Rathfern Community Regeneration Group
Trustees, Report
The trustees. wl]o are direotors for the purposes of ¢ompany law, present the annual report togtther with the
financial ststemeats of the charitable company for the year ended )1 March 2023.
Objectives 2nd activities
Objects and tsims
Tlie charity's objectAve is that a]1 residents liviutr in the Mactdon wai-d of NeThÉownabbey enjoy a high quality of
life, are able to achieve thekr economic, social and eduoational ryoals, and are part of a sts-ong, prospei-ous and
caring cominunity. In order to achieve its objectives the charity aims to-.
-m&n8ge a community building which provides hityh quality facilities and a raLige of activities wl)tch ttre
accessible to th¢ local ¢oinmunity
-continuously develop and Lipdate the building to ineet the changing needs of the users
-develop activities that increase participation in civic ITfe incliiding opporttinities for self-developintnL
voluntetriiio and involvement in local decision-malcing.
Public benef
The charity has added valLie by increasino the quality of life for residents in Rathfern. It has developed a inastei"
plan for the area whole workints with the community through community consultation and public ineetings.
Pro8￿Me5 are run which develop employability skills, build social cohesion, improve the gene171 area and
empower those living in the area to create a better environment in which to live. The centre is becoining the
focal point for community activities and is used by a wÉde range of users 2nd statutory bodies. Antrim and
NeNfftoThThabbey Borou<rh Council Contributes to the Mnning costs of new aud existin2 comn)unity PTojects in
line wilh CoLLncil's Community Developinent grant aid prouo wnme.
Achievements and performanee
We started this financial year with the uphe8v21 and disturbance involved in having the new extension biiilt.
Howevei we came through with flyints ¢olour5 and lost the miniiD(un of revenue due to the reduction iii room
hlle. We used the time to look inwardly at what our needs were and how we could chat)tr¢ to rectify the financial
sÉtuation during t1￿1 financial year and what orants we Could brints in to help our sith2tion. We li&ve received
£4,655 from the Coinmunity Employment Animation Fund to fund the CSR Card tratnints and tile First Aid
Course wliich will lielp people get back to work a.train. Anotlier application w8s made to Livints Spaces and
Places to the vaIue of £3,700 and was awarded in March 2023 for soine remedial woiks outside to ensLwe our
application for Green Flag Status cai again be successful. We also received suppoit from Antriin and
Ne￿￿OW1]abbeY BoroLigh Council of £1,620 for a Rathfern Exploring Identity Course. We ￿rther received our
Bloclc grallt of £30,000. Thts figure increased to £45,000 2nd was negotiated in a January 2023 proposal and
ratified in a March 2023 Council meeting. We wish to take this opportunity to thank Aiitriin and Newtownabbey
Borough Council for thetx ongoing Partnership 2nd also The Lo¢al Community fund/Big Lottery for their
fundiiio for tl)e next three years.
We cgJ] all atsi'ee that we liad a pretty successful yw indeed, witl) further additional works to inside and outside
to 171a£e sui'e our cenh-e is Clean and kept in good order, the membeIs of staff are helpfiil & friendly and together
we can deliver a very good project. We st8rled the year off with five staff members we now have two additional
reception staff 2nd one Commuiiity Meiitar for the RathferAI Junior Hill Wardens whi¢h has increased staff
members to eight.
We have also had another successful year assisting our comimunAty thi'ough the Christmas Festival proJo amme.
accottimodatilltr new and emergino groups by way of providino rooins free of charge, operating the Youth Club
two ts per week, the Hottie￿rork Club two afternoons a week and the Art Class every Tuesday. Last biit not
leasL OLir ov¢r fifties Coffee mornings continue to be a success each Monday moniin£s and iLeans th2t we
comply fully to the aspirations set out by the Board of Directois.

Rathfern Community Regeneyatioll Group
Trustees, Report
Financial review
The charity had an overall defi¢it of £31,233 in the year. Restrxcted reserves had been biiilt lip since Covid-19,
with a lot of these beino used dui'ing the year. The charity's pi-in¢ipal soiii'ces of funding SOL￿¢¢$ of filldincr in
tile period were:
- Antr&m ￿]d Newtownabbey Boi'ough Council
- National Lottery CO1￿Milnity Fund
- Children in Need
Plans for future periods
Aints and k£y objedivesforfulurepgriods
Again we liad to en.oage with the Loca] Coinmunity Fund w2th reg￿"d$ to a uew application to cover the Youth
Proo1'ai￿i￿e and Stsffing our YoLlth Workers Team for the next three years. After nionths of eng2tsement and
mal(ing the necessaiy changes to the application ive were notified on 29th March 2023 that tbe application for
£260.840 was successful (but paid in instalments).
Small companies provision statejnent
This report has been prepared in accordance with the sinall companies re(yun¢ undeT the Coit)p2nies Act 2006.
TIEe anrtual report was approved by the tri￿teeS of the charity on 19 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr George
Trustee
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