West Winds Development Association: NIC 107208 Trustees Report – Year ended 31[st] March 2024
Charity Name:
West Winds Development Association
Reg No: 107208 Public Address: WWDA Community Office, 47A Shackleton Walk, Newtownards, BT23 4RE
Trustees:
The following served as charity Trustees during the year:
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William Sproule
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Chris Watson
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Denise Davidson
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Joanne Dodds
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Julie McGowan
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Brooke McGowan
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Margaret Spiers
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Melissa Johnston
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Marieanne Johnston
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Rodney Baxter
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Stephen Doherty
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Rosemary Wade
Objectives and Activities:
Our Association (WWDA) is a community development organisation based in the West Winds estate of Newtownards. Our main purpose is "the advancement of citizenship and community development". We work to increase inter-generational understanding, reduce social isolation, support mental health & wellbeing and improve the quality of life for residents of the West Winds estate.
WWDA aims to provide residents the opportunity to engage in projects and programmes which will impact positively on the social, economic, environmental and educational aspects of their life. We run activities for all ages & stages. We also work with statutory and voluntary agencies through the delivery of programmes, and in partnership to address issues important to residents.
We have a community office from which we hold meetings & offer advice services, as well as another base which is used to provide drop-in services, hold regular clubs, for youth provision etc.
West Winds Development Association: NIC 107208 Trustees Report – Year ended 31[st] March 2024
Achievements and Performance:
Throughout the reporting period, WWDA has continued to work to support and improve the lives of residents.
Our regular clubs continued this year, including youth club, environmental group, women’s group. We continue to work in partnership with West Winds Community Church to run a men’s group, hen’s group, warm space and community lunch club.
This year we were able to secure funding from TEO via Planned Intervention Programme funding, which allowed us to deliver a Youth Leadership programme. In conjunction with SPOD funding, this allowed us to support around 40 kids over the Summer months. In particular we worked with a group of older youths on a civic leadership programme, which included site visits to the local Council chamber, Stormont and the Dail, and trips bouldering, paddleboarding etc. This was a very successful initiative, which was delivered in partnership with the PSNI NPT and West Winds Community Church and supported some of the young people to grow their understanding, confidence and skills, encouraging some to take up employment after the programme.
We were able to continue to support resident through the cost-of-living crisis, through food hampers, electric & gas top-ups and ready meals. We were also able to purchase a fridge and stock a community pantry for residents to make use of.
Through Housing Executive funding we were able to develop a new growing space at the rear of the community office, as well as place picnic benches and planters at the front, in the general shop area, helping to brighten the place up and support us to “grow our own” for the community lunch provision.
We continued to engage in the (Ark) Ards Advisory Panel, supporting the delivery of Good Relations activities in Ards alongside other members. This has included participation in Sport Changes Lives activities, including active aging and youth outreach work. We have supported the Primary School to engage with this programme. We also secured £1000 through The Advisory Panel’s Participatory Budgeting Scheme to help fund our Christmas events.
We also delivered a range of seasonal activities, including Summer fun days, Halloween, Christmas and Easter events.
We continue to attend the Housing Executive’s HCN meetings and hold our own Interagency meeting to get updates from agencies on work happening in the estate and raise issues & queries affecting residents.
Financial Review:
The trustees have comprehensive financial procedures in place for the income and expenditure of West Winds Development Association. Spending on activities was carried out as stipulated within funding letters of offer and/or verbal consultation with funder. Management of funding monitored by committee throughout.
Opening Balance: £5745.30 Closing Balance: £4148.86
The main items of expenditure were programme costs for community activities & events, running costs for our community office & drop-in base, support for our regular clubs, costs for youth provision, and seasonal
West Winds Development Association: NIC 107208
Trustees Report – Year ended 31[st] March 2024
events. The main sources of income were through grants received from the Housing Executive (including our regular SPOD funding), Ards & North Down Borough Council, Ark Housing and EANI (TEO PIP funding). We were able to lodge over £1000 via fundraising from tuck shop (youth club) and a donation from a local building supplier.
This has been approved by Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
William Sproule
Chairperson
29[th] February 2025