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 TTh￿￿eS from I" April 2023 - 31° March 2024
Dan McEvoy
Macartan Digney
Peter Smyth
Lilian HO￿0X
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
Do￿￿patriCk 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 Do￿￿patriCk 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, DO￿Trpatrick 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 cu￿ent 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