MORE than £300,000 is to be handed out to community projects across North Ayrshire through the area's community investment fund.
Groups in Irvine, Kilwinning, the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley are all set to benefit from a share of £312,175.
The funding awards were approved at a recent meeting of North Ayrshire Council's cabinet.
They agreed to award £22,098 to the Beith Community Trust, £100,000 to the Fullarton Community Association in Irvine, and almost £30,000 to Stevenston Community Council - though that represents less than half of the total cash set to make its way to community projects in the area.
Here's more about each of the groups getting a share of the fund, and about what they plan to do with the cash...
Beith Community Association - £22,098.04
The group has run Beith Community Centre since 1964 and aim to provide an inclusive, safe and welcoming space for the community.
They have developed a community larder and removed financial barriers and are now establishing a Community Hub which will provide a range of services and activities to encourage the community to come together in a safe and welcoming space.
The Hub will create opportunities for people to share issues and develop support circles, enhance skills, access information and advice services and employment support as well as participate in a range of sport, leisure, fitness and well-being sessions and activities.
Garnock Valley Locality Partnership Working Group - £51,200
Their funding application represents a joint effort by the working group, North Ayrshire Council (NAC), and Beith Community Development Trust.
The plan involves hiring a development worker for a two-year, part-time position.
Fullarton Community Association - £100,000
The group (pictured above) was formed in 1976. In 2013 they took ownership of an area of land from the North Ayrshire Council as part of a community asset transfer. The new Fullarton Community Hub opened in 2017 and employs seven staff.
They work alongside a range of partners and are seeking funding for their outdoor gym project and to provide match funding for their successful BIG Lottery bid for staffing and projects.
In all, £33,000 will support the creation of the gym, which will provide a safe and inclusive environment for individuals in recovery to engage in physical activity as part of their rehabilitation journey, encourage young people to adopt healthy habits, improve overall fitness levels, and support residents of the local care home to remain active in a controlled, safe space.
The remaining £67,000 will act as match funding to the £200,000 already secured from the National Lottery Community Fund – Building Stronger Communities Fund.
Broomlands and Bourtreehill Community Association (BABCA) - £12,777
A registered charity, they manage Towerlands Community Centre and the Farm Basket Community Larder and are seeking funding to establish a community garden on ground outside the community centre.
The garden project will engage with a wide range of partners, centre users and community groups, as well as providing produce to support the Larder and the affordable café in the centre. It will also provide volunteering and learning opportunities for community members.
Turning Point PEAR (Prevention, Early intervention and Recovery) - £96,112
Turning Point Scotland provides social care services and registered charity run in partnership with North Ayrshire Alchol and Drugs Partnership, Ayrshire College, Connected Communities, the DWP, and MINDS of Recovery.
The aim of the project is to develop a college course, delivered by Ayrshire College, for people in recovery from substance or alcohol use. It is based on a model which has been successful in South Ayrshire and addresses a gap in local employment support.
This programme would support people to obtain an accredited qualification which could lead to further educational opportunities while also providing peer support.
It will run between Fullarton Hub in Irvine and Ayrshire College campus in Kilwinning and will help support skills and work opportunities and enhance mental health and wellbeing.
Stevenston Community Council - £29,988
The community council plans to use its share of the cash to help provide useful direction signs for rhe town, highlighting places of interest and community assets.
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