DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 The trustees of Downpatrick Community Collective are pleased to submit their annual report si and accounts for the period l April 2023 to March 31" 2024. Charity Status Downpatrick Community Collective was awarded Registered Charity Status by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 28 August 2018 - Registered Number1¥41C 107063. Executive Committee (from 1$1 April 202> 31st Mareh 2024) elected AGM 8th February 2024 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 Watt Liam Quinn Conor Holland co-opted onto DCC Executive 20th March 24 (approved through DCC Exec whatsApp). DCC TTheS from I" April 2023 - 31° March 2024 Dan McEvoy Macartan Digney Peter Smyth Lilian HO0X Group Membership As of the 31" March 2024 our DCC membershkp consists of the following groups: Bridge Street and Mount Cresccnt Residents Association (BS&MCRA) Knocknashinna Residents Association (KRA) Meadowlands Community Association (MCA) Model Farn] Community Association (MFCA) Gallaun Residents Association (GRA) Rathkeltair Community Association (RCA) Vianstown Heights Residents Association (VHRA) Ballyalton Community Association (BCA) Hunters Mill Community Association (HMCA) Thomas Russell Park Group (TRPG) Associate Members: Downpatrick Men's Club (DMC)
DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 Membership of Forums DCC continue to meet our main aims and objectives through our representation on the following key forums that operate within the Downpatrick DEA: Downpatrick District Electoral Area Forum Downpatrick 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 31st March 2024 DopatriCk Community Collective's delivered a full calendar of events throughout this reporting period having due regard to current guidance and legislation. DCC delivered all their regular events with the weather & funding being the two key factors that could impact. As ever DCC were delighted to continue their work as one of the main community entities within the greater DopatriCk town 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 platfornis such as Zoom, Teams & Skype and internally our reliance on social media platfornis such as WhatsApp & Facebook private group pages was high. PartnershAP 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.
DOWNPATRICK COMMUIYITY COLLECTIVE TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 Annual events During this reporting period DCC did deliver our main annual public community events including: Annual BBQ beach event 20th August 2023 Culture Night 22nd September 2023 Halloween Festival 31 October 2023 Downpatrick Christmas Light Switch On event - 3rd December 2023 (enhanced by Council through additional Dfc funding awarded to address the devastation caused by flooding at the end of OctlNov 23). Mobile Santa Event 4 December to 8th December 2023 DCC Membership No new groups joined the Collective membership during the period of this report. Main Achievements Projects The Collective continued to deliver against our key aims and objectives, in addition to the annual events detailed above the DCC completed: DCC Executive meetings x4 DCC Events Sub Committee meetings x l (other business confirmed through Whatsapp messages) Other meetings 18 (DEA, Dpk NHR, NIHE HCN. Markets, DOTrpatrick Town Committee, living high streets & Bees) Volunteers engaged x30 DCC continue with our interest in Bees through the Ballyalton Bee group. Our hive survived during the 23-24 season and we hope to have some products during the 24/25 season. Training No fornial training sessions Artisan Market- Downpatrick & Warrenpoint We agreed a 6th Service Level Agreement (SLA) contract with NM&D Council for a period st of one year, ending March 31 2024. This SLA also included the delivery of Newcastle Artisan Market. 44 Artisan Markets were hosted in totsl (Downpatrick xl I, Warrenpoint x I I & Newry xl l & Newcastle xl l ).
DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 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 of Downpatrick 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. Financial Revieiv Financial performance in the year end to March 31" 2024 has been consistent with previous years and despite the impact form the pandemic it has more or less been in line with what trustee, s had forecast and expected. However the devastating flooding that occurred in OctlNov 23 resulted in increased funding to DCC. The year end bank account showed a balance of £20581.00 compared to £12251.00 from the previous year. Detailed accounts can be found further below in this report. Flooding DCC assets were impacted directly by the devastating flooding that occurred on the evening of our annual Halloween event (material stored within the Grove shopping centre and subsequently damaged through the flooding) - DCC insurance claim submitted for losses suffered and an award was made in November 2023. Income Receipts confirni an income of £88,262.00. Aims and Objectives: The Collective was fornied in August 201? 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. The 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 the area of benefit including the promotion and development of Social Enterprise schemes.
DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 (li) Organising or assisting in organising activities & events to promote health and well-being for residents in the area of benefit. (iii) Providing support services, infomiation, education and trnining. (iv) Providing and maintsining a forum where members can come together to find mutual support, exchange views, share common issues and infomiation, create a collective voice. To promote good community relations, religious and racial hamiony, equality and diversity through engagement with local communities and working in partnership with recognised private and statutory bodies. Our current Constitution (8th February 2023) records in more detail our many other aims and objectives. A copy of the cuent constitution is available upon request. Transactions with related parties During the year the collective transacted with the chairn]an 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 ann s length b&sis. Thanks As chairperson, I would like to acknowledge 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 willingness (on a voluntary basis) of members to get involved that the Collective continues to grow as a prominent community organisation within the DowThpatrick and wider area. I would like to acknowledge & record the Collective's thanks to the assistance offered through the CDRCN. qG Dan McEvoy Chairperson Downpatrick Community Collective Date