectives and Aims Lettershandoney and District Development Group is constituted to promote the welfare and wellbeing of the residents of Lettershandoney and surrounding rural areas through the provision of services and resources that might otherwise be centralised in larger urban communities, It further aims to embed the principles of community development within the area and its provision. Lettershandoney and District is governed by a constitution, signed 4 February 2020, and containing the following purposes: The Association is established so as to promote the benefit of the inhobitonts of Lettershandoney and District (hereinafter described a5 'the area,) without any distinction being made for Gge, sex, r¢7ce, political, religious or other opinions or beliefs by associating the local authorities, voluntary organisations and the inhabitant5 of the area in o common purpose to improve the environment, focilities and other matters in the interest5 of social welfare and generolly to improve the standt7rd of life for all the inhabitants within the area. Main activitles and achievements Throughout the fi'nancial year, Lettershandoney and District Development Group continued delivery and coordination of its three-year project Breathe funded by The Big Lottery Community Fund. This programme centred on developing capacity and support networks within local communitie5 and reestablishing relationships and community provision disrupted by the COVID19 pandemic. It featured a range of events and activities including exercise and educational classes, health and wellbeing sessions, Satellite services, youth and early years provision, and programm ing for older people including luncheon club and social activities. The project was further responsible for seasonal events, summer schemes, and community fun days across a wider rural cluster area including Lettershandoney, Goshaden, and Ardmore, Through these activities the organisation was able to provide vital services to residents across a wide rural area with beneficial outcomes evident across a range of areas such as health, wellbeing, social cohesion, and education. 2022123 represented the final year of the employability project Skills Northwest. This innovative, council wide programme focused on providing employment support and training focused on those excluded from the labour market or caught in cycles of worklessness andlor poverty. LDDG continued to operate as a partner hub for this project throughout the year, ensuring that the valuable service remained accessible to those within the Faughan area and that participants could continue to be offered vital educational support and training. Unfortunately, with the loss of European funding, this project concluded in March 2023 signalling a drastic reduction in staffi'ng and resources for our organisation. LDDG was also involved in several smaller projects in this period. As a partner hub we participated in two projects led by the Rural Area Partnership in Derry. These were.. CHILD, a project that helped rural families to deal with transition or crises through providing support infrastructure and reducing the isolation of parents and children in rural settings- and a social prescribing project that delivered
bespoke support and referrals to residents in the Lettershandoney and rural district area. With support for Derry City and Strabane Council, LDDG also offered weekly youth provision, a community allotment project, and physical and mental health-based programming that provided a wealth of benefits for residents. Similarly, support from NIHE allowed for a range of community-based services and provision to continue from our base in the Mullabuoy Centre ensuring continuity to participants, Thanks The Management Committee wish to offer thanks to the following partners and funders who assisted our work throughout this period: The National Lottery; European Social Fund/Department for Economy,. Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Derry City and Strabane District Council; Rural Area Partnership in Derry; DAERA; The Education Authority; and Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership. We also extend our sincere thanks to our volunteers and staff whose work was instrumental to the successes of the organisation. This report was approved by trustees on the 12th of February 2024. Chairperson Print name