2025-05-31-annual-report - Claudy Rural Development Limited

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Claudy Rural Development Ltd

Annual Report & Statement of Accounts

For the year to 31 May 2025

Registered Office The Diamond Centre 630 Barnailt Road Claudy Co L/Derry BT47 4EA Company Registration Number NI033205

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

Annual Report for the year ended 31 May 2025

The trustees of Claudy Rural Development Limited are pleased to submit their report for the period ending 31 May 2025.

Activities

During the year, the Diamond Centre in Claudy continued to be at the heart of our charity’s work, improving everyday life in the community by supporting older people, encouraging learning, and providing welcoming spaces for social, recreational and community activities.

Supporting Older People

Our contract with the Western Health and Social Care Trust help us continue our Meals on Wheels service for people who need extra support in the local area. We also host a regular luncheon club (Diamond Diners) that gives people the chance to enjoy a hot meal, take part in social activities and spend time with others.

These services aid the reduction of loneliness, encourage people to stay active, and support independence. They have been part of the Diamond Centre since it first opened and remain very important to those who use them. At a time when health and social care services are under pressure, community services like these remain vital. We remain grateful to the Western Health and Social Care Trust for their continued support.

Recreation and Wellbeing

The Diamond Centre offers a range of recreational facilities, including a full-size sports hall, a gym and other activity spaces. These are available at affordable rates and are used by people of all ages for fitness classes, sports, and fun activities. This year activities have included Health Trust child activities, music for tots, pilates, yoga, weight loss classes, futsol, Physical Education classes for local schools and indoor training for local football clubs,

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

A Space for the Community

The Centre provides flexible spaces that are used every week for community meetings, classes, group activities and social events. These include birthday parties, funeral teas and cultural events such as dance competitions. Having accessible spaces like these helps bring people together and supports a strong sense of community. This year we have seen drama events, baby classes, Taiko (japanese drumming) and Feis event.

Supporting Local Jobs and Services

A small number of local organisations rent space in the Diamond Centre. These tenants provide care, wellbeing, arts and other support services for the community. Their work creates local jobs and helps parents and carers stay in employment.

We are extremely thankful for the contribution of our tenants. Their presence helps keep the Centre running and supports the wider services we can offer.

Our Building

The Diamond Centre will have 25th anniversary in November 2026. During the year, we explored funding opportunities to help us improve the building, update fixtures and fittings, and make it more energy efficient.

We remain committed to finding ways to invest in the Centre so it continues to meet the needs of the community for many years to come.

Looking Ahead

With funding from the National Lottery Dormant Accounts Fund we will be finalising a new business plan, energy audit and marketing plans for the services we run.

Our goal is to create a clear and practical plan for the future, with realistic actions and ways to measure success. We also hope this work will help us connect with a new generation of local residents who may not yet be involved with the Centre, but who will play an important role in its future.

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

Financial Review

Financial Performance remains a challenge for a small rural development organisation that relies on its trustees to provide its development functions. The voluntary and charity sectors are finding it increasingly difficult to secure funding in an ever-narrowing funding environment where the focus is increasingly on programme rather than core operating costs.

Income

Detailed accounts can be found at the end of this report.

Income for the reporting period totalled £188,098, a drop on £191,613 in the previous year. The drop in income reflects the continued impacts of reduced footfall that can be linked to reduced programme income and a wider economic cost of living crisis. It is noted too that over the years more competition has been felt from new sports facilities in the catchment area that do make an impact on space utilisation.

Expenditure

Expenditure in the reporting year was £235,770, down from £243,324 in the previous year. Every effort is being made to operate the charity’s expenditure as economically as possible. A notable example is the drop in heating and lighting costs as a result of efforts to change provider (reducing tariffs) and work to replace many of our electrical fittings with more energy efficient alternatives.

Independent Review

The Trustees in line with standard operating procedures for charities have commissioned an independent examination of its accounts. The examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. The independent examiner is content that there are no concerns with how the charity is managing its accounts and that the budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

Eamon O’Kane Chair

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name

Claudy Rural Development Ltd

Charity Number

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland, No.108967

Address

The Diamond Centre 630 Barnailt Road Claudy L/Derry BT47 4EA

Charity Trustees as of 31 March 2025

Mr Eamon O’Kane Chairman

Mrs Rita McCaughey Secretary Mr Jack McFarland

Mr Eric Christie

Other Charity Trustees in the year to 31 March 2024

None

Advisors

Bankers

Danske Bank Ulster Bank Limited PO Box 183 PO Box 3 Donegall Square West 29 Clooney Terrace Belfast Derry BT1 6JS BT47 6AS

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

Solicitors

Dickson & McNulty

50 Spencer Road Waterside Derry BT47 6AJ

Accountancy

Lizdan Business Services Limited T/A Kinore Unit 266, Colab Centre Port Road Letterkenny Co. Donegal Ireland

Structure, Governance, and Management

Governing Document

The Society is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland. The Memorandum and Articles was developed in 1997 and last updated in March 2020.

The organisation is run entirely by its members who receive no

reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses.

Trustee Selection and Management

Trustees are appointed and confirmed at the annual general meeting.

Board Meetings

At board meetings the trustees review the financial reports, seek assurance on expenditure and authorise exceptional expenditure.

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

The meetings review ongoing and planned activities and ad hoc meetings are called if required to deal with arising issues.

The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are approved by the trustees and then presented the Annual General Meeting.

Objectives and Activities

Charitable Objects

To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Claudy & District without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by the advancement of education, the relief of the elderly and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

How we carry out our Purpose

We fulfil our purpose by

providing premises (Diamond Centre, Claudy), equipment and facilities where people in the area of benefit can benefit from the objects of the company eg a full size sports hall with a wide range of recreational equipment for all ages; meeting space, classroom space, fitness space
we support the delivery of social services, educational facilitates & practical assistance for elderly and disabled people in the area of benefit eg, Luncheon Club, Meals on Wheels, adapted toilets, sensory equipment
we provide and secure the provision of education, advice and information for the support and development of charitable community organisations in the area of benefit, eg via education courses, networking and collaboration activities

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

we provide & assist in providing classes, lectures, training, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, outing and events
we commission, print and share information both digitally and hard copy of interest to our beneficiaries
we co-ordinate the provision and support of services in the area of benefit, eg lifestyle programmes
we offer a mechanism for people to get involved in volunteering in our community
we provide insight of issues of interest to our community
we build and develop partnerships with organisations who might be interested or able to support the creation of advancements for our community
we generate and raise income by way of grants and donations

Public Benefit Statement

The trustees of Claudy Rural Development Ltd confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 (5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the Chairty in the year to 31 March 31 2025.

In delivering public benefit the trustees note that access to all of the activities we offer is open to all sections of our community. We strive to provide services that will enrich the lives of local people who use our facilities.

We deliver benefit through the

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967

provision of elderly day care sessions and meals on wheels resulting in better socialisation, nutrition, reduced isolation and hardship
provision of recreation and sporting activities resulting in community engagement, improved physical activity, improved physical and mental well-being
access to education and learning opportunities providing new community engagement opportunities, new skills and experiences
access to child development opportunities and parental engagement opportunities
access to public toileting & personal hygiene faculties impacting on health & well-being
access to hosted information & advice services supporting peoples welfare benefit and income needs
access to public meeting and event space impacting on access to information, socialisation, community
engagement, civic engagement and active citizenship

Approved and adopted by a meeting of the Executive Committee on 31 March 2025 and signed on their behalf

Eamon O’Kane Chair

Claudy Rural Development Ltd – Registered Charity in NI – No 108967