PoonaCrumlin
Trustees Report 2025
Period: 1%t January 2025 to 31%t December 2025 Address: 3 Glenavy Road, Crumlin. BT29 4LA
This is the first set of reports and accounts that we have submitted since becoming a registered charity.
These accounts and reports are presented following the Charity Regulations. As the Charity has less than a £250k annual turnover the accounts have been prepared ona receipts and expenditure basis. They have been independently examined, and both the accounts and examiners report are attached.
Public Benefit
The benefits which flow from Crumlin Men's Shed activities include reduction of social isolation, the improvement of men's mental health through social engagement, the improvement of the men's physical health via proper nutrition, exercise and education and the enhanced wellbeing of the members and their families, indirectly. Many of the members are retired or approaching retirement and the Shed provides a focus for social involvement and engagement, promotes healthy activities such as growing and gardening, cooking, exercise, woodworking, craft activities etc and encourages continued learning in a relaxed atmosphere through educational walks and talks. The Shed is also an active group in the community contributing to other groups and assisting in many environmental projects.
Premises
The Shed is located on the edge of Crumlin in an old school building built in 1914, which had been left vacant for many years and needed some repair. We have occupied the building since April 2019 with the members undertaking most of the repairs themselves in the form of projects.
We now have a large workshop where we can do woodwork and metal work, a separate classroom used for art classes and a lounge / kitchen area with comfortable seating heated by a stove.
Outside we have a large garden in which we have built several raised beds for growing vegetables and 2 large poly tunnels for growing plants and flowers We have a paved area at the top of the garden with seating for visitors. At the back of the shed we have constructed 2 marquees for storing materials. At the side of the shed we have a carport for storing our trailers.
Activities / Classes
During 2025 we ran art classes which were open to all members of the community. These classes were taught by an experienced tutor. In December 2025 the class members exhibited their work and sold some in aid of the NI Hospice.
Community/ Outreach
We have strong links to the local community and are regularly asked to undertake projects in the local schools and public areas. These include making and installing planters, bird boxes, bee hotels, Fairy houses, benches and seating.
We encourage members of the public to visit the shed to see what we ae doing and to take part in our organised classes.
In the garden and polytunnels we grow plants and make up hanging baskets which we sell to the public in the spring / summer. In the workshop, the team are kept occupied making planters, bird boxes and benches or anything else that we get commissioned to make.
Social Media / Publicity
We are active on Facebook, keeping the local community and our members up to date with the activities and the evolution of the shed.
Membership
We have a membership of more than 50 and regularly have 15-20 members using the shed each week.
Finances
We receive grants from Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council for the general running and upkeep of the premises and for the materials needed to run the classes. We have also received some grants from other organisations to help with specific projects.
TrusteesStatementon Public Benefit
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
On Behalf of the Trustees.
Paul McGivern — Chairman
----- Start of picture text -----
Martin Weldon - Vice Chairman
----- End of picture text -----