Trustee Report
1. Objectives & Activities
The NIBGA mission is to provide support, training and access to health and social benefits for visually impaired and blind people in Northern Ireland.
Objectives
Near-term goals (2021 - 2024) are:
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➢ Meet all corporate standards for CCNI regulated charities.
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➢ Implement an integrated digital marketing strategy.
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➢ Support our community through COVID and post COVID
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➢ Grow the game of blind golf internationally, from Northern Ireland.
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➢ Promote the R&A Women in Golf initiative.
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➢ Inspire children / youth and provide avenues for youth leadership.
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➢ Organise the ISPS Handa British Blind Golf Open, 2021.
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➢ Lead the development of the World Blind Golf Tour.
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➢ Position NIBGA to host the 2025 ISPS Handa World Blind Golf Championships
Achievements (2022:
. NIBGA has continued to meet our strategic objectives, mainly due to the hard work of our committee and the support of our partners: IBGA, R&A, RNIB Connect, Vision Sports Ireland, Golf Ireland, Sport NI, DSNI and local authorities.
We began our golf season in March, graduating our 2021 trainees at a ceremony in Galgorm Golf Club. Throughout the year, we organised monthly golf events across the province, and two in the Republic.
In August, the members voted to accept a new Constitution, in accordance with the recommended model for registered charities in Northern Ireland. Using simple English, the Constitution received an overhaul without losing it’s origins or it’s identity.
In September, NIBGA appointed PGA qualified coach, Phil Farrell, to be our society coach. Since then, Phil has organised monthly training sessions for our first group of juniors (under 18 years). This was made possible following award of a substantial grant from the National Lottery. Phil will extend this program in the new year to include adults. As a PGA qualified coach, Phil ensures that our training programs are run safely with the highest standards of participant safeguarding.
In September, NIBGA met with Dr. Brad Carver at a face to face meeting in Florida. Brad is leading the development of the World Blind Golf Tour (WBGT), which will offer competitive golf to visually impaired people, who are outside the current sight classification system for international competition.
NIBGA has continued to update our website and use social media to promote our brand and share news about our activities. In October, we took delivery of branded kit: sweaters, polo shirts, hats, towels. This will be used to identify ourselves at events and tournaments and give our members a sense of belonging.
In November, NIBGA was one of a handful of charities chosen to promote our activities through the BBC TV Appeal. The focus of the application was an appeal for volunteer guides, which is our most substantial barrier to member participation and organisational growth. The program will be broadcast in the Spring, the objective being to appeal to one golf club in each of the province and border counties to make guide volunteers available, when we play in their club or in their county.
Internationally, NIBGA is making a positive contribution to the growth of golf for blind and disabled people. NIBGA golfers were represented at the Spanish, British, United States and Canadian Opens. Secretary, Paul McCormack, who is also a member of US Blind Golf Association, hosted a magnificent Vision Cup at the TPC Sawgrass golf facility in Florida. Paul, Chairman of the tournament committee, persuaded several high profile individuals to participate in the sponsors event, including Golf Ireland Director, Gerri Houlihan and ISPS Handa ambassador and retired Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Paul O’Rahilly played in the inaugural Irish Disabled Golf Open in Roganstown GC, in July, and has been working closely with EDGA development coach, Mark Taylor, to promote golf for disabled people in Ireland.
Working with RNIB Connect, NIBGA supported the Inner Eye project, a community arts initiative, sponsored by the Arts Council (NI) and IKEA Places Called Home, engaging with the blind and visually impaired community. Blind and visually impaired people from across the province worked with professional artists.
NIBGA is committed to the R&A Women in Golf (WIG) Charter.
NIBGA has increased it’s female membership from 2 in 2021 to 6 in 2022.
Caryn Young, a retired lecturer in Occupational Therapy, joined the Board of Trustees in 2022 and NIBGA is committed to electing another lady member to the Board of six trustees in 2023.
NIBGA is on target to reach a membership of 18 blind golfers and 15 guides (associate members)before the end of 2023. This aligns with the targets set out in our Strategic Plan (2021 – 2024)
- Financial Review – brief description of how the year went financially – surplus/deficit, spending against grants etc – anything you want to put in so that readers of the accounts get a better understanding. This will change each year.
The accounts show a strong opening balance of £21,863 . While there is a deficit in 2022 of £5,699, THE Closing balance of £16,164 leaves NIBGA in a strong financial position at the start of 2023.
NIBGA depends almost entirely on grant income to finance it’s activities.
Grant income of £10,000 received from the National Lottery Association in 2022
Will be applied to player development and youth leadership over two years. In 2022, £3,545 was spent, leaving a balance of £6,455 to be spent in 2023.
Grant Income was received from the Arts Council (NI) under two separate contracts, one in 2020 for £7,246 and a second in 2021 for £7,496 to finance the NIBGA Community Arts program. A balancing payment of £3,946 was received in 2022. The full amount of this grant has been drawn down and spent.
Grant income of £5,000 from IKEA Places Called Home has been partially spent in 2022. Funds in the amount of £3,259 will be carried over to 2023.
Grant income of £500 from local authorities part financed member development in 2022.
Grant income from Vision Sports Ireland of £682 has been applied to finance Golf Ireland player development costs
3. Structure, Governance & Management
The charity is governed by it’s Constitution,. The members elect a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary at the Annual General Meeting. The six persons on the Board of Trustees are elected from the membership and meet once a month to manage the affairs of the organisation.
NIBGA is run by it’s volunteer Board. There are no employees and the Trustees receive no remuneration for their services.
list of Trustees
Chairman and Nominated Contact
Andrew Cochrane
DOB: June 16, 1940 11, Pinegrove Park Ballymena BT43 6TJ
Appointed November, 2019
Secretary
Paul McCormack
DOB:
Tenebo
144, Dublin Road
Sutton Dublin 13 D13 v8 w9
Appointed November, 2019
Treasurer
Paul O'Rahilly DOB: 25 October 1963 41, College Square College Road Kilkenny R95 N6K3
Appointed November, 2019
Council Member, Captain
Tony McEvoy
DOB 09 June 1968
70, Sharman Road Belfast, Co. Antrim Post Code: BT9 5FX
Appointed December 2020
Email: nibgagolf@gmail.com
Phone: 0044 7738 165 909
Council Member,
Thomas Reidy
DOB24 May 1969
7, Gleann Abhinn, White Cross, Co Armagh Northern Ireland
Post Code: BT60 2TN
Appointed December, 2020
Council Member,
Caryn Young
DOB 6 November, 1975
16, Crommelim Hill Newtown Crommelim, Ballymena Postcode:BT43 6RH
Appointed December, 2021
Council Member, Handicap Secretary
Gerry McCormack
DOB: 04 October, 1956
Address:BallymoreenLittleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary,
Post Code: E41 K497
Appointed December 2020
Retired December 2021
Email: nibgagolf@gmail.com
Phone: 00353 87 766 4823