Craufurd Simson Park - Engaging the community

Barrfield Community Garden is a new space in Largs dedicated to growing local food and fostering community engagement. Surplus food is donated to Largs Food Bank.

We are requesting funding to buy Wood & screws etc. for the Members to make items to develop their skills, which is great for their feeling of self worth by making Planters, Bird boxes, Bird tables, Bug hotels, Clocks, and other Indoor/outdoor items.

WKEG maintain over 30 community gardens in West Kilbride. These include station planters and gardens, memorial garden, plus Catlinn, Old Mans Rest, Barony Centre, Cherry Orchard planters, library and Boyd Orr gardens. We also have 2 fields, a wood, wildflower meadow and community orchard. The group operate from Garratt Gardens where there are poly tunnels, ponds, fruit bushes and a wide range of habitats. All this is achieved entirely by a wonderful group of volunteers who meet once a week.

In 2024 our Summer Wheel and Walk club was established for people with poor mobility, encouraging people more outdoors to socialise and engage with community events. This has been a success. We are applying to fund a winter project to continue encouraging people with poor mobility to gather and be more involved with the community. This fund will purchase lunches in establishments that have wheelchair and mobility scooter access, supporting social isolation and financial hardship during winter.

We are a third sector Early Years Centre based in West Kilbride with access to a large garden and forest area. Our aim is to get our children outside as much as possible in the nursery day. This has proved to greatly enhance their mental and physical wellbeing but it can mean that we are out in all weathers given the Scottish climate. We are looking to try to make our children and staff as comfortable as possible whilst outside so that passing showers or the colder weather is easier to brave.

We wish to repeat our successful project of Easter 2024, which turned the main streets of West Kilbride into an open air gallery exhibiting children's photographs

WKYG work with other local volunteer groups to create a welcoming atmosphere in and across the village attracting residents and visitors to gather together during December and January every year to participate in community wide activities

Hall hire for a banded table tennis tournament in Largs, as well as equipment upgrade for our club to help increase the skills and confidence of our members. We want to see young and old enjoying table tennis together, each with the ability to challenge and excite the other.