DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
TRUSTEES REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
The trustees of Downpatrick Community Collective are pleased to submit their annual report
and accounts for the period I" April 2022 to March 31 ' 2023.
Charity Status
Downpatrick Community Collective was awarded Registered Charity Status by the Charity
Commission for Northern Ireland on 28 August 2018 - Registered Number NIC 107063.
Executive Committee (from 151 April 2022- 31st March 2023) elected AGM 8th February
2023
Chairperson:
Treasurer:
Vice Chair:
Secretary:
Ass Secretary:
Events:
Health & Safety:
Ass Events:
Dan McEvoy
Cadogan Enright
Macartan Digney
Susan Casement
Donna M Gill
Deborah Finlay
Jeff Wall
Liam Quinn
DCC Trustees from l April 2022- 31. March 2023
Dan McEvoy
Macartan Digney
Peter Smyth
Lilian Horrox
Group Membership
sl
As of the 31 March 2023 our DCC membership consists of the following groups:
Bridge Street and Mount Crescent Residents Association (BS&MCRA)
Knocknashinna Residents Association (KRA)
Meadowlands Community Association (MCA)
Model Farni Community Association (MFCA)
Gallaun Residents Association (GRA)
Rathkeltair Community Association (RCA)
Vianstowi] Heights Residents Association (VHRA)
Ballyalton Community Association (BCA)
Hunlers Mill Community Association (HMCA)
Thomas Russell Park Group (TRPG)
Associate Members:
Downpatrick Men s Club (DMC)

DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
TRUSTEES REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
Membership of Forums
DCC continue to meet our main aims and objectives through our representation on the
t'ollowing key fonllns that operate within the Downpatrick DEA:
Downpatrick District Electoral Area Fonlln
Dow)patrick Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership
Downpatrick Housing Community Network
Downpatrick Town Committee
In addition to the above local forums our members continue to be involved in various
community planning activities, youth activities and other local initiatives that help to improve
the residential environment including Neighbourhood Watch network.
Year Ending March 2023
The past 12 months (like the previous year} again proved challenging duc to the impact from
the global pandemic - Coronavirus. Do￿￿patriCk Community Collective s calendar of events
was adapted accordingly to ensure compliance with appropriate guidance and legislation.
DCC were still in a position to deliver in part our regular events and continue our work as
one of the main community entities within the greater Downpatrick towi area.
Communication
Downpatrick Community Collective were able to host "in person, member meetings during
the period of this report but also continued with our online platfomis such as Zoom, Teams &
Skype and internally our reliance on social media platforms such as WhatsApp & Facebook
private group pages was high.
Partnership Working
Partnership working continued and the Collective continued to engage with NM&D District
Council, PSNI, NIHE, PCSP, Dfc (NH), on a range of issues that impacted on our member
groups and their respective community areas. These included addressing antisocial behaviour
(ASB) related incidents and assisting with activities related to the bigger statutory body lead
Coronavirus response.
Annual events
During this reporting period DCC did deliver our main annual public community events
including:
Annual BBQ beach event 21" August 2022
Culture Night 23, September 2022
st
Halloween Festival 31 October 2022
Ih
Downpatrick Christmas Light Switch On event- 4 December 2022
Ih
Ih
Mobile Santa Event 5 December to 9 December 2022

DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
TRUSTEES REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
DCC Membership
No new groups joined the Collective membership during the period of this report.
Main Achievements Projects
Despite the continuing restrictions placed on society as a result of the global pandemic, the
Collective continued to deliver against our key aims and objectives, in addition to the annual
events detailed above DCC completed:
DCC Executive meetings x4
DCC Events Sub Committee meetings x 8
Other meetings x23 (DEA, Downpatrick NHR, NIHE HCN, Markets, Downpatrick Town
Committee)
Volunteers engaged x30
DCC continue with our interest in Bees and during the period of this report relocated our hive
to a new location and are now members of the Ballyalton Bee group. Our hive survived
during the 22-23 season and we hope to have some products during the 23/24 season.
Training
DCC members participated in three training events during the period of this report:
First Aid - May 2022
Financial Assistance - Dec 2022
Events Management - Feb 2023
Artisan Market - Downpatrick & Warrenpoint
We agreed a 5th Service Level Agreement contract with NM&D District Council for a period
of one year, ending March 31" 2023.
Artisan Markets x 33 (Downpatrick xl I, Warrenpoint x I l & Newry xl l )
Social Enterprise- Celtair Lodge
No progress was achieved during this reporting period. However, it still remains an objective
of DCC to pursue our social enterprise proposal and where possible to assist in the
regeneration ot" DowTrpatrick Town Centre through the creation of new jobs and through the
partnership's work to increase tourism in the area which in turn will generate a much needed
funding stream to local businesses throughout the local DEA - our proposal will benefit the
whole of our DEA.

DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
TRUSTEES REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
Financial Review
Financial perforn]ance in the year end to March 31 2023 has been consistent with previous
years and despite the impact fomi the pandemic it has been in line with what trustees had
forecast and expected. The year end bank account showed a balance of £12,251 compared to
£16,209 from the previous year. Detailed accounts can be found further below in this report.
si
Accounts show income of £53,500 and expenditure of £55,458 i.e. deficit of £1,958 (2022
deficit £4,480).
Aims and Objectives:
The Collective was fonned in August 2012, when a group of community representatives
came together to try and collectively reduce the continuing rise in the incidents of recorded
Anti-social Behaviour associated with the traditional Halloween bonfire period. Whilst we
still strive to reduce anti-social behaviour, the Collective continues to develop.
Our main aims and objectives are:
l. Th¢ advancement of community development for the public benefit within
the Downpatrick District Electoral Area (DEA), in particular the promotion
of the community and voluntary sector for the benefit of the public by:
(i) Supporting and developing initiatives and projects that strengthen the
community and voluntary sector in charitable activity and seek to improve
the quality of life of the inhabitants of ihe area of benefit including the
promotion and development ot" Social Enterprise schemes.
{ii) Organising or assisting in organising activities & events to promote
health and well-being for residents in the area of benefit.
(iii) Providing support services, inforn]ation, education and training.
(iv) Providing and maintaining a forum where members can come together
to find mutual support: exchange views, shar¢ common issues and
infonnation, create a collective voice.
To promote good community relations, religious and racial harniony,
equality and diversity through engagement with local communities and
working in partnership with recognised private and statutory bodies.

DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
TRUSTEES REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
Our current Constitution (8th February, 2023) records in more detail our many other aims and
objectives. A copy of the current constitution is ai'ailable upoll request.
Transactions with related parties
During the year the Collective transacted with the chainnan and a number of trustees for
work undertaken in the stewarding of events, running the Artisan Market and the supply of
services for collective public events. on an arn] s length basis.
Thanks
As chairperson, I would like to acknow.ledge and record my thanks to every committee
member within the Collective and in particular the officers of the committee. It is only
through the dedication, commitment and ￿'1111ngnesS (on a voluntary basis) of members to get
involved that the Collective continues to grow as a prominent community organisation within
the Downpatrick and wider area.
I would like to acknowledge & record the Collective s thanks to the assistance offered
throug
the CDRCN
p￿TRIc¥
Dan McEvoy
Chairperson
Downpatrick Community Collective