Ballyhoura Development Annual Report 2022

2022

  • At Ballyhoura Development, we are inspired by the great vision and leadership demonstrated by local community groups across north Cork and east Limerick. They are the reason why we believe in community-led local development to build thriving and inclusive rural communities. 2022 continued a period of unprecedented challenge and change for our local communities, residents, and businesses. The arrival of large numbers of people fleeing the war in Ukraine, the continued social and economic interruption of Covid 19, and the growing climate crises generated substantial social, economic, and environmental challenges. Our belief in the power of people to come together and lead is stronger than ever.

Our Mission

  • Ballyhoura Development is a Community-Led Local Development Company...

    ...working in partnership, to develop empowered and inclusive communities that inspire and embrace new opportunities, drive positive sustainable social, environmental and economic change, and reduce inequalities.

    READ MORE about WHO WE ARE

Chairperson's Statement

  • In 2022, Ballyhoura Development, a community-led local development company, managed €6.5m of funding to support communities, families, and businesses across the Ballyhoura area. All services delivered were in line with the organisation's vision and mission to support more inclusive and sustainable communities and a diversified economy.

    Ballyhoura Development continued to evolve its services and supports in 2022, against the backdrop of the local impact of the War on Ukraine and an ever changing Covid-19 situation. This enabled us to respond flexibly to the range of locally identified needs, and to provide supports to local communities, families, and businesses. We believe that the ongoing challenges we faced together will make us all stronger than ever.

    Mary Laffan
    Chairperson of Ballyhoura Development CLG

Our Governance and Team

Our Team

  • A key strength of Ballyhoura Development is its dedicated and professional team, which is based in local communities. In 2022, Ballyhoura Development continued to support community groups to identify and respond positively to local challenges, through a range of social, economic, and environmental focused supports, programmes, projects, and initiatives. The speed and scale of the response to the war on Ukraine and the interruptions created as a result of Covid 19 enabled Ballyhoura Development to meet and exceed key programme targets. Ballyhoura Development continues to prioritise investment in local places and people, in raising awareness, improving knowledge, and developing capacity to respond and adapt to change.

    Read More About Our Team

Our Governance and Team

Our Board

  • The voluntary Board Members of Ballyhoura Development establish policies and priorities and provide strategic direction to the organisation. In 2022, their knowledge and experience was again critical in guiding the organisation. Contributing to ten Board meetings, with an average attendance of 70% of members, and numerous sub-committee activities, Board members volunteered over 400 hours of voluntary time in 2022. Implementation of strong governance frameworks supported the objective of maintaining public trust and confidence and enhanced Ballyhoura Development's reputation for quality, transparency, integrity, and accountability in its management.

    Board Elections continue to focus on achieving full gender balance and diversity of skills, expertise, and experiences to support community-led local development decision making.

    Read More About Our Board

Our Governance and Team

Independent Evaluation Committee


2022 at a Glance

  • €6.59m

    Total Funding Managed

    489

    Community Group Engagements

    7.77%

    Overall administration overhead %

    In 2022... Ballyhoura Development met or exceeded all of the key performance indicators set by its programme funders.

    91.05%

    Spent on Service Delivery

    4,210

    Individual engagements in education, training, employment & business supports

Our 2022 Programmes

2022 Highlights

Our Activities

  • 489

    Community group engagements

    791

    People received education, training, employment and business supports

    104

    People progressed to work

    86

    People progressed to further education and training

    91

    People participated in business training and mentoring

    883

    People engaged with the Community Food Initiative

    €1,004,117

    Paid out to LEADER projects

    85

    People participated in locally-led agriculture environmental schemes

    35

    Communities engaged with the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme

2022 Highlights

Community, Business, Tourism & Environmental Projects

  • 520

    Individuals were supported through the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme

    108

    People participated in the Living and Learning initiative

    91

    Children attended Afterschool Services

    352

    Helping Hands jobs completed


Our 2022 Case Studies

Read | Listen | Watch

Public Outreach

  • Being in and part of the community is hugely important to Ballyhoura Development.

    Ballyhoura Development delivers services and supports through outreach offices in the communities of Kilfinane, Kilmallock, Cappamore, Charleville and Mitchelstown. Local delivery strengthens our connections to and understanding of the communities and people we work with.

    Contact Our Outreach Offices

Public Outreach

  • Our website, www.ballyhouradevelopment.com continues to be a key communication tool for the organisation.

    Sharing information on all community resources & supports, training and upskilling workshops, parenting & mental health supports, funding opportunities and  local jobs is critical to raising awareness, building knowledge, improving capacity and increasing participation.

    Ballyhoura Development’s website & social media channels reached over 330,000 people through digital platforms in 2022, with total website users of 36,339, up 2% over 2021 and up 77% over 2020. The online audience breaks down at 61% Female and 39% Male. 


Our Sustainability Goals

Of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, some goals were particularly relevant to the work of Ballyhoura Development in 2022.

  • Goal 7 Affordable & Clean Energy
    Goal 8 Decent Work & Economic Growth
    Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities
    Goal 11 Sustainable Cities & Communities
    Goal 13 Climate Action
    Goal 16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

    Our vision of Ballyhoura as an area with empowered, inclusive communities, and a diversified economy reflects the organisation's commitment to inclusion, to a just transition and to a greener, more sustainable future.

    Ballyhoura Development manages, coordinates and implements a wide range of local, regional, national and European projects focussing on the three pillars of community development, economic development and environmental development. 

    In so doing, social, environmental, and economic sustainability concerns are inextricably linked, and Ballyhoura Development fosters innovative approaches to ensure that each of these issues are addressed in tandem to progress toward a just transition and a greener, more sustainable future in which nobody is left behind. 

    This work, guided by the principles of partnership, participation, and maintaining a bottom-up approach, means that Ballyhoura Development’s work is always closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

2022 Financials

  • In 2022, Ballyhoura Development managed its funding and achieved its outcomes, operating on an overall administration and overhead percentage of 7.77%.

    Ballyhoura Development applies the concepts of integrity, accuracy, transparency, reliability, confidentiality and proper disclosure and presentation in all of its operations. In managing local, national and EU funding, Ballyhoura Development complies with international best practice in the management of public funding. The accounting administration is based on (i) Recognised accounting principles, which have been translated into clear practical procedures, (ii) Public accountability and (iii) EU and State funding conditions including Commission Regulations.

2022 Financials

Breakdown of Funds by Government Department

  • Community-led local development actions and supports delivered by Ballyhoura Development are funded through a range of local, regional, national and EU competitive funding calls.

    Ballyhoura Development designs, develops and delivers its programmes, projects and initiatives along five Operating Principles. These are (i) strategic and innovative, (ii) integrated and connected, (iii) partnership and collaboration, (iv) resilience and sustainability, and (v) evidence and results. These principles guide Ballyhoura Development's approach when seeking, delivering, managing and reporting on public funding.

    The increased funding in 2022 is accounted for by the variances in sources of funding reflected funding availability and programme and project timeframes and life cycles.

    Download the Full Financial Statement

2021 Financials

Breakdown of Programme Delivery Related Expenses

  • While overall funding for programme delivery in 2022 was largely in line with 2021, variances may be seen within the funding make up.

    The variances are a reflection of Ballyhoura Development's response to identified community needs, funding programme timeframes and lifecycles, the local economy, and changing social and environmental factors, all of which have an impact on access to and management of funding programmes.

    Download the Full Financial Statement

Awards, Accreditation & Certification

Ballyhoura Development is committed to maintaining strong and transparent governance systems and to delivering quality professional services and supports to benefit local communities. The company strategy and activities are aligned with the development priorities of local communities, civil society, and regional and national government to create added value, and are recognised through compliance with.

  • EIQA Q Mark for Quality Management Systems

  • The Charities Regulator Good Governance Code, a Code of Practice for Good Governance of Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations in Ireland

  • The All-Ireland Business Foundation all Start Accreditation

  • Aontas Adult Learning All Star Awards

  • SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities

Testimonials

  • "'Just wanted to let you know that we are incredibly grateful to our wonderful Development Officer for the help and efficiency. She has outstanding organisational skills. We are extremely grateful for the information night that she organised for the newly arrived Ukrainian refugees back in March. We got help when we needed."

    Community Member

       

    1. "I have been involved in courses and such with Ballyhoura for 6 years. I found Ballyhoura very good to give tasters of courses and have an outlet for parents to come to for advice and support I love how welcoming the employees are and how you don't feel downgraded because you can't afford private courses etc that are provided elsewhere. I enjoy going to Hill View Community Centre and having the support and new skills from what Ballyhoura Development brings to the community. I hope more is to come and the future is brighter with it.”

      Training Participant

         

      1. "Thanks so much that you have made it so much better. I really appreciate the help."

        SYOB Client - Re: Business Plan Review

           

        1. "I am so grateful to the Ballyhoura organisation for their constant help and support. We’re refugees from Ukraine. Many people helped us by donating the cot, the changing table, some clothing and the stroller for my newborn son. Also, when I couldn’t find some places, and I had some questions, they always helped as they could. Also, they proposed clubs for kids to visit. I am so excited to deal with this organisation."

          Ballyhoura resident, who recently arrived from Ukraine

             

          1. "Happy Friday! Just letting you know that my application for STEA was approved. Thanks again for all your help."

            SYOB Client

               

            1. "Thanks so much for that. The course was fantastic, I learned a lot from it and of course it was also a lovely opportunity to network with other local ladies in business."

              SYOB Client

                 

              1. "It was so great to meet you,  and receive all this helpful advice from you. Now I feel much clearer going forward."

                SYOB Client

                   

                1. "I am so happy that I joined the Healthcare Opportunities for Women programme, it was tough at times, particularly with the online classes in Covid, but I made it through and have two major awards in Healthcare. I definitely couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of Ballyhoura Development, the tutor and my class mates. I have made friends for life!"

                  Healthcare Opportunities for Women Programme Participant

                     

                  1. "The Healthcare Opportunities for Women programme has changed my life! I was a stay at home mom looking after a child with high dependency needs and I didn’t think I would ever be able to get out and get a job. This course gave me so much more than a qualification, it gave me confidence, skills and most importantly lifelong friendships. I now have a job which fits in with my family life and I love it!"

                    Healthcare Opportunities for Women Programme Participant

                       

                    What's Next

                    • Ballyhoura Development will maintain the present focus on facilitating communities, families, individuals, and businesses across the Ballyhoura Development area to participate in community-led local development, and on the design and development of solutions to local social, economic and environmental challenges.

                      A key ambition for the Board is to continue to deliver an integrated service on the ground, using community development methodologies to achieve integrated rural development and resilient communities. This requires us to remain focused on local places and people and move beyond individual programme key performance indicators of success. Not always easy but something that has stood Ballyhoura Development and local communities well over time.

                      The organisation will continue to work with partners to source new programme, project and initiative resources to deliver the three core aims of (i) Inclusive Communities, (ii) Environmental Sustainability and (iii) a Diversified Economy.

                      The challenges of securing funding on a consistent basis, to deliver on the company's vision and mission are noted by the Directors, particularly in light of the diversity of procurement processes, the annualised nature of many of the available funds, the increased diversity of fund sources, and fund contract types.