From March to late September our cricket members, 13 years + to the adults prepare our cricket wickets for our games by scarifying, spiking, rolling, grass cutting as well as thatch and weed removal. As the season goes on we need to regrow, repair, reseed, fertilise and cultivate these cricket wickets, using our cricket covers for heat, germination and rain protection. This allows us to recycle, reuse the current wickets and cricket square as our ongoing Green Initiative.

Vennel Gardens Entertainment Committee aims to provide weekly social events for residents of Vennel Gardens Sheltered Housing and wider community members to help reduce social isolation and enhance health and well being. The group has been active for over a year now and has over 50 members who attend weekly activities such as lunch clubs, live entertainment and bingo afternoons.

As planned the Irvine Sharks have established in their first year a senior men’s basketball team made up of members all approaching 40 or over. Many who had been inactive over the past years. This has led to a dramatic boost in members physical and mental health. The men’s team completed the season winning the Strathclyde Basketball League Division 3 18-0 and have received promotion to Division 2.

Crossing Together Toddlers was formed in March 2024 following the project being approached by two local new parents who felt there was a need for a group locally in Bourtreehill. Both mums are now lead participants along with our Mission Pioneer in running the weekly sessions on Tuesday mornings for 2 hours at the Relief Mission Centre. The group quickly reached capacity of 40 babies/toddlers who attend with a least one adult per child. The sessions are free to ensure it is accessible to all.

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)