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Welcome to Open Door’s 2022 Annual Report.
We are delighted to report that our centre has come through the travails of the Covid pandemic and is now fully open and fully operational. Our members are back in growing numbers and we appreciate more and more how much they missed being in the centre with our dedicated staff and friends. At this stage we can really look forward to better times but let’s not forget the magnificent work Rudy and his management team have done in the centre throughout the pandemic. They have managed to keep the centre ticking over, have taken every precaution necessary and have come out the other side with a relatively clean bill of health. It hasn’t been easy.
The centre is in good shape and we are now back with some new fundraising initiatives. On behalf of our Board, a sincere thank you to all our staff and members for staying with us through very testing times. I want to thank all our volunteers who continue to help us and finally to all our sponsors, big and small, for their help over this last year. We move on now with enthusiasm and renewed vigour knowing we can face any challenge that is put to us. Thank you everyone.
Cormac
Cormac Megannety
Chairperson
Click here to view a full list of Board Members
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January
We were delighted to welcome our members, staff and volunteers back to the Centre after the Christmas break.
Open Door received a HSE National Lottery Grant to replace the old, worn flooring in the 1st Aid room and in the Library. The overall project is to replace the carpet and tiling throughout the Centre. Thanks to previous grants the flooring in the kitchen, dining area and main activity room has also been replaced and gives a new brighter feel to Open Door.
Thanks to South Dublin County Partnership, Open Door received mentoring with Joanne O’Brien of Applejack Marketing and the expertise of Alan Dunne from Stubborn Monkey Media during the month of January. The video is available to view on our website or through the following link - https://youtu.be/m33De8N5CHQ
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Open Door continues to work on good governance, as part of an on-going process, in order to reassure supporters that all funds go towards activities for adults with physical disabilities in North Wicklow and South County Dublin.
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February/ March
Open Door was delighted to receive a Wicklow County Council Community Activities grant to purchase 5 Air purifiers to be used throughout the Centre. This equipment is recommended for use in group settings.
The Sugarloaf Lions Club table quiz took place on Thursday 10th March IN Greystones Rugby Club. This was the first ‘live’ quiz night since 2019 and it was very well supported. Many thanks to all at Sugarloaf for the generous donation of €3,000 as a result of this event.
Open Door received a grant from MHF to replace the carpet tiles in the Library and the 1st Aid room.
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April / May
The staff at AMGEN took part in a Step challenge and nominated Open Door as their beneficiary charity. A total of €5,000 was donated to Open Door to go towards the activities available to adults with physical disabilities.
We run our monthly in-house raffles for our members. Everyone enjoys this fun event which brings in approximately €110 per month. Please consider donating any items that may suit as prizes.
Our friends at Dargle Bridge Club presented Open Door with €400 to go towards the work of Open Door. These funds were as a result of Dargle Bridge Club’s Easter raffle.
Our members continue to enjoy the various activities available at the Centre. The art, ceramics, crafts and woodwork activities compliment the daily physiotherapy sessions. All funds received through donations and fundraising activities go towards these therapeutic activities for adults with physical disabilities.
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June
As in the previous two years, we could not hold our traditional lunch in the Centre due to Covid-19 restrictions We invited supporters and friends to post up photos on social media of their own socially distanced lunches and awarded prizes for the best pictures. A total of €2,685 was raised. Many thanks to everyone who donated to this event. We hope to return to our traditional Mid-Summer lunch in June 2023.
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Open Door was one of the charities nominated for the Tesco Community Fund in 3 local Tesco stores. A total of €1,213.98 was donated to Open Door as a result of this. (Pictured below is Audrey Sutton presenting Dermot Kane, Rudy Montejo, Peter Lawlor and Colin Little with the donation from Tesco, Vevay Road, Bray.)
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July
Last year, in 2021, Open Door decided to take on the challenge of covering 500 miles, during the month of July, using some of the Physiotherapy equipment available at the Centre. This challenge is a team effort by members, staff and volunteers to highlight some of the equipment available and also to help raise funds for the Centre. In 2022 we raised the challenge to 1,000 KM and through sponsorship and donations, a total of €1,626.79 was raised and this will go towards activities and materials for adults with physical disabilities.
The annual Sugarloaf Lions Club Golf Classic took place on Friday 29th of July. 25 teams played on the day. This event was held in aid of Open Door and the Sugarloaf Lions Club Christmas Food Appeal.
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August
The Centre was closed for the annual Summer break during the first two weeks of August.
Our collection boxes have been updated with a unique QR code to allow supporters to ‘Tap to Donate’ via their mobile phones.
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September
An Exhibition of Art, Ceramics, Mosaics and Woodwork by members of Open Door took place in the Centre on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd of September. Open Door received a grant from the Wicklow County Council ‘Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme 2022’ to help with associated costs. The exhibition was a success with a wide selection of artwork on display and for sale. The members enjoyed meeting the guests and the guests particularly enjoyed meeting the members and seeing them working on their craft pieces. It is our intention to run this as an annual event.
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Open Door was delighted to be one of the supported charities of the 2022 Kilmacanogue Horse Show. There was a presentation on Friday 9th September where a cheque for €2,000 was donated to the Centre.
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October
Mark Moore and a group of his colleagues in Microsoft completed a sponsored hike, in aid of Open Door, from Crone Woods to Djouce Mountain on Friday 14th October. Mark’s brother, Kevin, is a member at Open Door and this initiative is in appreciation of the help that Kevin receives at the centre.
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Open Door was awarded a grant of €3,000 towards physiotherapy for members of Open Door. This is a vital activity and funds must be raised annually in order to fund it.
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November
Nicky Cox had his golden locks cut in aid of Open Door. Through his iDonate fundraising page and off-line donations, Nicky raised €1,210.
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National Volunteer Day 19th November 2022. Many thanks to the many volunteers who help out with activities at Open Door.
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Martin Flanagan, long-time member at Open Door, created a beautiful mosaic and invited on-line donations in excess of €45. Cloud9 in Bray bid €250 and gave the artwork pride of place in their shop window. The following week, Roisin McGuinness saw the article on-line and decided to have her hair cut to raise funds for Open Door.
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Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can help through making a direct donation at www.opendoor.ie , providing raffle prizes for our fundraising events, donating supplies for Art, Woodwork and Craft, making Open Door your Charity of the Year, the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon or any one of our events listed on the calendar or by offering to volunteer at the Centre on a regular basis.
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Open Door is a registered charity (Charity Reg. No. 20014124) ( CHY No. 6987) and is signed up to the Governance Code and is a member of The Wheel and Charities Institute Ireland
Our accounts are available for inspection upon request
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