## **Beechland Community Group Trustee’s report 2022/2023** 

**Charity name** : Beechland Community Group 

## **Charity number:** 108510 

**Registered Address** : Sarah Crothers Hall, Beechland Drive, BT28 1HR 

## **Charity Trustees:** 

Geoffrey Irwin Jonathan Orr Kirsten Moore 

## **Charitable purposes** 

The Community group is established to: 2.1 Relieve poverty, sickness and the aged and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Beechland area of Lisburn and its environs (hereinafter described as the "area of benefit") without distinction of age, gender, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for said inhabitants; 2.2 To establish or to secure the establishment of a Community Centre (hereinafter called "the Centre") and to maintain and manage or to co-operate with any local statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a Centre for activities promoted by the Group and it's constituent bodies in furtherance of the above objects. 

## **Objectives** 

Beechland Community Group was set up to help address and improve issues of social isolation, integration, health & well-being and poverty in the Beechland area. The Beechland community group brings together all members of the community through a variety of activities and events. 

These activities include weekly tea dances, a monthly walking group, yoga, discos, cultural evenings, pottery, flower arranging and dance classes. Other community activities include family fun days, bowling trips and children's trips to the game zone. Every Christmas a Christmas party is held where roughly 



50 local residents are able to come together and enjoy a cooked Christmas dinner. 

We promote and support volunteers by offering training through various bodies including Atlas, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and NICVA. Beechland community group works together with the local community to keep the area in a good condition through events such as litter picks. 

Beechland community group also works closely with MLA's to address any issues in the local area, such as parking problems, broken streetlights or fences and any other issues that may arise. We are now also able to offer pensioners a snow clearing service if heavy snow falls. We provide or secure the provision of social services, educational, environmental and recreational facilities and practical assistance for elderly and disabled people within the area of benefit. We provide or secure the provision of welfare rights advice and information and refer those in need of professional assistance to the relevant agencies 

## **Future Plans** 

Beechland Community Group plan to focus on providing a great service to our beneficiaries by continuing to offer a wide selection of activities in the community. 

## **Financial Review** 

Much of the spend from 22/23 was as a result from grants. Our charity and trustees continue to manage resources in an efficient manner. We will continue to explore ways of fundraising within the group and local area and seek external funding when necessary. All income is used for charitable purposes.