Larchfield Community Development Association

Next Association meeting – Thursday 21st September 2023 at 8pm

includes presentation of Level 2 Food Safety in Catering Certificates

At the November meeting of the Association, the guest speaker was Mr Ivan McMinn MBE, chairman of NIPANC, the local charity creating awareness of, funding research for and supporting families affected by Pancreatic Cancer.

The Association raised funds during the year and along with several donations were able to hand over the magnificent sum of £2050.00.

Thanks go to all members, friends and members of the public who supported events during the year.

Members of Larchfield Community Development Association pictured with Ivan McMinn, Chairman of NIPANC. (17.11.2022)

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, as a mark of respect the Family Fun Day and Vintage Rally (10th September) has been cancelled. Please check back in a few days for details of a replacement event.

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Our grounds are once again “blooming marvellous” thanks to a small band of volunteers for some very hard work and to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for supplying most of the plants.

Take a trip past the hall and see how a few days improves the blooms.

Len & Millicent fastening a planter to the railings. (6.7.22)

Heather & Patricia. (6.7.22)

After the planting was completed Chairman Jim with wife Elizabeth clearing the weeds outside the wall and railings. (6.7.22)

All done. Over the summer Victor, Ryan , Heather and various others will water the flowers regularly. (6.7.22)

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The hall was full to capacity on Friday 10th June 2022 when Larchfield celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth the second. A sumptious BBQ was provided and later in the evening music was supplied by Ivor Greer. Some members of the local community did a “spot” with the microphone singing some well known songs. Following the “cutting” of the Jubilee cake, cake was distributed to those present. Thanks to all those involved in the organisation and planning of the evening. Thanks also go to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council who supported the event through the Platinum Jubilee Grant.

“The Jubilee cake”. (10.6.22)

Jubilee BBQ. (10.6.22)

Bertie about to cut the cake. (10.6.22)

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Association members also assisted Legacurry LOL 164 at their recent Big Breakfast fundraiser for their new banner fund. See Gallery.

A group of thirty recently attended the Garden Party in grounds of HRP Hillsborough which was part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Pop over to Gallery page for photos.

Some members were able to attend the Lighting of the Beacon at Hillsborough Fort also part of Jubilee celebrations. Both these opportunities were afforded as we are members of the HRP Community Access Scheme.

Gardening Club/Craic in the garden continues weekly as per the programme.

First healthy walking visit to Historic Royal Palace Hillsborough Castle grounds.

Some of the walkers. (28.4.22)

Walkers with walk leader Heather. (28.4.22)

Some of the residents we encountered en-route around the grounds. (28.4.22)

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Activities resumed on Thursday 17th March 2022 when Mrs Colleen Shaw shared information on the work of The Friends of The Cancer Centre, based at The City Hospital in Belfast. This was followed by the presentation of a cheque for £2,300.00 from the Association towards the work of The Prostrate Cancer Care team.

This was followed by the launch of the 2022-23 programme, the Association Annual General Meeting and then light refreshments.

Copies of the full Annual Report of the Association are available from Patricia Halliday.

Colleen Shaw CEO Friends of The Cancer Centre, Valerie Harron LCDA Treasurer and Jim Halliday LCDA Chairman. (17.3.2022.)

Sharon McKnight, Colleen Shaw CEO Friends of The Cancer Centre, Valerie Harron, Jim Halliday and Patricia Halliday. (17.3.22)

Regrettably due to the ongoing Coronovirus pandemic we had to cancel our Christmas parties in the Hall. We were however able to bring “Christmas to the Community” when over fifty households in the community received a bag of “goodies” with a Christmas theme. We were able to provide these parcels from our funding from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

Just some of the contents. (16.12.2021)

Larchfield NI100 Centenary events supported by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

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Thank you to all who attended both our Charity Tractor Run and Harvest Picnic & Threshing display on 11th September 2021. Given the still considerable threat from the Coronovirus pandemic we had a much scaled down event this year, however the weather was kind, apart from about 15 minutes but we soon dried out. Thanks to those volunteers involved in the planning beforehand, setting up and working on the day and the clearing up in the evening.

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Click on link for video of Maurice & Brian harvesting the corn.

Maurice and Brian harvesting the corn on a lovely sunny day. (24.8.2021)

See programme page for updates November 2021.

The flowers in full bloom. (July 2021)

Over recent weeks Heather, Patricia & the gardening club prepared for and planted several hundred plants in containers which are placed around the exterior of our premises. The plants were supplied by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, who in addition cleared a small area on the opposite corner and sowed wild flower seeds. Heather finished off that particular area by planting sunflowers. (Pics of this area later in the year when the sunflowers grow!).

Planting in progress. (2.6.21)

Heather, Jean and Elizabeth planting out some of the plants. (2.6.21)

Local PSNI alert us to keep safe and secure.

Whether it’s your home, your business premises or your garden shed – make sure your security measures are working and effective.

Test alarms, set your CCTV, activate security lights, and always remember to close, lock and check all windows and doors.

#KeepingPeopleSafe

Wellbeing packs for volunteers.

High-Viz waistcoats for safety at outdoor programme and events, aprons for the catering team and fleeces for some of the volunteers.

Supported by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Connecting Communities Funding, the Association was able to reward some of our volunteers who have undertaken special duties in the recent past and also during the last year as part of our Covid-19 response.

As we enter 2021 we are still unable to meet together as an organisation however the Committee have been meeting via “Zoom” and amongst other things are planning a series of activities using “Virtual” and “Digital” channels.

During 2020 we have obtained a number of grants for various items. In addition to the funders mentioned below we are grateful to DAERA Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2020, The Dept. for Communities Small Capital Grant Scheme and The National Lottery. When we are able to resume activities members will benefit from improvements to our facilities and also some new equipment. The grant from the Dept for Communities was in partnership with Annahilt Parish Church.

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As the Coronovirus pandemic continues in the province, the Association has continued to maintain contact with members and members of the community by further deliveries of “Essential items”. A December delivery included items specific to Christmas and on this occasion was largely funded by a grant from Tesco Bags of Help and the balance from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council funding and Movement for Good.

We have received many good wishes from receipients expressing their gratitude for the deliveries and thoughtfulness in the various contents. We have been fortunate in obtaining funding for these projects and wish to express our thanks to the various funders.

Items from the Christmas “Essential items” parcels for the community.

AgeNI provide a host of activities for the over 50s. Chatterboxes and Move with Mary to name a couple.

Click here here for the AgeNI website

In October Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council kindly permitted the re-allocation of the funds received under the Community Spirit Grant to be used for a further round of parcels of groceries and essential items for our community. The grant had originally been awarded for a planned activity for members and their families however with the increase of the spread of Covid-19 in late August the event was called off. As we were missing our usual September and October programme this month’s parcels had a Halloween theme. Once again thanks to the volunteers who organised and delivered the parcels.

At the beginning of July we delivered the final round of “Essential items” parcels to our community and once again thanks go to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for providing the funding to enable us help our community over the last few months of the pandemic. Many messages of appreciation were received over the months from recipients, thanking the Association for the very useful and thoughtful contents of the parcels, especially as most of the recipients were self-isolating at home and relying on other to bring them basic items. The Association committee would like to express thanks to Patricia for co-ordinating the project, obtaining supplies and packing the parcels and also those volunteers who delivered the parcels. Recently the Association were able to avail of a consignment of plants from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. A group of volunteer members under the guidance of Heather and Victor met to pot and plant the plants around the hall and Aughnaleck Crossroads. A new flower bed was created just outside the gates of the hall where a dry stone wall was repaired and the area dug over and planted with a variety of plants which will bring some colourful bloom to the crossroads in due course. More pictures will be found if you click on this link

Members pictured during “The big plant”

Some of the volunteers “Social Distancing” in the good weather when collecting parcels for delivery. L-R Gerry & Elizabeth Fleming, Len Wilson and Jim & Elizabeth Halliday

Further deliveries were made in June and another is planned for early July.

What have we in this month’s delivery?

Bagged and ready to go!

Larchfield Volunteers packing cars with parcels Heather Magowan, Patricia Halliday and Jim Halliday (Chairman). (11.5.2020)

Some of the committee members have been busy behind the scenes in recent days, putting together bags of essential foods and household items for members of the Association and community. This has been made possible with the assistance from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council under the Covid-19 Response grant. Further deliveries are planned for the coming weeks.

Some of the contents

Some of the “bags” ready for distribution.

We have set up an Association contact scheme and periodically some members of the committee will be contacting all members either by email, text or phone call (depending on which contact details we have for you).

Please feel free to contact one of the committee members if you are in need of essential items and we will do our best to arrange a solution for you.

Charities presentation evening Thursday 21st November 2019

Members of the Association pictured with representatives of 2019 Charities. David Dunwoody from MS Research QUB and Valerie Crawford and Jennie Campbell from Ballynahinch Counselling Services. The Charities received £900 each as a result of various fund raising activities during the year.(21.11.2019)

Registered as a Charity with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103278