## **Ards Peninsula u3a** 

## **Trustees’ Annual Report** 

## **Trustees’ Report for the year ended 30[th] April 2025:** 

On behalf of the Trustees, I am pleased to present our annual Trustees’ report for issue to the membership prior to our annual general meeting to be held at Donaghadee Community Centre on Thursday 19[th] February 2026. 

## **Trustees:** 

The Committee Members/Trustees, elected at our AGM held on 20[th] February 2025 are as follows: 

Cavan Fuller (Chair) Wesley Graham (Vice Chair) Colin Dickey (Secretary) Ken Bell (Secretary) 

Patrick Blackwell-Smyth (Membership Secretary) 

Vicky Bryan (Meetings Secretary) Denise Kelly Margaret Blackwell-Smyth Patricia McNally Shaun Magill 

## **Report from the Chair:** 

Activity Groups: 

May I yet again report that the most important people in our u3a are our activity Group Leaders. Without members volunteering to lead and organise our many activities, we would no longer exist as a u3a. We currently have 28 activity groups 

Our Group Leaders are: 

Heather Fuller (Art), Patricia McNally (Book Group and Park Run), Vicky Bryan (Bowls), Michael Sidwell (Bridge and Canasta), Iris King (Choir), Wesley Graham (City Breaks, Film and Theatre Group), Myrtle Ogle (Cloughey Bowls), Elaine Gillespie (Craft), Carol Anderson (Crochet), Denise Kelly (Cuan Coffee), Carmel Starr (Days Out), Jan Wheeler (French Conversation), Linda Kilby (Genealogy), Linda Bell (History), Muriel Graham (Jabberwalkers), Robert Boyd (Line Dancing), Kate McNeill (Lunch Club), Helen Farmer (Painting for Pleasure), Zelda Munn (Pickle Ball), David Turton (Saturday Striders), Denis Kelly (Strollers), Jill Dennison (Ukulele) and Kieran McCormack (Wine Appreciation). There are three further groups, Cards, Badminton and Film Buffs that I am involved with. 

1 

The Song Writers Group has had to be removed for our Groups List. The Group Leader was Alan Patterson. Alan is still helping members to improve their writing skill but has included some individuals who are not u3a members. Our u3a members who were in the Group can continue to attend and learn to improve their skills. Our thanks go to Alan. 

Without members taking on Group Leader roles there simply would not be an Ards Peninsula u3a so, on behalf of the Trustees, I thank Group Leaders sincerely for their commitment, their hard work, and their continued enthusiasm. 

New activity groups that were successfully established since our last Trustees’ report include Line Dancing, Film Buffs, Pickle Ball and Badminton. 

We can’t have too many activity groups. So, if you are interested in a particular subject of any kind, why not contact us and discover how easy it is to start up a group by becoming a group leader. You will receive any assistance you need to take on the role and make it a success. 

## Committee: 

May I also thank our Committee Members/Trustees for their enthusiasm and commitment to the cause this past year. It has been a great pleasure working with the committee and I am hopefully that many will make themselves available to stand for re-election at our AGM on 19th February. 

## Finances: 

Our financial statement, to be issued to the membership prior to the annual general meeting on 19[th] February 2026 shows our finances to be in a healthy position. During the year income of £12649.88 was received. Total expenditure for the year was £10531.38, resulting in a surplus of £2118.50 for the year. If any of the members have questions relating to the financial statement, issued in conjunction with this report, please address them to me to enable us to provide you with an appropriate response. 

Membership: 

At the time of writing this report, we have 283 active members and we have maintained approximately this number of members for some years now. We are therefore confident that we can maintain this level of interest in our organisation and its many activities into the future. 

Cavan Fuller, 

Chair – Ards Peninsula u3a 

Contact - ardspenu3achair@gmail.com 

2