On Friday 16th December 2022, Flax Trust Arts was delighted to host its annual Christmas concert in Holy Cross Church, Belfast in aid of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Master of Ceremonies was James McGinn The concert featured many of our festive favourites, with performances by the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra including ‘ O Come […] Read more – ‘Flax Trust Arts Christmas Concert at Holy Cross Church, Belfast, Friday 16th December.’.
The local community has established the ARDOYNE BONE COMMUNITY HEALTH & LEISURE TRUST (ABC Health & Leisure Trust) Has now secured NI Charity Commission Approval. Flax Trust is working in collaboration with ABC Trust and Sports NI to develop proposals for a Community Regeneration project in Ardoyne, North Belfast, on the site of the former […] Read more – ‘COMMUNITY REGENERATION PROJECT, North Belfast’.
Flax Trust provided individual Educational/Training Bursaries to young people from North Belfast to assist in the furtherance of their education, studying a wide variety of disciplines. School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI) SSEI is the sole organisation in Ireland devoted exclusively to leadership, management and business development programmes and events for the social economy […] Read more – ‘3rd Level Education’.
A Welcome Statement. During 2019, our portfolio of clients continued to grow as the CVSE sector continued to thrive and innovate. Our clients continue to demonstrate the best that exists in all of us, as is clear from the shortlisted client stories here. UCIT Group is a unique organisation. We support communities right across the […] Read more – ‘UCIT trading as Community Finance Ireland annual report and accounts.’.
UCIT Chairman’s Report During the past year, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) and Community Finance (Ireland) have continued to expand their activities and influence in the Third Sector across the island of Ireland. Despite the presence of challenges within the sector, our Group enjoyed exceptional levels of lending to the Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise […] Read more – ‘UCIT Annual Report 2019’.
On 4th July, 23 Advanced Diploma Recipients of Flax Trust Bursaries at SSEI Graduated from Ulster University Business School in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland is a Flax Trust/Ulster University initiative. It is devoted exclusively to leadership, management, business development and events for the social economy sector. Read more – ‘School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI)/Ulster University Business School Graduation 4th July 2019’.
UCIT Chairman’s Report Two clear themes have emerged over the past decade – a reduction in the level of grant support which has made life more challenging for the Community, Voluntary, Charity and Social Economy sectors and a reduction in the appetite of mainstream funders to provide finance into the sector and to the wider […] Read more – ‘UCIT Annual Report 2018’.
Chairman’s Foreword Welcome to NB Housing 2015/16 Annual Report and year 2 post merger. With all mergers, it takes some time for systems and procedures to bed down and become properly effective. We are confident that significant progress has been made and we are well placed to continue to enhance and improve our operations moving […] Read more – ‘Housing Associations CEO & Chairman’s Report 2016’.
Flax Foyer has been operating for 17 years and has worked with hundreds of young people. While many have successfully embraced the opportunities, academic and otherwise, available, others have not been ready for the help offered. Not all success is measured in academic achievement – just helping a young person rebuild a bridge back into […] Read more – ‘The Flax Foyer’.
UCIT Chairman’s Report Over the last 15 years, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) has provided funding to over 400 community organisations, charities and social enterprises who realistically would not otherwise have had access to loan finance. This has helped create employment, attract investment, bind communities and stimulate economic activity, in areas often marked by social […] Read more – ‘UCIT Annual Report 2016’.
The Advanced Diploma in Social Enterprise is presented by SSEI in collaboration with the Ulster University Business School. Funding is mainly provided in the form of £1000 bursaries through the Flax Trust without which this programme would not be viable. Introduction & Overview The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI) is the sole organisation in Ireland […] Read more – ‘Advanced Diploma in Social Enterprise 2016’.
Chairman’s Foreword NB Housing is the new Housing Association that has developed after the successful merger of Filor and Flax Housing Associations in May 2014. Following all the complex arrangements needed to complete the merger, we are pleased to present this 1st Annual Report outlining the achievements on behalf of the Association and our tenants […] Read more – ‘Housing Association Chairman & CEO’s Report 2015’.
The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI) is the sole organisation in Ireland devoted exclusively to leadership, management and business development programmes and events for the social economy sector. Founded in 2005, SSEI was formed as a strategic alliance between The Flax Trust and Ulster University, designed to promote sustainable community enterprise and economic […] Read more – ‘Advanced Diploma in Social Enterprise 2015’.
Chairman’s report Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) has enjoyed another busy and productive year in financial, operational and capacity terms. During 2015 UCIT approved loans of £6.27m across 56 different Charities, Community Organisations and Social Enterprises in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This brings our total loan commitments, since the drawdown of our […] Read more – ‘UCIT Chairman & CEO Report 2015’.
UCIT Chairman’s Report 2015 Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) has enjoyed another busy and productive year in financial, operational and capacity terms. During 2015 UCIT approved loans of £6.27m across 56 different Charities, Community Organisations and Social Enterprises in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This brings our total loan commitments, since the drawdown […] Read more – ‘UCIT Chairman’s Report 2015’.
UCIT Chief Executive’s Report During 2014 we received the final loan repayment from one of our very first borrowers, Eskra Community Association. The organisation borrowed £40,000 during 2001 to meet the shortfall in a funding package for the building of a childcare centre which it was hoped would contribute to a wider strategy to halt […] Read more – ‘UCIT Chief Executive’s Report 2014’.
Prof Ken O’Neill Chair SSEI, Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship University of Ulster is presented with cheque for Bursaries and Master Classes by Sr. Mary Turley and Fr. Myles Kavanagh Flax Trust with Prof Jackie McCoy Director University of Ulster/QA Business School Partnership London & Birmingham/Director SSEI The Masterclass Series Review The Masterclasses in the Social […] Read more – ‘School for Social Enterprises in Ireland/SSEI’.
Chairman’s report 2013 It was my privilege to take over as Chairman of UCIT (Ireland) last year and I am very pleased to report that 2013 has again been a success. Despite ongoing difficult economic conditions we have continued to grow our operations and reputation as one of the leading social finance providers in the […] Read more – ‘Ulster Community Investment Trust 2013’.
Following on from the success of the first fives events in the ‘Social Enterprise Means Business’ Masterclass series we are delighted to announce the School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI) held the sixth and final event “The Future of the Sector” at Skainos, 240 Newtownards Road, Belfast on 27th November 2012. Read more – ‘School Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI)’.
A new series of Masterclasess for policy makers, social entrepreneurs, investors, public sector managers and business leaders whose sponsors include The Flax Trust and the Social for Social Enterprises in Ireland, commenced in February of this year. Topics included Environment & Recycling; Culture & Regeneration; Social Enterprise as a Vehicle for Social Inclusion and Physical […] Read more – ‘The Social Economy – Delivering the Big Society?’.
Sparking the Imagination ‘A Primary School Project’ Interim Report to Funders Dear Father Myles: On behalf of the members of Sparking the Imagination ‘A Primary School Project, I am pleased to submit this report on project activities in 4 participating schools in the North Belfast area, supported by a grant from the Flax Trust and […] Read more – ‘Sparking the Imagination – A Primary School Project – December 2010 Report’.
1 Statement of Change of Direction. In 2005 the economic situation on Northern Ireland had very much improved. People could move out of their own areas to seek employment without fear of assassination. The economic work of the Flax Trust at a local level had been completed when there were more jobs than there were […] Read more – ‘The Educational Centre’.
Download the Annual Report 2012 and the Appointment of Harry McDaid. Download the Chairman’s report. Sustainable Investment in Ireland (1995 – 2009) Chairman’s Foreword It’s all too easy to forget that behind every enterprising community there is a story about the visionaries who are determined to revitalize their community. The following reflects on that determination […] Read more – ‘Ulster Community Investment Trust LTD’.
The Sparking the Imagination Project based in the School of Education at the University of Ulster has secured external funding from the Flax Trust to undertake a project on the development of self-esteem with pupils at Foundation Stage (age range 4-6 years) in Belfast. The project entitled, Sparking the Imagination was launched in 2007 and due to […] Read more – ‘A Primary School Project: Sparking the Imagination’.
Belfast Local Television (BLTV) is a local cable network broadcaster developed by the Flax Trust. The station serves a population of approximately 15,000 people in North Belfast and has a core staff of 8 augmented by community volunteers. It has a multi-purpose television studio, production and post-production facilities. Read more – ‘Belfast Local Television (BLTV)’.
The Ardoyne Community Healthcare Centre was established in 1990 as a community response to the lack of access to Health Services within Ardoyne. With the support of Flax Trust and the local community the Centre is the home of various Health provisions such as a G.P. surgerywith over 3,000 patients. There are two GPs, a […] Read more – ‘Ardoyne/Shankill Healthy Living Centre’.
Advice The advice centre has come to the end of another extremely busy year. The centre is one of the great success stories for the Ardoyne Association and remains a vital service for all in our community and the wider North Belfast Community. Advice remains at the very heart of the Ardoyne Association with over […] Read more – ‘Ardoyne Association’.
Brief History: The need for the Flax Centre in this deprived area of North Belfast was identified through the organization of a house to house survey carried out by the Ardoyne Association. Fundamental to the project was the inclusion of a health centre. A development fund was set up at the beginning of 1986 to […] Read more – ‘The Flax Centre’.
The Flax Housing Association was founded in 1987 by members of the Flax Trust, a charitable body operating in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast. The purpose of forming the Housing Association was to provide affordable, quality housing for persons in necessitous circumstances in the Association’s catchments area. Since formation the Association has expanded its […] Read more – ‘The Flax Housing Association Ltd’.
North Belfast and its communities suffered greatly during the Troubles and have continued to be constrained by social and sectarian difficulties. Now, however, a committed coalition of its community, church and schoolsis collaborating to realise a shared vision for the future provision of Catholic education in the area. Read more – ‘Creating New Choices Through Education In North Belfast’.
The Ardoyne Community Health Care Centre houses the Day Centre for the elderly, a GP Surgery and the Healthy Living Project remplacer viagra. It is a community led centre meeting the needs of the people. The Day Centre offers the opportunity for the eldery to be socially included in the community, with a range of […] Read more – ‘Ardoyne Health Care Centre’.
Bannside Development Centre in Portadown houses several cross-community organizations and projects which exist to cater for the identified social, economic and welfare needs of the local community and surrounding areas. Read more – ‘Bannside Project’.
The Belfast Beacon has now established itself as the preferred technology/networks solutions provider to the target area within North Belfast. Read more – ‘Belfast Beacon’.
Horizon magazine was established in 1980 as a news sheet and has developed over the years into a 32 page glossy and colour magazine. It’s a monthly magazine and covers North Belfast. It is also distributed by subscription to other countries such as USA, Australia, the UK & Republic of Ireland. The main aim of […] Read more – ‘Horizon Magazine’.
