MHS Heritage & Culture Ltd .
Reg. Office; 11 Main Street, Maghera, BT46 5AA
Company No NI650654 (Limited by Guarantee)
Trustees’ Annual Report (Incorporating Director’s Report
Year ended 31[st] March 2022.
Aims & Objectives
M H S Heritage & Culture Ltd was established in 2019 as a result of restructuring of the Maghera Historical Society. The new company MHS Heritage & Culture Ltd incorporates Maghera Historical Society. The newly formed company is registered with the NI Charities Commission Reg No NIC107335 and Registry House. NI650654
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a) The purpose of the organisation is to promote awareness of the value and importance of the local history, heritage and culture of the area to the people of Maghera and surrounding districts.
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b) To provide a suitably equipped drop-in centre in the town where people off all ages and capabilities can access information, records, publications, photographs, memorabilia, folk memories and artefacts connected with the town and its people. These can be collected, preserved, displayed and consulted in a venue that is open to the public. This centre will be used to run a programme of events and as a drop-in facility to help address the health and well-being of all, especially the socially isolated, vulnerable, special needs and those with mild or severe disabilities.
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c) To engage and work with the local community in an open and inclusive way involving people from all backgrounds. We will continue to foster and develop cross-community social interaction, pride in the town thus improving quality of life for the residents of the town and the surrounding districts.
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d) To provide a suitably equipped Men’s Shed and Ladies Craft Room for use by anyone from the community to ply their craft in woodworking or metalwork.
During the year 2021/22 we were drastically curtailed with our events and activities because of the Covid 19 pandemic. However we were able to get on with the refurbishing and upgrading of our new premises at 11 Main Street, Maghera. Covid 19 eased somewhat during the early part of 2022 and this allowed us to open our doors once again to the whole community. We were in a position to host a few indoor events, lectures, workshops and seminars. We also welcomed to the area an additional volunteer Dr Seamas Donnelly who with his vast knowledge in all things Irish was able to deliver two very interesting lectures on the translation of place names from English to Irish and this attracted a full house. Our Knit & Natter group has continued to grow and the group now meet twice monthly. The Book Club that meets every month is proving very popular with all ages.
We continued to meet with members and volunteers through Zoom and although not totally satisfactory meant we continued keep in touch with everyone.
Covid did not detract from the support we received from our funders. Our regulars, The National Lottery, supported us with a Covid uplift grant of £9100 as did the Halifax Foundation with a grant of £5900. These funds totalling £15000 was a great help especially at a time when the whole country was in lockdown and businesses were unable to generate any form of income. The Social Enterprise NI very kindly made a grant available to us of £17000 to help compensate for loss of income.
Activities Carried Out
We did survive the battle with Covid and with a reasonably healthy bank account we continued to work on the ground floor refurbishments. This has been completed and now have in place a very warm and welcoming space for the whole community to use as and when they require the facilities. We are now in a position to host meetings and put on events asked for by the local people. An application has been submitted to the Dept of Health for a grant of £164000 to cover core costs, salaries and utilities for a 3 year period. We should have a response to the application in early 2023. A grant application is at present being prepared for submission to the National Lottery (Community
Fund) for help with the completion of the first floor room converting it into an auditorium.
We continue to develop our interaction with other organisations. We are at present diversifying and establishing an educational theme to our organisation, this will be for all ages. This progression will involve bringing together all school principals and vice principals from primary and secondary schools in the South Derry area to discuss the possibility of introducing Leadership Courses and Education about Education to the school curriculum.
The research library and genealogy room have been completed and are immediately positioned next to our exhibition gallery.
Our organisation continues to hold membership of the following organisations; NICVA, CWSAN, Mid Ulster District Council, Social Enterprise NI, Workspace.
An outdoor office has been completed to facilitate private meetings, board meetings, interviews etc. This facility will be available for hire by other similar organisations.
Achievements and Performance,
All activities listed under ‘activities’ were successfully carried by our committee and volunteers in a professional and efficient manner. Our management team remains the same with active Directors; James Armour, John Marquess, Jean Dunne. Co Sec Maeve O’Neill
Financial Review
An overview of our financial position is very clearly documented in our end of year report carried out by Claremount Accountants.
Plans for the Future
Our plans for the future are to develop further and reach out to the wider geographical area and invite more of similar organisations to become involved with Maghera Heritage & Culture who if required would like to give assistance in setting up their own Heritage Centre. ‘Heritage is the Future’
Continue the work on the first floor and develop the area into an auditorium for use by the local performing arts, artists, musicians, corporate functions and musical events and as a general open house.
Continue and develop our programmes of reaching out to the elderly, the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, those with special needs and those who are socially isolated. Making greater use of our mini-bus service by offering a door to door collection service for those who are physically challenged or with mild disabilities.
Develop a support service for the younger and older citizens who may have missed out on pursuing a higher level of education during their earlier years. We will be supporting the developing of the languages such as Ulster Scots and Irish. Record and document slang words used in numerous areas throughout Ulster. ‘The Words our Granny Used’.
We wish to revive the Agricultural Show in 2023 which has been dormant for 2 years.
Small Company Provision
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small company’s exemption
The trustees annual report was approved on 2[nd] December 2022 and signed on behalf of the board by;
Mr J Armour
Trustee/Director