Glebe House / Harmony Community Trust Annual report for 2013.

1. A project funded by the EU’s PEACE III Programme man-
aged by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered by
the North Down, Ards and Down Peace III Partnership Board
Staff
Diarmaid McGarrigle Centre Manager
Angela Fitzpatrick Peace III Programme Worker to Dec 13 P/T
Marie Hoeritzhauer Peace III Programme Worker P/T
Karin McKinty Peace III Programme Worker
Julie Gibson Programme Worker
Andrew Kelly Programme Worker
Patrick O’Neill Cook P/T
Deborah Sharvin Administrator P/T to Dec 13
Bernie Armstrong Finance Officer P/T
Joanna Misiak Kitchen Assistant P/T to Sept 13
Committee Members
Helen Honeyman Chairperson
Rob Sterrett Vice Chair and Programme Cttee
David Boyd Hon.Treasurer Staff / Finance Cttee
Sharon Heaney Hon Secretary &Programme Cttee
Seamus Camplisson Council and Staff / Finance Cttee
Dee Kelly Council and Staff / Finance Cttee
Brenda O’Connor Council and Programme Cttee
David Patterson Council and Programme Cttee
Maureen Ridgway Council and Programme Cttee
Sheina Rigg Council and Programme Cttee
Ed Sipler Council
Margaret Magowan Programme Committee
Gerard McWilliams Programme Committee
Kate Acton Programme Committee to Dec 13

2. Chairperson’s Report
Harmony Community Trust activities for 2013 were concentrated on developing links between communities and individuals in North Down, Ards and
Down Districts. This was in line with our strategy adopted in 2010, to concentrate on promoting positive community relations and realise our aims and
objectives in the communities closest to Glebe House. This targeting has proved to be worthwhile by including participants in need of the opportunities
that Glebe House can offer and addressing sectarianism and hidden interfaces. We hope that our programme has helped in improving levels of trust
within and between communities, and decreasing levels of prejudice in the area. The EU Peace III phase 2 funding has been vital for our work, but we
have also been indebted to other funders enabling us to consolidate and extend the programme for long-term sustainability. We have not worked ex-
clusively within the Peace III cluster, but have welcomed groups from Belfast, Dublin and elsewhere.
We have provided 3681 person days to 736 disadvantaged children, and young people, 291 volunteers and 706 adults. There were 74 different
groups as well as individuals making use of our facilities with volunteers from 13 different countries.
The Council of Management worked hard during the year to ensure continuation of our work following the anticipated demise of Peace III funding in
December 2013 with the subsequent reduction in the staffing complement and the need to source programme and core funding from a variety of fun-
ders. The twelfth hour announcement of a Peace III extension until September 2014 has given us breathing space to adjust and we are confident that
our strategic planning sets us in good stead for much needed work in the future. The demand for our services continues to grow and Glebe House has
proved once more, its value as a shared and safe venue for cross-community activities for all ages.
Our challenge continues to be finding the funding necessary to sustain and extend this work in the future, continuing the ongoing task of overcoming
sectarianism, racism and other prejudices, in order to create a shared and inclusive society. We are up for the challenge but need the financial support.
Helen Honeyman ….Chairperson Harmony Community Trust Council of Management.
Children & Youth Programme
Disadvantaged children and young people from different backgrounds, have
worked together throughout the year on an evolving series of activities which
focused on developing their awareness of similar and different identities, beliefs
and attitudes thus leading to the promotion of good relations and a sense of
shared future. It has been encouraging to see the young people develop new
friendships, self-esteem and confidence whilst enjoying new, fun and positive
experiences. Glebe House has provided a safe, non-judgemental environment
allowing children to enjoy time away from difficulties they may be experiencing
at home. One of the older girls commented that this was her first ever residen-
tial as there were no opportunities in her area and her family couldn't afford to
pay for schools trips.
All young people are given the chance to express their feelings about their
Glebe House experience and it is heartening to read some of their comments,
which sum up the value of the programme!.
“It was the best time I have ever had in my life.....”
“I can’t wait to come back to see my friends and the donkeys...”
One girl said she had no garden to play in and no-one took her to the park or
for walks. That is what she loved about Glebe, as well as the way the "older
people" talked to her, made her laugh and let her play. Many children come
from rurally isolated areas and are lonely ,with few other children to play with.
Glebe House gives them the chance to make new friends and have new ex-
periences.
28 community groups took part in activities along with individually referred chil-
dren. Sustained contact over the year allowed leaders and children to build
relationships with several groups meeting outside of Glebe House. Some are
actively seeking funding to maintain their contact into 2014.
As we move to a shared future, there is still a need for the work HCT does, as
unfortunately, sectarianism and deprivation continue to exist in all areas. .
Sharon Heaney….Chairperson Children and Youth programme
Committee
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Adult Programme
The challenge of the Adult programme has been to ensure our activities
were underpinned by promoting understanding and addressing differ-
ence across community and cultural divides for people from rural areas.
The activities were a tool for providing opportunities for people from a
wide variety of backgrounds to meet and explore their shared and differ-
ing social, cultural, and religious backgrounds. As the participants devel-
oped deeper relationships and mutual trust, it was exciting to see the
development of dialogue and discussion that challenged misconceptions
as well as an eagerness for more challenging activities and study trips.
Whilst all activities have been fun, some, judging from feedback and
comments, have been very moving and emotional. It has also been a
meaningful experience for many participants and volunteers. The chal-
lenge is to consolidate and build on the learning experience that this
programme has provided and involve more groups.
The adult programme set out to develop cross community linkages
across the hidden interfaces in East Down. Diverse workshops, with a
community relations focus, developed links between people to begin
trust building. The study tours evoked memories and debunked a few
historical myths, whilst the day events provided people with space to
discuss and exchange views.
Workshops creating a Peace Quilt generated discussions about the
racist and sectarian attitudes which exist in the rural areas of Co. Down,
generating comments such as;
”Isn’t it grand that we’re all different but the whole quilt looks great” and
“It’s a pity the politicians can’t do the same for the country”
HCT has provided opportunities for people to explore various attitudes
to peace and reconciliation, developing an open mindedness to past
and present current affairs.
It is now incumbent on us to further enable neighbouring, but different,
communities to work together. We hope the ripple effect of this pro-
gramme may trickle down and give hope and inspiration to those engag-
ing in creating a shared society.
Dee Kelly, Chairperson Adult Programme Committee
Teenage Work Study Programmes
These have given disadvantaged young people aged 14 to 17, from different
communities, a chance to meet new people, make new friends, have new
experiences and get a taste of what it is like to be a volunteer. The pro-
gramme consisted of a mixture of practical projects at Glebe House, such as
tidying up the grounds and planting trees, as well as, teambuilding challenges,
talks about different forms of volunteering, visits and social activities. The
groups and individuals linked well together and met up after their programme
had finished to stay in contact socially. Some of the older teenagers have
become volunteers in their own community and at Glebe House. Some even
tried to take over Belfast City Hall by having their photographs taken in the
council chamber. Altogether 49 young people benefited from the programme
during the year. It was part funded by the Community Foundation for Northern
Ireland, whose support was much appreciated. We are hoping to expand this
programme in 2014 and beyond, particularly linking the voluntary work to
developing our environmental projects and creating an educational resource.

3. Volunteering, culture, craic and communities..2013
This year Glebe House would like to recognise the incalculable contribution
of the volunteers who are Harmony Community Trust. Our volunteers are a
very special group of individuals. They come from all walks of Northern
Ireland and world society, from Ballynahinch to Brisbane, representing all
shades of political opinion, religious persuasion and none, young and not so
young, with all of life’s experiences behind them. They make up what is
Harmony Community Trust, being the linchpin for the aims and spirit of the
organisation. This past year has been no exception. We have welcomed
volunteers from near and far, to work on our programmes, and keep their
heads when all about them are trying to fly flags.
We have a policy of recruiting local volunteers from the same communities
as the children. They know the children and local environment, which can
help with issues such as home sickness. Volunteers are involved in every
aspect of the children’s residential programme. They perform all the child-
care duties; run the activities and bring a funfilled and enthusiastic sense of
doing something positive for the right reasons. They can be working from
early morning until late in the evening for up to 6 days on the trot, but still
leave with smiles on their faces. They may be tired but it is well-earned and
after some rest and relaxation are back, ready to join the next residential.
Each year we host a number of overseas volunteers through Service Civil
International. The volunteers come from all over Europe but due to UK visa
restrictions, we have had problems with hosting non-EU volunteers. We
have relied on SCI-UK in Scotland to assist with this. Our successful ,if
complicated ,application to the UK Border Agency means we can now ac-
cept a limited number of non-EU volunteers. We are now looking at hosting
some long term volunteers, to be a part of the HCT community, through
organisations such as Service Civil International, Brethren Service, USA
and Eirene ,Germany. It is over 12 years since we had LTV’s at Glebe
House so this is an exciting development.
During the summer, we hosted 3 international volunteers, Klara from the
Czech Republic, Donata from Italy and Alison from New Jersey bringing a
bit of internationalism to our children’s programme. A big thank you to all
our summer volunteers including community leaders and local people from
everyone involved at Glebe House
Our annual International Workcamp ran for 2 weeks in early September in
association with the Irish branch of SCI. This year the 14 volunteers came
from Austria, Spain, Germany Italy, Hungary, Ireland, France, England and
Northern Ireland.. They were involved in a range of activities from the end of
summer clean up to environmental and construction work on our nature /
play area. There were a number of discussions relating to Northern Ireland
and the peace process and they went on a very wet trip to the UK City of
Culture 2013, taking in the historical sights and rain of the Maiden City.
Thanks are due for their hard work which is basic but invaluable for the
maintenance and development of Glebe House
Glebe House has become more than a residential centre. We run a
great number of day activities particularly during the midweek periods.
There are themed and seasonal Day Programmes for adults including
seniors, Workshops on a wide range of issues and skills and Study
Trips to places of social and cultural interest. Some activities are start-
ing to become annual events. For the last few years we have run a very
successful Mid -Summers evening and our Burns Night in January is
taking on a life of its own. Glebe House becomes Scottish for a day with
kilts, haggis, bagpipes, country-dances and readings and songs from
Robbie Burns. It’s a great night of Scottish culture and Northern Ireland
craic. Open Day, in June, our community fun day, is now a set event in
the local calendar, with over 600 people attending. Our children’s Sum-
mer Scheme and Saturday arts clubs are also becoming an established
part of our programme. They offer local children the opportunity to
experience a very creative arts programme run by Judith O’Neill.
A small group of volunteers who tend to get forgotten, but without
whom we would not exist, are our committee members. They sit in
meetings discussing legal issues, dealing with current government
legislation, getting their heads around budget figures and dealing with
the hidden side of what keeps a charity on track and delivering its aims.
They are the unsung volunteers with their hands firmly on the tiller of
Harmony Community Trust.
I would like to thank the Glebe House staff team for their commitment
and dedication to their work in delivering our very successful pro-
grammes over the last year. A special mention of thanks and apprecia-
tion must go to Angela Fitzpatrick and Debbie Sharvin who finished
their contracts with us in December. We also thank Joanna Misiak
(Asha) who finished in September.
Glebe House is a unique and special place for people of all ages. We
are continually trying to make sure our resources, facilities and activi-
ties are up to the highest standards. We rely on the support of the local
community in the Strangford and Kilclief area and are indebted to our
volunteers who give up their time to participate in our many pro-
grammes and activities.
We look forward to continuing the work of peace building and providing
new and unique experiences for all our visitors at Glebe House.
Diarmaid McGarrigle … Centre Manager

4. Fundraising and Sponsorship
We have been funded and supported during the year by the
North Down, Ards and Down Peace III Partnership, the
DHSS&PS Child Care Policy Directorate, BBC Children in
Need, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Com-
munity Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Big Lottery,
Awards for All and Down and Ards District Councils. We thank
them for enabling us to develop our cross-community work with
disadvantaged young people and adults from local community
groups. Because of the lack of statutory funding for community
relations programmes with children and young people, the
Peace III funding was much appreciated partly though its ad-
ministrative burden and funding conditions curtailed our capac-
ity to fundraise elsewhere both for groups from outside the
cluster area and for continuation funding. This became increas-
ingly urgent as the end date of December 31st loomed closer
and closer. The twelfth hour extension for Peace III, is helping
us to secure alternative funding to support our Good Relations
and peacebuilding programmes. We are also trying to re-
educate community groups about the need for contributions
towards the cost of our activities.
As usual we must thank the many individuals and local busi-
nesses who helped with donations and support for our various
fundraising events. We are grateful for the various gifts and
donations received from friends of HCT and Glebe House.
Open Day was a great success which we hope will be repeated
in 2014. Jams, Apples , sweeties and other items for sale con-
tinue to contribute a small income, but we need to increase
fundraising at all levels. We are on the look out for supporters
prepared to run fundraising events on our behalf as such non-
earmarked income is vital for our sustainability.
Gifts in kind and voluntary work help maintain the facilities and
programme at a minimal cost. During the year, we benefited
from the labours of DHSS&PS staff, and Voluntary Service
International in addition to our teenage groups, and a commit-
ted band of regular volunteers and committee members.
Incoming resources 2013 2012
Generated funds
Voluntary income * 79,393 179,893
Activities for generating funds 5,030 6,301
Charitable activities
Core grants * 32,343 32,343
Programme activities * 146,032 119,162
Total incoming resources 262,698 337,599
Resources expended
Cost of generating voluntary in-
come
6,855 5,881
Charitable activities * 271,711 280,092
Governance costs 1,490 7,715
Total resources expended 280,256 293,688
Net (outgoing) incoming re-
sources for the year
(17,358) 43,911
Funds brought forward 476,735 432,824
Total funds carried forward 459,377 476,735
* includes restricted funds income £33,899, £32,243 and £146,032 and costs
£237,895
BALANCE SHEET
31 March 2012
2013
£
2012
£
Fixed assets 468,728 468,020
Current assets
Debtors 15,270 86,864
Cash at bank and in hand 176 163
15,446 89,027
Creditors falling due within one
year
(24,797) (78,312)
Net current assets (liabilities) (9,351) 8,715
Net assets 459,377 476,735
Reserves
Unrestricted funds- general funds 33,351 32,411
Restricted funds – building and
capital grant
424,026 444,324
459,377 476,735
Summary of Financial Activities year ended 31 March 2013 Honorary Treasurer’s Report
The financial results for the year reflect a full year of programmes for
children and adults funded under the European Peace III initiative.
As ever, Council remain aware of the continuing increased chal-
lenges to come from restricted sources of funding, and in particular
the limited extended period of Peace III funding, and are devoting
their efforts to restructuring and further extending the sources of
income for future years.
It should be noted that the current market value of the land and
buildings is considered to be £0.7 million, which is still considerably
in excess of the carrying value in the balance sheet of £411,526.
David Boyd
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