The Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre’s chair Charlie O’Donnell paid a ‘massive thank you to the staff, directors, and service users for contributing to the phenomenal, continued support to local people during Tuesday’s AGM in Creggan.

Today, around 2000+ people come through the doors of the OLT Healthy Living Centre at Central Drive each week to avail of a wide range of physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing programmes, activities, and events.

OLT chairperson Charlie O’Donnell welcomed members, users, and public attendees, before giving an overview of the year’s activities, after which he went on to praise the board, staff, and service users for their continued commitment throughout what was another challenging but highly supportive year.

After the minutes were approved, the annual accounts were presented by James Nash (Moore Stephens), who congratulated OLT on great work that was evident at the AGM and highlighted a sound financial performance for the year ending.

Taking the floor to give his annual report, project director George McGowan gave an overview of the year’s highlights and challenges faced by the organisation and service users. Marking that it was his sixth AGM as project director, he paid tribute to the directors and staff for their continued valuable work and commitment while also acknowledging all the Old Library Trust’s funders ‘without whom the work and operation of the Health Living Centre would not be possible’.

Programmes Manager Sabrina Lynch emphasised the strategic priorities of the organisation and made special mention of the critical role that the whole team have played in supporting local people during another period of uncertainty and challenge with the impact of the cost of living affecting peoples financial, physical, and mental wellbeing.

She then called on individual service delivery summaries from the organisation’s programme co-ordinators including Sinead Devine, Jonathan Peberdy, Julie White and Sharon Doherty.

Positive service user stories and testimonials as well as voice messages from programme participants were recalled by co-ordinators during the presentations which painted a very encouraging light on how the organisation’s programmes have local people’s needs at the forefront of everything they do. Service users praised OLT staff for their help in making such a positive contribution to their lives. This concluded with a short video giving an overview of the year’s main highlights and activities.

Project Director George McGowan concluded the AGM by emphasising the organisations continued commitment to local people by stating.

“Everything we do here is for the benefit of the local community. We listen, engage, and design our programmes and services to address the health and wellbeing issues that this community face day and daily. This community deserves to, and has the right to, receive the proper support like anywhere else in the city & district or across the North. We will advocate on your behalf, elevate your voice, and continue to make sure that you, your loved ones, family, and friends are afforded every opportunity to improve your quality of life and general health and wellbeing.”

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