2024-03-31-annual-report

ARDS PENINSULA VILLAGES PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023/24 GIVEN AT AGM ON 13[TH] MAY 2024 BY BILL MEGRAW, CHAIRPERSON

• APVP still meeting every month via Zoom or in person, with sub group meetings Kite Festival and Heritage being held in person.

• Charitable Status maintained.

• Several Strategic meetings held with local Councillors and MLAs in terms of promoting the work of APVP and asking for support to promote the Ards Peninsula to Tourists.

• Continued engagement with Council Regeneration Dept with updates on ANDBC Small Settlement Schemes, Village Plans, etc.

• Delivered the Ards Peninsula Kite Festival held in Ballywalter a great event with good press coverage.

• Development of 9 policies and forms to ensure compliance with ANDBC policies and health and safety of the public.

• Giant Kites and Sand sculptor on Site;

• Up to up to 7000 attendees – 61% from Ards and North Down, 37% rest of Northern Ireland and 2% International;

• Additional 1000 car park spaces provided, thanks to Lord Dunleath;

• 7 Food stalls and 13 craft stalls;

• Kite Design workshop;

• Broad range of children’s entertainment – DJ, bouncy castle, magician, stilt walkers, roundabout, etc all free of charge; and

• o 40 volunteers manning event.

• Ards Peninsula Art Mosaic Project – funding has been obtained from Arts Council for NI, to undertake an Intergeneration Art Mosaic project in all 9 villages on the Ards Peninsula. This is still ongoing and it is intended that the final art mosaics will be displayed at a public space in each village and will create and art mosaic trail across the villages.

• Ards Peninsula Heritage Trail sub group has been meeting to explore pursuit of it, we have engaged with ANDBC Heritage Officer.

• Village Environment Planting, co-ordinated meeting with ANDBC Parks Department to discuss ANDBC planting schemes in the villages.

• Update undertaken of APVP website, thanks to Brian Bailie.

• APVP partnered with County Down Rural Community Network for the roll out of the Ards Peninsula Tatties Project, this saw 900 potato grow packs distributed at 100 packs per village all 9 villages on the Ards Peninsula.

Thanks

Thanks were to the management committee of APVP for their continued engagement and commitment to APVP. Thanks also expressed to Lord Dunleath, Carol Day, our MLAs and Councillors who have engaged with us. ANDBC Council Staff from Regeneration Dept, Heritage Dept, Parks Dept and Community Development Dept. And to CDRCN for help and secretariate.