Ardrossan Whitlees Community Centre Association this week launched its consultation with the help of funding from the Big Lottery.

Residents of Ardrossan, guests of the association and members of the centre congregated on Wednesday, November 13 to officially launch the initative.

Over the next month or so, the volunteers at the centre will be out and about in the town conducting interviews with local residents on what they would like to see introduced at the centre. This will be extended to the bottom of the town with research taking place in Asda, Glasgow Street as well as questioning other community groups on what they would like to see.

Sharon Kennedy, Chair of the association said: “The launch went very well, about 40 people turned up and everyone was interested in the project and were very enthusiastic about taking it further. The launch day was key for making useful connections such as those from the Richmond Fellowship and CLASP.” A report of the findings of the consultation will be produced by the end of March 2014 and a three-year action plan will be devolped thereafter but it is clear what some of the people want already, Sheena Campbell, lead consultant for the project, said: “Access to the internet seems to be a recurring theme. This can be used to search for jobs, help people who lack basic skills and even those applying for benefits. The cafe is also universally valued and we will no doubt be considered in the three-year plan.” Katy Clark, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran attended the event and said afterwards: “I was delighted to attend the launch of Ardrossan Community Speaks. The Whitlees Community Association have delivered a great service to the local community over many years and their annual gala is a day I always try to keep clear in my diary. It speaks volumes for the people involved in the association that they are running this project to ensure that they provide the best possible service to the local community. The funding they have secured means that with the help and engagement of local people the association can develop a new programme of activities and services for the area which best meets and interests of the people of Ardrossan. I very much look forward to seeing the project develop and supporting it in any way I can.” Councillors for Ardrossan and Arran, John Hunter and Tony Gurney were also in attendance and John Hunter said: “I am very pleased at the money that the Whitlees Centre has received and I am sure that the efforts put in by the volunteers will be successful. The future of the centre is certainly looking bright and I hope that it will be there for a number of years to come. I would personally like to thank volunteers for the number of years service they have put in, they are a credit to the community.” Councillor Gurney is also very excited about the funding and added: “The funding will help to make the community better, it’s so exciting to see. The people of the Whitlees Centre are taking control and this funding is what the community is all about. Not everybody sees the centre as part of their community and I hope that this will attract more people, especially young people. I try to help at the centre when I can and I echo John’s thoughts on doing whatever is needed to help with the project. The Whitlees centre is somewher I am really attached to and I have great admiration for the people who volunteer their time to help, they do not sit back but push the community forward and it’s very commendable.

The community centre would like to pass on their thanks to all the volunteers who provided a great lunch, everyone who made the effort to come along, Mr Hughes, headteacher at Stanley Primary School, for his support, Councillors Hunter and Gurney and Katy Clark for coming to the launch and to North Ayrshire Council’s Community Development.

If you want to have your say, you can do so again this Friday, November 22 at the Church of the Nazerene, from 12-1pm where you will be able to fill out a questionnaire and anyone who does so will be entered into a draw for £50 worth of vouchers to spend in Asda.

For further details, call the centre on 01294 461700 or visit their Facebook page where links to an online version of the survey can be found.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.