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2021-12-31-annual-report

Annual Report 2021 - 2022

Trustees

Helen Armstrong Tony Armstrong Pauline O’Kane Siobhan Kearney Pauline O’Reilly Colin Buick Lorraine Moon Joanne Cleary

Contact Address

7 Beechland Drive, Clady Portglenone, BT44 8NJ

Portglenone Paddlers was registered as a Charity with the NI Charity Commission on 31 January 2019 and operate under their constitution adopted on 30 August 2018. The aims and objectives of the Club are to promote and provide amateur paddlesport opportunities to all interested people of Portglenone and beyond by providing coaching and competitive or recreational opportunities, whilst ensuring a duty of care to all members of the club. In furtherance of the above objectives the Club is committed to treating everyone equally regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, or beliefs. The Club is affiliated to the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland (CANI) and incorporates its rules and regulations

In order to carry out the purposes of the Club, the Committee have the power to:

MAIN ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC BENEFIT

Once again 2021 proved to be a challenging year for Portglenone Paddlers. We continued to do the best we could given the circumstances to provide easy access by the people of Portglenone and surrounding rural areas to local amateur paddle sports.

Charity Commission Registration Number: NIC107195

Covid regulations and Club safety protocols limited the number of times we were able to paddle but we did manage to get on the water 16 times during the year with 68 people benefitting. On these journeys we supported these people to access the water for the benefit of their good mental health.

Participants again reported to us that being out, socially distanced, with other people was a major factor in improving how they were feeling during and post lockdown, where people had felt isolated and alone. They also felt that as a result of being out together, community connections strengthened.

On each journey we provided participants with the opportunity to develop paddling skills which will enable them to enjoy safe recreational water activity – we were unable to engage in competitive water activities.

This year in particular, when we were out, we ensured that all members enjoyed water activity in a safe and caring environment with our Covid Protocols, Risk Assessment and the guidance we gave people during this time.

We ensured that our Club Members were safe when out on the water, being fully aware that this activity does present risks but by using qualified instructors and by following CANI (Canoe Association NI) guidelines. We implemented a rigorous Health and Safety Policy and routinely carry out Risk Assessments which together allow us to minimise the risk associated with paddle sports.

Portglenone Paddlers has 22 active Members, but this has been a very difficult year due to the lockdown as a result of COVID 19. Our operating environment had brought people together to paddle and develop their skills on the water.

As regulations changed throughout the year, we made the most of this, and organised for our Paddlers to get out on the water – but once again, due to Covid and the ongoing uncertainty our hopes of growing our Membership and training more people as Instructors and Coaches was put on hold. Having consulted with our Members we can hopefully grow the Club and have more frequent outings and train more Instructors to make up for the disappointment of this year.

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS

We managed to provide sessions for Paddlers to get out on the water – which was hugely positive.

The Committee still met monthly via Zoom and continued to review our COVID Risk Assessment for the club, COVID Protocols, and continued to make sure that hand sanitizers were in place and used by Paddlers.

We recognised that it was a very difficult year for the Club members and as we were unable to meet in person, we kept our social media channels active to encourage people to engage in a positive way. Our Club ‘WhatsApp’ Group was incredibly active especially during lockdown and as we began to open up.

Charity Commission Registration Number: NIC107195

Portglenone Paddlers, in normal times, has hugely benefitted the people of Portglenone and surrounding rural areas with access to paddle sports, building skills and of course new friendships. We will continue to develop and reaffirm these skills and the joy we have when we are out on the water together. We know that this project brings so much public benefit to participants as we bring people together, reduce isolation and focus on the 5 Steps to Wellbeing – this massively contributes towards the wellbeing of our Members and their families. We look forward to a renewed focus on this as we begin to emerge out of lockdown, safely and managed in a way that protects everyone.

We now have six sit on top kayaks, four touring kayaks, five Canadian canoes and sixteen buoyancy aids and we plan to add to our equipment over the coming years.

We are proud of our achievements in this difficult year, and we would like to thank our Funders and Portglenone Enterprise Group who have supported us in our journey.

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At year end 31[st] December 2021 Portglenone Paddlers had a balance of £2444.45 in their current account.

Charity Commission Registration Number: NIC107195