An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin
Annual Report & Statement of Accounts
For the Year to 30th September 2023
Annual Report for the year September 30th 2023
The trustees of Irish language Parent and Toddler community group, An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin, are pleased to submit their report and accounts for the period 1[st] October 2022 to September 30[th] 2023.
Achievements and Performance
The Year in Numbers
Years promoting the use and learning of Irish in the locality: 12
Management Committee meetings between 1[st] October 2022 -30[th] September 2023
Members of the public served: 240
Guest Speakers: 2
Surplus for the year: £1,287.49
Meeting Programme
An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin’s (hereafter referred to as An Grúpa) Management Committee meets once a quarter throughout the year with the exception of July and August.
Events, Programmes and Activities
Weekly activities:
An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin organises a weekly Parent and Toddler Group through Irish in Bryansford Hall. The Group is attended by approximately 17 adults and 20 children each week. The group lasts between 10.00am-11.30am each week. The parent and Toddler group costs £2.50 per family each week to attend.
The Weekly group includes an art & craft table;
Free play;
A healthy snack for the children;
A healthy snack for the adults;
One-to-one play with the fluent Irish language assistants. Examples: jig-saws, building blocks, playing shops etc;
A story time session;
A Rhyme-Time session and sing along
Seasonal Activities:
Halloween party
The Grúpa is visited each November by the P1 teacher of the local Bunscoil/Irish language primary school, Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche along with a number of the P7 students
Christmas Party with visiting elf and gifts
The Grúpa pays a visit to the local Naíscoil/Irish language pre-school for special joint events such as visiting reptiles etc
Easter egg search
End of year Annual Picnic in local Bunscoil/Irish language Primary school grounds
Community Out-Reach:
The Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin advertises events coordinated by the local Irish language community group, Glór Uachtar Tíre.
Group Structure
An Grúpa generally has a committee of five members who meet each quarter.
An Grúpa is run weekly by three people who are paid by grants obtained from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Accommodation
An Grúpa hires Byransford Hall from the Parish of Maghera for its weekly group. The rent is paid out of the grants obtained from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Financial Review
Financial Performance
Financial performance in the year to September 2023 has been broadly consistent with the trustee’s forecasts and expectations; An Grúpa has a small surplus of income. An Grúpa has managed not to get into debt due to a grant from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council plus financial support provided by the local Irish language group, Glór Uachtar Tíre which provides loans when the account has cash-flow problems. These loans are always recorded, members of both community organisations’ committee members are informed of the loans and they are always duly repaid.
Income
£11,525.90
Expenditure
£ 10,238.41
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Name
An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin
Charity Number Registered Charity in Northern Ireland
NIC106790-0
Principal Address
Dún Éigse/The Lodge,
1 Dublin Rd
Castlewellan Co Down, BT31 9DG
Charity Trustees as of September 30th 2023
Sinead Doyle - Chairman
Edel Dogherty- Treasurer
Emer O’Hagan - Secretary
Alice Lundy – Grants Officer
Structure, Governance, and Management
Governing Document and Constitution
The Society is a charity and is governed by a constitution adopted January 2011 this is publicly available at from the Glór Uachtar Tíre office in Castlewellan. The Society is run entirely by its Management Committee who meet quarterly to manage it. The group employs two people on a part-time, temporary basis to run An Grúpa each week. The weekly patent and toddler group is supported by the local Irish Language Development Officer. An grúpa has a rota of 5 volunteers who help out weekly.
Trustee Selection and Management
Trustees or members of the Management Committee are adopted solely on the basis of a vote at the groups’ AGM as outlined in An Grúpa’s constitution.
Objectives and Activities
Charitable Objects
The object of GUT as set out in our Constitution is the following
The purpose of the group is to provide a regular meeting place for parents/ carers of young children, Mums-to-be and to provide fun activities for the children all through the medium of the Irish language in an informal environment.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees of An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin confirm that they have had regard to the NI Charity Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
The public benefit requirement has informed the activities of An Grúpa in the year to September 2023. In evaluating public benefit the trustees note that membership of An Grúpa is open to all who share an interest in pre-school development and the Irish language. Whilst we would encourage those with interest to join our ranks we also strive to make our services and facilities available to those with no back ground in Irish.
The direct benefits which flow from our object or purpose includes increasing the opportunity for locals to experience play and learning through Irish for their children and for the parents/carers themselves. The parents/carers get the opportunity to introduce their children to a new language and An Grúpa is often the first step for a parent considering educating their children through Irish. Regarding the benefits to the children, all the research shows that bilingualism has cogitative benefits for children.
These benefits are demonstrated by the fact that An Grúpa has been taking place successfully since 2011 and that the group is growing in numbers each year.
Additionally, the benefits are demonstrated through feedback An Grúpa receives in our event feedback forms from Parents and Carers.
The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. An Grúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin’s beneficiaries includes the general population living within south east Down including Newcastle, Castlewellan, Dundrum, Clough, Hilltown, Rathriland, Ballyward and the surrounding areas. A private benefit to trustees may arise from our programme of ongoing training programmes. Through this training trustees may gain skills and experience which are transferable to other settings such as FirstAid etc. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries.
Approved, adopted and signed on behalf of the Management Committee.
Sinead Doyle (Chairperson)
Annex 1
Accounts for the Year ended 30th September 2023
| Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | Cuntas An Ghrúpa Tuismitheoirí agus Tachráin: 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2022-30ú Meán Fómhair 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dáta | Uimhir Admháil/ Receipt No |
Uimhir an tseic/ Cheque No |
soláthair /an té lenar íocadh an seic/ Recipient |
Cur síoc ar an chaitheachas/Foinse/ Description |
Amach: Méid/ Amount Out |
Isteach: Meid/ Amount In |
Méid Fágtha/ Balance |
| Meán Fómhair '22 | 146.73 | ||||||
| Deireadh Fómhair 2022 | |||||||
| 18.10.22 | 1 | 386 | 130 | 16.73 | |||
| Samhain 2022 | |||||||
| 17.11.22 | 2 | Foras na Gaeilge | Deontas; Scéim Imeactaí Óige '21-22 |
1750 | 1766.73 | ||
| 18.11.22 | 3 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Áisíocaíocht | 1150 | 2916.73 | ||
| 24.11.22 | 4 | 388 | Michelle McAleenan |
Obair Átha Bhriain | 135 | 2781.73 | |
| 24.11.22 | 5 | 391 | Michelle McAleenan |
Obair Átha Bhriain | 90 | 2691.73 | |
| Nollaig 2022 | |||||||
| 07.12.22 | 6 | 389 | H. A,LesleyCo | Árachas | 219.71 | 2472.02 | |
| 16.12.22 | 7 | Foras na Gaeilge | Deontas; Scéim Imeactaí Óige '22-'23 |
1750 | 4222.02 | ||
| 21.12.22 | 8 | 392 | Michelle McAleenan |
Obair Átha Bhriain | 225 | 3997.02 | |
| Eanáir 2023 | |||||||
| 13.01.23 | 9 | 395 | Michelle McAleenan |
Obair Átha Bhriain | 135 | 3862.02 | |
| 14.01.23 | 10 | Airgead tirim | Táille doirse | 50 | 3912.02 | ||
| Feabhra 2023 | |||||||
| Márta 2023 | |||||||
| 01.03.23 | 11 | 394 | Aidan Crealey | Cumann Siúlóide | 40 | 3872.02 |
| 14.03.23 | 12 | 401 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Áisíocaíocht fá choinne teagascóirí ag Uachtar an Uachtar fá choinne deontais FnaG |
2504.7 | 1367.32 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.03.23 | 13 | 402 | Michelle McAleenan |
Obair Átha Bhriain | 135 | 1232.32 | |
| 28.03.23 | 14 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Iascacht sealadach | 1500 | 2732.32 | ||
| 28.03.23 | 15 | 398 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Aisíoc ó dheontas an Chomhairle: Cíos na Bunscoile ag an Scéim Samhraidh |
500 | 2232.32 | |
| 28.03.23 | 16 | 399 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Aisíoc ó dheontas an Chomhairle: Beirt ag obair agan Scéim Samhraidh |
500 | 1732.32 | |
| 28.03.23 | 17 | 400 | Greenhill YMCA | Imeacht Obair Óige | 342 | 1390.32 | |
| 28.03.23 | 18 | 403 | Frances Small | Obair Átha Bhriain | 45 | 1345.32 | |
| 30.03.23 | 19 | 407 | Sport NI | Imeacht Obair Óige | 748 | 597.32 | |
| 31.03.23 | 20 | 405 | Aidan Crealey | Cumann Siúlóide | 80 | 517.32 | |
| Aibreán 2023 | |||||||
| 03.04.23 | 21 | 409 | Predator Games | Imeacht Obair Óige | 414 | 103.32 | |
| 04.04.23 | 22 | 390 | Aidan Crealey | Cumann Siúlóide | 50 | 53.32 | |
| 25.04.23 | 23 | Airgead tirim | Táille doirse | 40 | 93.32 | ||
| Bealtaine 2023 | |||||||
| 04.05.23 | 24 | Conradh na Gaeilge |
Deontas Seachtain na Gaeilge |
686.83 | 780.15 | ||
| 15.05.23 | 25 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Aisíocaocht as an iasacht sealadach |
1500 | 2280.15 | ||
| 16.05.23 | 26 | 416 | Caoimhe Connor | Acalí Abú Ceannaire Sléibhte |
150 | 2130.15 |
| 17.05.23 | 27 | 410 | Michelle McAleenan |
An Grúpa Átha Bhriain (Márta & Aibreán) |
180 | 1950.15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.05.23 | 28 | 413 | Aidan Rodgers | Aclaí Abú Ceannaire | 213.75 | 1736.4 | |
| 24.05.23 | 29 | 412 | BaribreQuinn | Áth Bhriain | 90 | 1646.4 | |
| 26.05.23 | 30 | 415 | Áine Nic Luirg | Aclaí Abú Cúntóir | 431.25 | 1215.15 | |
| Meitheamh 2023 | |||||||
| 09.06.23 | 31 | DD | Bainc Uladh | Taillí Bainc | 10 | 1205.15 | |
| 12.06.23 | 32 | Newry Mourne and Down District Council |
Deontas: Gaeilge | 2979 | 4184.15 | ||
| 20.06.23 | 33 | Michelle McAleenan |
Áth Bhriain | 135 | 135 | 4049.15 | |
| 21.06.23 | 34 | 419 | BaribreQuinn | Áth Bhriain | 135 | 3914.15 | |
| 21.06.23 | 35 | 420 | Helen Leckey | Áth Bhriain | 180 | 3734.15 | |
| 21.06.23 | 36 | 423 | Aidan Crealey | Cumann Siúlóide | 90 | 3644.15 | |
| 26.06.23 | 37 | 425 | Máire Scullion | An Seisiun Amhránaíochta | 60 | 3584.15 | |
| 27.06.23 | 38 | 422 | Parish of Magera | Cíos Átha Bhriain | 245 | 3339.15 | |
| 27.06.23 | 39 | 426 | Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche |
Cíos an Chlós: An Picnic Mór |
130 | 3209.15 | |
| Iúil '23 | |||||||
| 13.07.23 | 40 | Airgead tirim | Táille doirse | 120.07 | 3329.22 | ||
| 13.07.23 | 41 | 397 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Áiseanna an Ghrúpa: íoctar 80% den micro- grant DEARA |
140 | 3189.22 | |
| 20.07.23 | 42 | 418 | Frances Small | Obair Átha Bhriain | 45 | 3144.22 | |
| 20.07.23 | 43 | 427 | Glór Uachtar Tíre | Áisíocaíócht fá choinne airgead ar iasacht ar an 15.05.23 |
1500 | 1644.22 | |
| Lúnasa '23 | |||||||
| 07.08.23 | 44 | 428 | Máire Scullion | An Seisiun Amhránaíochta | 30 | 1614.22 | |
| 07.08.23 | 45 | 430 | Máire Scullion | An Seisiun Amhránaíochta | 30 | 1584.22 |
| Meán Fómair ‘23 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08.09.2023 | 46 | 417 | Predator Games | Imeacht: Club Óige | 150 | 1434.22 | |
| Total | £10,238.41 | £11,525.90 |