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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 17 Dec 2019
Public benefits
The Maine Rivers Trust meets the Public Benefit requirement as set out below. Those who will directly benefit from environmental protection and improvement are the people who use the Maine River and its tributaries for recreation/amenity which include anglers, canoeists, walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Wider benefit from the work
of the charity are the people who live in the Maine River Catchment, local business’s within the catchment, Hotel’s, Café’s, Bar’s etc. Wider benefit will also extend to the users of Lough Neagh including recreational users and commercial fishing families on the Lough, tourists, and local visitors to the area. Benefits include improved Fisheries Habitat in the river will lead to a greater number of fish for sustainable recreational angling, thus improving the quality of the fishing for local anglers, visiting and tourist anglers. Improved Habitat will lead to a greater biodiversity along the river allowing people a greater opportunity to see and experience native wildlife. A clean river will not only lead to more fish but also more insects, birds and aquatic mammals. Wider benefits of a cleaner healthier river would be an improved environment for the local community within the river catchment, leading to an improved quality of life with a healthier environment contributing to better physical and mental wellbeing. Those who will directly benefit from the advancement of education will be Primary School children and students in further education courses in the field of environmental management in the Maine River Catchment. Also Scout groups, and other groups interested in the natural environment. Those who will enjoy wider benefit from the work of the charity will be the general public or any association, institution, voluntary organisation, company, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body. Local primary schools will be able to benefit from an enriched curriculum in the environment and the world around us by utilising educational resources which will be developed by the Trust, using our Fish Hatchery and the river itself as an outdoor classroom. Having an information stand at local community events will educate the wider public as to the importance of their local river environment. Specific days of training will be held for anglers and the public to help them improve their knowledge and skill, by bringing expert instructors in the fields of Fly Tying or Fly Casting to share their experience and expertise. The benefits flowing from the purpose can be demonstrated by undertaking baseline surveys and assessments in the river system of the state of the fishery, habitat, biodiversity and water quality; and then monitoring the improvement made as a result of the charitable work we undertake. We will make this information freely available to the public through our website. Numbers of children benefiting from educational activities will be recorded and feedback sought from education leaders to help monitor our impact on education and improve our programme. Up-skilled volunteers would be encouraged to take on volunteer leadership roles within the trust and the wider community. Whilst our environmental improvement works are entirely for the benefit of the river, some harm may be caused to areas around these works. This will be minimised by using approved techniques designed to reduce harm and achieve maximum environmental benefit. We will consider any harm that could be caused by our actions prior to any work being undertaken. Any harm caused will be localised and minimal and be outweighed by the environmental benefit achieved. The only private benefits flowing from the purposes are that local angling clubs will benefit from increased numbers of fish and increased visitor numbers will benefit the local tourism sector, however these are entirely incidental and not a purpose of the trust.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
The River Maine and its tributary rivers Braid, Kellswater and Clough have been providing employment and recreation to the people of Mid Antrim for generations. During this time the river has suffered through neglect and pollution and to reverse the rivers decline, several local angling clubs came together to try and protect the system. Initially
know as the Maine Enhancement Partnership (MEP) the group worked closely with government agencies to stop the decline in fish stocks and wildlife. Just over a year ago the MEP became part of the Rivers Trust, a UK wide organisation that has its heart the same core values that we had been working under as the MEP. That is how we became the ‘Maine Rivers Trust’. We have come to realise that Fishermen are not the only people who are interested in and have a love for our local rivers, and we very much want to widen our membership to include other groups like Canoeists, Ramblers, Village Improvement Associations, Bird Watchers etc, or anyone who has the interests of the River at heart. While we have worked to increase the fish stocks, we have also seen an increase in Otters and Kingfishers on our waters. Our main objectives are the same, to ‘protect, maintain and improve the rivers of the Maine River Catchment, for the advancement of Environmental protection or improvement for the benefit of the public’. Also ‘ To advance the education of the public with regard to understanding rivers, their flora and fauna and the need for conservation, protection and rehabilitation of the aquatic environment’. Both these statements are taken from our articles of association.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
Who the charity helps
- General public
- Volunteers
How the charity works
- Environment/sustainable development/conservation
- Research/evaluation
- Volunteer development
Charitable purposes
The Objects for which the Charity is established are: - (1) To conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments of the catchments comprising the rivers of the Maine River catchment, including Lough Neagh, for the advancement of environmental protection or improvement for the benefit of the public. (2) To advance the education of the public, or any association, institution, voluntary organisation, company, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body in: - (a) The understanding of rivers, river corridors and river catchments, including their fauna, flora, biodiversity, economic or social activity, and river catchment management. (b) The need for, and benefits of, conservation, protection, rehabilitation and improvement of aquatic environments.