2025 Annual Report

A message from Jonathan Donnelly, Chairperson

Welcome to Open Door’s 2025 Annual Report.  This is my second year as Chairperson of Open Door Trust and I am proud to be part of the team.  This year Open Door celebrates 41 years of supporting people in the community.  As you will read below, 2025 was a busy year at the Centre with new members enjoying the facilities and activities provided.  

While Open Door is part funded by the HSE, we are constantly fundraising and applying for grants to meet the deficit each year.  

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

We were delighted to welcome our members, staff and volunteers back to the centre after the Christmas break.   It was great to see everyone catch-up with their fellow members and to start back into their activities.  

We continue to run our monthly in-house raffles which our members really enjoy.  Thank you to those who donate prizes for this fun event, you are helping to fund the 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.

February

Open Door hosted a coffee morning on February 13th.  This was our first coffee morning since 2020 and it was a well attended event which raised fuds through donations and a raffle.  The objectives of the coffee morning were to increase awareness, to attract new supporters and to invite new members to the Centre.  The plan is to host two or three such events per year.

ABBOTT

Following a nomination and a pitch for Open Door, we were selected as the chosen Charity Partner for Abbott Pharmaceutical in Cherrywood.  This followed a vote involving 12 charities.  This charity partnership will run for 2025 and 2026.  There are already some great suggestions of upcoming fundraisers and the aim is to fund a new bus for Open Door by the end of 2026.

March

Open Door received a grant from Monkstown Hospital Foundation to purchase six steerable Knee Walkers, five self-propel wheelchairs and two transit wheelchairs.  This equipment compliments our stock of wheelchairs for our lending service to the general public.

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 nigh

April

Open Door received a generous donation from the Royal Hotel Bray and the McGettigan family.   This will go towards the various activities available at the Centre.

May

National Volunteering week took place from 19th May to 25th  May.  Many thanks to the wonderful volunteers who help out with activities at Open Door.  

Nicky had his long blond head shaved in 2020 and in 2022 to raise funds for Open Door.  This year he has, once again, decided to lose his locks as a fundraiser for the Centre.  The event took place on 31st May at Nicky’s family home and a total of €3,090 was raised.

Anne and Michel Mullen, on behalf of Dargle Bridge Club, presented Open Door with €1,000 as a result of their recent raffle.

Open Door received a grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund for €3,000 towards physiotherapy at the Centre.  Physiotherapy is one of Open Door’s biggest expenses and it is a vital activity for our many members. 

June

Lesley, a member of Open Door for over 12 years, took on the challenge to walk 10K for Open Door.  She completed the walk from Inch to Arklow on 1st of June with her trainer, Pat.  A total of €2,959 was raised for Open Door.

The Summer Open Door Exhibition took place from Monday 16th June to Friday 20th June, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm each day.  The exhibition allowed friends and supporters to view the various pieces of art, crafts, ceramics and woodwork and to meet with the members.

Ardmore Rovers held a Managers Charity Match on 7th of June and raised a total of €2,867.79 to go towards the activities at Open Door.

July

Open Door was awarded a 2025 HSE National Lottery grant to go towards the purchase of a Scarva printing press with accessories for Art & Crafts together with an extruder, slab roller, uderglazes and hand sieves for Ceramics and a new mitre saw for Woodwork.  This equipment enhances the activities and allows members to learn new skills.

Open Door’s July coffee morning was a great success thanks to the wonderful volunteers from Abbott.

August

The Centre was closed for the annual summer break during the first two weeks of August.

September

Members, staff and volunteers Members and staff at Open Door in Bray decided to take on the challenge of covering 1,000 miles (1,609km, during the month of September, using some of the Physiotherapy equipment available at the Centre.  Through sponsorship, a total of €890 was raised.

Open Door was one of the charities supported by the Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show Society in 2025 and received a cheque for €2,200 at the presentation in the Enniskerry Inn on 29th of September. 

October

Microsoft’s ‘Give’ campaign took place during the month of October.  Mark Moore and his team set up an Open Door stand and raffled some of the members’ artwork, woodwork and ceramics.  They raised just over €1,000.

In the interest of Health & Safety, Open Door replaced the old draughty windows in the Centre which has made big difference to the comfort in the building.  Unfortunately this was a major outgoing of almost €25,000 and we are appealing for any donations to try to re-coup the cost.

Padraig McCaul & Donal O’Connor gave an afternoon performance of music and songs and helped to raise funds through ticket sales.  The concert was also a preview for the November Art/Ceramics and Woodwork Exhibition.

November

Sugarloaf Lions Club held a Table Quiz in aid of Open Door on November 6th at Greystones Rugby Club.  It was a well attended and fun event.  Open Door was presented with a cheque for €2,000 as a result of the quiz and raffle.

December

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.

Many thanks to our friends, volunteers and supporters for everything in 2025.  Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

2025 Accounts