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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Lower Oldpark Community Association

  • Status

    Received: 3 days late

  • Income

    £288.7K

  • Spending

    £286.4K

Charity no. 100906 Date registered. 07/12/2015

Public benefits

Advance education People living within a deprived interface location are provided with educational opportunities locally in a community setting (a familiar, non intimidating environment), which advances their education and improves their conditions of life. LOCA provides and hosts educational classes for the local community at the community centre

it operates within Lower Oldpark; including adult literacy, essential skills and computer/ICT classes. A playgroup is provided for preschool children and courses of an educational nature delivered to young people in the locality. It also runs health education events and programmes. Advance community development The physical and social regeneration of deprived communities in an interface location which suffers the legacy of the troubles, with a peace wall and associated urban decay and dereliction. LOCA plays an active role in the urban and social regeneration of the locality. LOCA sits on a number of forums and working groups representing the views of local people and works in association with statutory authorities and adjacent communities on an inter and cross community basis to build shared agendas and to work collaboratively. With LOCA being one of three community groups involved in setting up a new charity to manage the facility on a cross community basis. LOCA has also been involved in pushing for the redevelopment of derelict sites at the interface and for the development of new social housing on a derelict site, organising public consultations and representing local views to statutory agencies. The advancement of conflict resolution or reconciliation Better cross and inter community relations are developed in a sensitive interface locations, and trust and shared agendas built between communities which actively contributes to peace and reconciliation between fractured communities and the redevelopment of an interface location suffering from urban dereliction.Cross community projects are run which improve community relations such as the peace walls programme and active measures are put in place to decrease cross community tensions. Events are run that offer opportunities for positive cross community contact. A youth diversionary programme delivered to young people, which diverts young people from cross community conflict.Joint projects are progressed in collaboration with adjoining communities such as development for cross community facilities which tackle dereliction within the locality and bring improvements to local infrastructure and services, and provides new shared spaces, such as the development of cross community recreational and educational facilities at the Girdwood barracks site. Other charitable purposes To provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for education, recreation and other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit.Facilities are provided for recreation and leisure in the interests of social welfare in the lower Oldpark area, a deprived interface location. A community facility is provided by LOCA for the benefit of the local community. A range of provision is organised at the Centre for local people including: a play group for preschool children and their parents, activities for older people, a friendship club with activities for over 50s, Summer Schemes for local Children during the School holidays. Fun days and events are organised for the local community. Events that offer opportunities for cross community contact are provided, health promotion events such as one day workshops are organised for the local community on different health related topics, and a youth diversionary programme. There is no harm flowing from the purposes. People living in Lower Oldpark and surrounding parts of North Belfast are the beneficiaries LOCA employs staff and pays tutors but this is necessary to provide its services and incidental private benefit.

What your organisation does

LOCA runs a Community Centre in Lower Old Park, a deprived interface area of North Belfast, organising a range of educational and recreational activities for the benefit of the local community including educational classes, a play group, an over 50s friendship Club, community fun days and events, and a summer schemes for local children and young

people. LOCA also promotes good cross community relations and public safety within the locality, by for example organising cross community events and a youth diversionary programme. LOCA advocates on behalf of the local community and sits on local forums and providing mechanisms for local people to have their say about policy decisions which effect their lives including the regeneration of the local area.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
  • Other charitable purposes

Who the charity helps

  • Adult training
  • Children (5-13 year olds)
  • Interface communities
  • Older people
  • Preschool (0-5 year olds)
  • Tenants
  • Unemployed/low income
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Community development
  • Education/training
  • Medical/health/sickness
  • Sport/recreation
  • Youth development

This display is a broad summary of the charity’s financial information. For a full understanding of the charity’s finances, the reader should view the PDF accounts and reports under the Documents tab above.

  • Due documents received late information

  • This charity failed to provide information on its finances within 10 months of its financial year end. This information has now been received.

Income

£288.7K

Spending

£286.4K

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2024

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2022

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

The company’s objects (“Objects”) are specifically restricted to the following: to advance education and promote community development within the Lower Oldpark area of North Belfast and its environs (hereinafter called the area of benefit) and, to promote any other purpose, or purposes, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit, which are, or hereafter may be deemed, charitable under the law of Northern Ireland, and in particular: (a) to promote community safety and good community relations within Lower Oldpark and its environs, an interface location within North Belfast, and promote urban regeneration of the locality. (b) to operate a community centre. and operate, or assist in the provision, of other community facilities within the area of benefit, for the benefit of the local community in the interest of social welfare, for education, recreation and other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

LOCA
  • 7 Trustees
  • 6 Employees
  • 6 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Adele Huddleston, Lower Oldpark Community Association, 9-23 Avoca Street, Belfast, BT14 6EN

Trustee board

Trustee
Laura Hughes
James Wright
Tommy Dickson
Eleanor Jamison
Neil Huddleston
Mrs Barbara Mcilwrath
Peter Edwards

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland
  • Belfast City Council
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