2024 Annual Report
A message from Jonathan Donnelly, Chairperson
Welcome to Open Door’s 2024 Annual Report. This is my first year as Chairperson of Open Door Trust and I very much enjoy being part of the team. This is a special year for Open Door as we celebrate 40 years of supporting people in the community. 2024 was also a busy year at the Centre with a number of new members benefitting from the various activities available to adults with physical disabilities. We are constantly working at improving and upgrading our existing equipment. While Open Door is part funded by the HSE, we have a deficit of over €100,000 per annum which must be met through fundraising events, grants and donations. Please consider Open Door as one of your chosen charities. You will be helping to fund activities including physiotherapy, art, woodwork and crafts for people with physical disabilities. Thank you to all who support Open Door, it is very much appreciated.
Jonathan Donnelly
Chairperson
Open Door is partially funded by the Health Service Executive. We are constantly fundraising in order to meet the deficit. Our friends and supporters help through participating in events such as table quizzes, exhibitions, the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, our annual Mid-Summer Lunch and various challenges including our 800 mile challenge. Many thanks to all who help to raise funds. Please consider Open Door as one of your chosen charities.
The following is a snapshot of some of the events that have taken place throughout the year.
January
It was a pleasure to welcome our members, staff and volunteers back to the centre after the Christmas break. Everyone was eager to meet up with their fellow members and to start into their activities.
We are very grateful to The Hospital Saturday Fund for their generous grant of €3,000 towards physiotherapy. This is one of our major costs and it is a vital activity to help with mobility, balance and muscle tone.
February
Artist Padraig McCaul, brother of our member Brian McCaul, kindly gave an art demonstration to members, staff, volunteers and supporters on 29th of February. Padraig then kindly donated one of his original paintings to be used to raise funds. Martin Flanagan presented Padraig with one of his mosaics as a ‘Thank You’.
We run monthly in-house raffles for our members. Everyone enjoys taking part in this fun event which brings in funds to go towards the many activities available at the Centre. Please consider donating any items that may suit as prizes.
Thank you to those who use our clothes recycling bank. Small things like this continue to bring in some much needed funding for Open Door.
Open Doo clothes recycling bank
March
The Sugarloaf Lions Club table quiz in aid of Open Door took place in Greystones Rugby Club on Thursday March 14th. It was a well attended event with lots of laughter during the evening. Thank you to all at Sugarloaf Lions Club for the generous donation of €2,000 as a result of the quiz night.
April
We received a grant from MHF for funding to purchase physio aids including wrist cuffs and forearm shells for hand fixation to complement our MotoMed bikes. This equipment is in daily use and is helping many of our members during their physiotherapy sessions.
Loreto Secondary School Bray held a market event to raise funds for Open Door. The students showcased and sold naked goods, books, crafts and also some artwork by members of Open Door. The school raised €1,009.13 to go towards the work of Open Door.
May
Open Door was a County Finalist in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024. Unfortunately we did not get through to the National Finals.
Open Door received funding from the Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme 2024 which will be used to cover the cost of materials for our upcoming Art/Crafts/Ceramics and Woodwork Exhibition.
National Volunteering week took place from 20th May to 26th May. Many thanks to the wonderful volunteers who help out with activities at Open Door.
June
Our Art/Crafts/Ceramics & Woodwork Exhibition took place from Monday 17th of June until Monday 24th June. The event was a great success and raised over €2,000 from sales of artwork. Our members were very much encouraged to see so many red stickers on their work and they enjoyed being part of this creative fundraiser.
The Open Door Mid-Summer Lunch took place on Saturday 22nd of June. 84 guests enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by John Tutty, Christopher Daly and Christina Edge. Many thanks to all who helped to make this event a success, particularly the chefs, the sponsors and of course the guests. There was also a raffle on the day and Fiona Molloy was the lucky winner of the original Padraig McCaul painting.
July
Open Door received a HSE National Lottery Grant to upgrade the bank of computers used by members and staff. The new equipment is in regular use and is a great help to our many service users.
Open Door received a Wicklow County Council Community Award grant of €400 to go towards physiotherapy costs.
August
The Centre was closed for the annual summer break during the first two weeks of August.
Local man, Ray Glynn, passed away suddenly 5 years ago. His family were devastated to lose him and decided to do something very special as a tribute to Ray. His two sons, Zach and Josh cycled from Malin Head to Mizen Head over 4 days. The boys not only completed this challenge but they also raised €6,000 for Open Door. When in secondary school, the boys did their work experience in Open Door and felt that their Dad would have approved of their choice of charity
September
This year we set a new target of 900 miles as our challenge for September. The challenge involves members, staff and volunteers clocking up mileage using the treadmill, the exercise bikes and the cross trainer. Justyna, our Physiotherapist kept a daily record of the distances covered and at the end of the month we had surpassed our target by 88 miles and raised €2,325 through sponsorship. The new treadmill funded by Monkstown Hospital Foundation was put to good use during this challenge.
Open Door was one of the charities supported by the Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show Society in 2024. Open Door was presented with a cheque for €2,000 at a ceremony in Enniskerry on September 30th.
The Chinese Moon Festival was celebrated by the Southside Chinese Residents Association on 21st September. There was a raffle on the day which raised €2,565 for Open Door.
October
Open Door received a very moving anonymous letter and a generous donation from the family of Louise, their Hero. They told us that Louise was the light of their life and is missed and loved beyond words every day. "During her short life, Louise put a smile on everyone's face that she met." The family asked that we would remember Louise by putting up a plaque, sending a helium balloon up in the sky or just looking up to heaven to thank Louise for her donation. We thank Louise's family for supporting Open Door as well as other worthy charities. Our members created a ceramic tile in memory of and in honour of Louise.
In October, a team of 5 Microsoft employees arrived to Open Door to volunteer as part of their ‘GIVE’ month. They spent the morning power washing the walls which made quite a difference. In the afternoon, Mark Moore and his associates gave a demonstration of AI which was very informative for our members, volunteers and staff. Microsoft made a donation for every hour that each employee volunteered which amounted to €1,000.
November
Our Winter Art/Crafts/Ceramics & Woodwork Exhibition ran from 25th to 29th of November. Many friends and supporters attended this event and took the opportunity to purchase unique Christmas gifts while also supporting the activities at Open Door.
It was an honour to receive a Community Award at the 2024 Bray & District Chamber Endeavour Awards. The presentation took place at the Mermaid Arts Centre on November 21st.
December
Loreto Past Pupils Association held a fundraising event for Open Door and donated €500 to Open Door.
There were Christmas celebrations with mince pies, chocolates and refreshments in the run up to the Christmas break. Thank you to all who donated raffle prizes, mince pies, soft drinks, sweets and cake.
Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
