WCDA Annual Report y/e 31.3.24
This short report seeks to note some of the highlights and challenges over the past year as WCDA continues to contribute to village life and the public benefit.
We continued to coordinate summer flower planting within the village and are very thankful to Kyle Weir for administrating this and liaising with the Council and local groups and other individuals who are involved with the planting. Jonny Morrow has been a great asset in helping to coordinate this work which does make a difference to the aesthetics of the village and is greatly appreciated by the community.
The Community Carols event was able to take place this year and was located in the driveway of Holy Trinity Church were the Christmas tree was located. The evening was attended by more than 250 people with some local individuals invited to give the Bible readings. The Primary School Choir helped to lead the singing along with the Salvation Army Band providing the music and the evening was a great success. Special thanks go to all the volunteers who coordinated this event.
WCDA helps to coordinate and give oversight to a number of activities that meet on a regular basis throughout the year including: a Historical Society, an Art Club, a Community Garden and a Community Choir. Together these activities have met regularly and held events that have been enjoyed by approximately 500 people. The produce from the Community Garden was distributed through local charities. Some other activities have not met in the past year such as the Climate Crisis Group and the Couch to 5k. This is primarily due to having limited resources and the need to not overstretch our faithful volunteers. It is hoped these activities will resume next year.
WCDA continue to hold a lease on a mobile building that offers a community facility in the village. As well as providing a location for our committee meetings, it provides space for other constituted community groups to operate including The Men’s Shed, the Community Garden, Waringstown Together Forum and Well Kept Waringstown for its community clean-ups. We continue to be thankful to the staff and Board for Love for Life who have been generous in the terms of the lease allowing us to take on this responsibility at relatively low risk.
As with any local community group, we are thankful for the many volunteers who have made all this possible, including the WCDA Committee Members. Special thanks must go to Mark Gordon, our Treasurer, who does a superb job in managing our finances and preparing the end of year accounts, and Laura Stevenson, our Secretary for taking minutes .The attention to detail and clarity of process from both individuals helps to keep us accountable and is very reassuring. Continued thanks must also go to John Egerton who administrates our website.
I am hopeful that the incoming year will see the charity grow in its ability to bring positive benefit to the whole community of Waringstown.
Regards,
NEIL HARRISON, Vice-Chairperson (21.10.2024)