The Whitehirst Park & Woodside Community Centre Association would like to host a community get together at Christmas and Easter to get local residents together and rebuild some of the community spirit that has been lost over the last few years, especially due to Covid lock-downs. We envisage a Christmas event which will include local school singing Xmas carol's, free non-alcoholic refreshments with cakes and sandwiches and a Christmas movie in the main hall.  The Easter event will be something similar with an egg hunt for the children and potnetially a baking competition.

Most of the cost will be covered by the WHP Association funds, but would like to ask for funding for the catering items (beverages snadwiches, cakes and snacks). The actual catering/serving will be done by volunteers at no cost.

We have created an inclusive environment for all involved in our group. Whilst completeing the challenges involved in the awards our group give back to the community through chosen volunteering opportunities. Our group has provided a social lifeline for many members and it gives us the chance to visit different places throughout Scotland and connect with local history. This is turn positively impacts the health and wellbeing of our group memebers to help promote an active and healthy lifestyle by offering challenges that both stimulate and motivate. We have been able to access free opportunities and museums through the national trust this has not impacted our members finanically. However, we would love to be able to go further afield and access new experiences together as a group. This money would allow us us to continue to provide an inclusive environment for all our members by covering the costs and allowing equal access to aopportunities wavering financial limitations. We hope to use this money to continue to work together as a group providing key support and care to each other with the benefit of sharing new and exciting experiences togther. 

We hope to access different places such as Dumfries house, this is a place where many of our members have wanted to visit but due to financial limitations, we have been unable to do so. We would also like to go over to Millport to share a day trip together and celebrating completeing different parts of our discovery awards and have an end trip bedore the group break up for summer. 

We would also like to celebrate burns day as many of our group have an interest in the local history of burns and his poetry. We would like to come together and share this day as a group. We would also like to support or local community pantomime and attend this together; this will allow us the confidence to attend in the evening and increase our social inclusion as well as experiencing the nostaligia of a Christmas pantomime. 

As a group we have really gelled, and we enjoy spending time togethe. The friendships that have formed through the Discovery award have spilled into the private lives of our members who regularly meet up out with the group environment creating a bigger support network for everyone involved. This award group has opened social opportunties for all involved having such a positive effect on the mental health and wellbeing of the group 

Dumfries House £260

Pantomime £120

Millport Ferry £65

Millport Lunch £200

Burns supper/Location and Food £325

Our community will soon have access to a range of workshops designed to teach mindfulness approaches for coping with daily struggles, stresses, social barriers, and poor mental well-being. Our directors are qualified holistic therapists that can provide, drum healing, sound healing, reiki, massage, reflexology, therapuetic art.  Also we hold qualifications in education and social services with a vast range of work experience that has built our knowledge of the challenges that many face within our area.

The workshops will be open to everyone, providing a safe and supportive environment where individuals are acknowledged and listened to. Participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with others who share similar interests, and, where possible, link up with local community hubs and centers to access additional services and support. This initiative is designed to prevent social isolation by encouraging healthy daily routines and giving people a reason to engage with their community.

A sense of purpose will help those struggling to realize their potential and build confidence to contribute to their community. For individuals or families living alone, in poverty, or facing social, emotional, or mental challenges, these services and activities will enhance well-being, enabling them to better care for themselves and their families, and take pride in their local area. Collaborating with other services and local groups will foster a positive community spirit and promote a better understanding of self-care, healthy lifestyles, and a positive outlook for both themselves and their neighbours.

Therapeutic art will also be a key component of the initiative, helping individuals better understand their thoughts and emotions. This creative outlet can significantly improve mental health by offering a safe space to express stress and anxiety while introducing accessible skills that can be practiced at home.

Community members will have access to sessions and holistic therapies designed to promote calmness, relaxation, and stress relief. These sessions will be available to everyone and can be accessed in venue with in Kilwinning or within the comfort of their own homes. By offering home-based sessions, we ensure that even those who find it difficult to socialize or leave their homes can benefit, helping to build relationships and trust. Over time, we hope these individuals will feel safe and supported enough to break down barriers and integrate more fully into the social circles within the community.

We are applying for funding for the following resources to allow us to facilitate our sessions in Kilwinning -

15 cushions-  £100

10 blankets -  £100

4 children’s weighted blankets- £60

10 lightweight drums with beater - £150

Percussion instruments- £200

2 Ear defenders adult and child’s- £30

2 x Activity Parachute - £30

Therapeutic art resources - £80

Sensory resources- £150

2x reclining chairs - £60

Herbal Tea resources- £40

Our group is currently reliant on photocopied images and second-hand watercolours for our sessions. While these resources have allowed us to get started, we believe that having access to new, high-quality materials would significantly enhance our learning experience. With a wider variety of art supplies, including fresh paints, brushes, and canvases, we can develop our skills more effectively and grow together as a group. This funding would help us build confidence in our abilities and take our creativity to the next level. Your support would be greatly appreciated in helping us achieve our artistic goals.

We have created a list of materials we feel would benefit us;-

paint by number canvas - £5.99 x 24 - £143.76

watercolour paint set 24 - £19.98 x 6 - £119.88

Artist brush set - £8.99 x 2 - £17.98

Canvas milti pack - £12.99 x 5 - £64.95

total - £346.57

The group ls looking to order 25 litter pickers to re stock the groups collection of litter pickers that get loaned to groups or to borrow for groups at Kilwinning sports club.  or organised nights by groups like the scouts and guides etc. 

This will restock the groups supplies that are shared out across the community. This also allows the long term loan to individuals to adopt a spot.   

The Group operates with the support of North Ayrshire Council and Klwinning Community Events. 

A family funday in McGavin Park promoting all that the park has to offer. Activities and family fun with music on stage, children's entertainers and try it sessions from local groups and KA Leisure.  £1000 asked for contribution to costs.  Public Liabity Insurance

Stage Hire £550

contribution to entertainers £300

2 children's entertainers for seperate shows. £550 

the wider event costs are First aid £300

public Liability £200

portallo hire £300

stewards £700

hire of rides and inflatables £10000

The continued support of Corsehill retirement club allows the elderly to access different opportunities outwith their local environment. One of which has been our very successful day trips to the theatre along with a meal. This can be the highlight of our participants year and we hope to continue to provide this service. The impact that these trips have on our group is wonderful and many members comment on how this gives them something to look forward and appreciate their freedom in going to different places. This has an overall positive impact on the individuals health and wellbeing. If we were successful in receiveing this funding it would enable us to provide this support and plan more trips out for our members. We hope this money can help reduce the cost of living and take away financial pressures that a trip may have on individuals. Receiving this grant would ensure that all our members were ablle to attend the trip regardless of affordablility. This in turns ensures that everyone has equal access to opportunities that we provide ensuring that our members have opportunities to socialise outwith our usual environment. This in turn improves the health and wellbeing of our members through making sure we have multiple different activities that can help stimulate their social circle.

Day trip to the theatre with a meal and transport

Theatre tickets - £450

Transport to Theatre - £450

Refreshments - £100

Choose Kilwinning is a voluntary community group comprising of local businesses, residents and representatives from various organisations in Kilwinning.  We organise and fund 2 major annual events in our town - The Segdoune Gala in May & Christmas Lights Switch On in late November. Each of these events are extremely well attended and very much enjoyed by all ages in our community. 

Our Christmas Lights Switch On has been a tradition for many years, bringing festive joy and cheer to our town and the wider Ayrshire population.  The day is a major event with free music & entertainment, market stalls, Santa’s Grotto and many activities for all ages, culminating in our Main Street being lit-up with Christmas lights. We strive to keep the event as a fun filled family day rather than a day that has high financial outlay for parents or individuals.

These events are possible thanks to unceasing fund-raising activities by Choose Kilwinning throughout the year. Choose Kilwinning cover all expenses for the day including security, required licences, electricity supply, entertainment and on-the-day running costs. The Christmas lights themselves are owned by Choose Kilwinning, however North Ayrshire Council (NAC) have previously erected, tested and stored the lights from the Council budget.  Sadly, this is not the case for 2024 as budget constraints within NAC have resulted in this vital funding being unavailable.  NAC has agreed to carry out all of the above actions to ensure the lights are safe and in place for our Switch On, but this is going to result in an additional cost of £8,500 for Choose Kilwinning. We have also contacted two external companies who can provide the service, but again there would be extra costs of £5364 or £8394. 

Choose Kilwinning are determined that our Main Street and Town Centre will be lit up this Christmas and are seeking help in raising the desired amount. Without more funding Choose Kilwinning will struggle to meet this figure and our Main Street and Town Centre might not have Christmas Lights throughout the run up to and during the festive period.  This would be hugely detrimental to morale and mental well-being within our community and could also have a significant impact on our local traders.  Any funding received from the PB would go towards meeting this amount. 

Costings are attached under documents. 

The organisations plan for this is to have four separate provisions to hold these breakfasts. This would allow more families to be able to attend. We have also thught of doing the first one as an ASN breakfast with lower lighting and music turned down and any other areas we need to reduce over stimulation. We would have each of these four sessions last 1 hour 30 minutes and plan to hold then on the 7th and 8th of December 2024 with each session for 60 kids and 15 adults approximately. This means we can reach 120 kids each day so 240 in total although this can be extended slightly to meet demand. We will be offering waffles, pancakes, toast, cereal along with juice, water and milk. Hot drinks and these food options will also be available for the adults. We are looking to buy an industrial toaster for this event however we will use it thereafter in the hall for people of all ages. 

Industrial toaster conveyer style £399.00

Waffles, pancakes, bread, cereal £232.00

Juice, water and milk, £54.00

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate £33.00

Gift for kids £240

Total cost £958.00