Our charity was set up to provide free transport to the community who were diagnosed with cancer and requires treatment in any hospital within Ayrshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Once the patient has had treatment we will continue to support them with transport for non cancer related treatment. We have around 40 volunteer staff within drivers and office staff. None of our staff are paid other than our drivers who are paid mileage expenses. For us to provide this sevice the charity must raise over £65000 per year. All our drivers are paid mileage at 50p per mile which is calculated at 45p per mile plus an additional 5p per mile for extra passengers.

The £1000 would breadown as 14 runs to Glasgow at 71 miles @ 50p per mile = £1000. This would allow us to take a maximum of 42 patients to appointments.

The £1000 to be used for local hospitals (Ayr, Crosshouse and Ayrshire Central) could breakdown as 33 runs to local hospitals @ 30 miles @ 50p per mile = £1000. This would allow us to take a maximum of 99 patients to appointments.

We would use the funding to take all the Pegasus group members on a 2 trips over the next year to bowling and a summer fun day. This would be a real boost to the mental health and wellbeing of all the group members and provide an opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Going away on trips allows the group to bond closer together and link up with each other.

The outing will help improve the mental health and wellbeing of the group members and we will have a higher bus cost due to needing one which is accessible for wheelchairs. Having this outing will improve the lives of people in the local area who have additional support needs and support them to do an activity which would be very expensive otherwise. Going away on trips like this allow group members to form closer relationships and get to know each other better. It also improves the mental health and wellbeing of participants and volunteers who run the group by going away on trips like this.

Breakdown;

£500 bus hire per trip x 2 bus trips

TOTAL - £1000

Our goal is to continue providing community lunches and providing catering services, working in partnership with other local groups and  bringing all members of our local community together regularly with a focus on alleviating poverty, reducing social isolation and enhancing mental health and well-being. 

Our community group offers  free  lunches,or takes small donations, to all residents within Irvine, many of whom are affected by poverty, poor mental health, and social isolation and these lunches provide a vital lifeline, offering not only nourishment but also a sense of belonging and connection. These meals foster social interaction, breaking the cycle of isolation and helping improve their mental well-being.

In addition to the lunches, having a trained chef as a volunteer the group now offers an external catering service to partner organisations at cost which generates income, enhancing the sustainability of the group and allowing the group to continue supporting the community. Volunteers who help run the lunches and catering service will receive essential training in areas such as REHIS (food safety), hospitality, barista skills, first aid, and customer service. These skills not only equip volunteers to support the efforts but also enhance their employability and confidence, empowering them to make a meaningful difference in their community and benefiting them in other areas of their lives.

In order to achieve this the money provided would help with running costs for the lunches and provide external training for volunteers.

Breakdown:

Running Costs, including food and caretakers costs                         £500.00

Training and admin costs                                                                   £500.00

Total applied for                                                                                £1000.00

If successful, we will use the funding to buy a new shed for our community garden. The last shed was destroyed by vandals a number of months ago and we have been unable to undertake any work in the community garden as we don't have anywhere to store tools and other resources. 

Trindlemoss use the shed whilst working on the garden, they will learn about gardening skills and the new shed will give us space to keep tools in. They learn about how to grow vegetables, grow flowers and generally take care of a garden.

Children from Castlepark primary will come over and take part in the community garden learning the same skills. 

Volunteers from the centre take part in ad hoc garden maintenance to help tackle social isolation, improving their mental wellbeing and bringing the community together.

New shed - £880 (Keter Factor 8ft x 6ft from B&Q)