Choices Community Shop is a community food project set up by volunteers in the community to provide food with dignity to those in need. The funding will be used to help reduce the impact of poverty within the community based on individual needs. Our Community Shop has capacity to support approximately 100 households per week but with over 400 registered, many have to wait. This grant will allow for more households to be able to get support when they need it by getting access as required.

Irvine Camera Club will host public photography walks in North Ayrshire, providing photographic help and advice (artistic and practical) to anyone who attends. We will follow this up with a Photography Competition open to enter to anyone residing in North Ayrshire. We will judge the competition and award prizes to the winners. As a result of this work, we propose to curate an exhibition of the best images at the Harbour Arts Centre (HAC)

The Vennel Friends Irvine Discovery Group are based at the Vennel Gardens Engagement Hub. The group has been active since May 2023 and has 15 registered members. The group offers a social setting with the opportunity for participants to complete the Discovery Award, comprising of the bronze, silver and gold levels. The Group aims to enhance the lives of all those over 50 years of age and to provide an incentive, through personal challenges, to lead a happy, healthy, and active life.

Irvine Table Tennis Club was founded in 2018 and is based at the Portal, Irvine. Our club which is affiliated to TT Scotland, runs weekly, every Tuesday where we have 12-15 tables set up for use. Irvine TTC is a community club for everyone in Irvine town centre, where our volunteers and coaches have created a safe space for all to enjoy playing table tennis regardless of age, ability and background.

Children 1st staff is applying on behalf of group. Our coffee and connect group was originally created by Children 1st at the start of 2023 after they were successful in money for their local community. The reason for the group was because parents and carers felt like there was no opportunity to connect with others in their area. Since then, we have grown into a consistent and strong group who meet on a weekly basis at Children 1st space in Bourtreehill. We all have our own family story

1. Annually, during January and February Irvine Burns Club invites local primary school Primary 6 pupils (450 in 2024) to Wellwood Burns Centre & Museum to learn about the life of Burns and the pivotal role Irvine played encouraging him to develop as a poet. 2. By entering a “Champion of Champion” event, Primary Schools demonstrate their pupils’ reading and speaking skills, boosting their self-confidence and fostering an appreciation of the Scots language.