We allocate tickets and a time slot via our groups FaceBook page in the lead up to each event. Our events are family orientated days, where there is always laughter and smiles, with no financial burden on families. Our Easter event has families taking a wonder around our site in search of baskets of treats left by the Easter Bunny, who likes to make an appearance along the way. For our Santas grotto we have Santa and his elves waiting to meet the children on his amazing sleigh. Our site will be decorated for each theme, there will be an area with free craft activities and an area with toys and games for the children.

We ask for £1000 in total, £500 for each event 

childrens treats combined for each event £500

decoration combined for each event £200

games combined for each event £150

crafts combined for each event £150

The North Stevenston Community Association is dedicated to supporting the local community in North Stevenston. However, financial limitations are hindering our ability to provide free events to the community, especially to vulnerable groups such as children and those over 50 who are affected by financial challenges, food crises, and isolation.

Community Challenges: North Stevenson is a financially challenged area, making it difficult for many families to afford necessities, especially food and activities. This has led to an increased reliance on anti-poverty support and often isolation. Christmas is a special time of year and we would like to help people make positive memories of 2024.

Community Events: To address these challenges, we aim to provide festive events for the community. An all-the-trimmings Christmas lunch &  Free family event including a visit from Santa, a gift, and entertainment. 

Budget Requirements: To successfully organise these events, we require funding support totaling £1000, allocated as follows: - £450 for the Christmas Lunch 3 course 50+ for food and entertainment  - £550 for the Free  kids’ and family Santa event

Activity Costs: Over 50s Christmas lunch -We estimate a guest list of approximately 60 individuals for Christmas lunch and plan to utilise the funds towards 3-course Christmas meals, table settings, crackers, and entertainment. For the kids and family Santa event, we expect approximately 100 children to attend, and the budget will cover expenses for a photo booth, decorations, a disco and DJ, and small gifts or selection boxes.

Impact and Community Resilience: The funding to enable these events will provide temporary joy and enhance community interaction and resilience. Our hall venue allows for positive interactions and offers a supportive environment to strengthen social networks and general well-being within the community.  We would like to increase our services to support people locally and will use the opportunity to highlight our anti-poverty and activity-based program to provide support when needed. 

Conclusion: If the funding is successful, it will enable the Association to bring joy to kids and improve the lives of those in need. It will also encourage local engagement for the development of our service provision in line with local needs and wants.

Later this year, we hope to buy Kerelaw - a former country estate in Stevenston – which is a well-loved, well-used, biodiverse greenspace. As part of the supporting documents for the land purchase, we need to submit an environmental survey of the site to the landowner and funder. The survey and resulting report – an ‘extended Phase 1 Habitat survey’ – would map the site’s habitats, note important ecological features, flag the presence of protected species, and provide management advice for the site.

Once we acquire the land, we will improve it for both the local community and biodiversity and seek Local Nature Reserve status from the Council.

The funding we’re applying for (£1000) would part-fund the environmental survey and report, which in total would cost £4626.

Our project aims to organise a Christmas celebration for the Ukrainian community in North Ayrshire, welcoming both adults and children from various cultural backgrounds, including local Scottish residents. This event will serve as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of diverse traditions. By bringing people together to share in the joy of the season, we hope to promote unity and strengthen community bonds.

We would love to share Ukrainian traditions, such as music and food, with the people of Scotland and look forward to meeting Scottish people and others to learn about their culture too. We also aim to bring children of different nationalities together, offering games and craft workshops to foster friendships and shared creativity. The celebration will feature traditional Ukrainian customs alongside Scottish and other cultural festivities, encouraging participants to connect through shared experiences.

By creating a warm, inclusive environment, we hope that everyone, regardless of background, will feel welcome. Events like this can break down barriers, spark meaningful conversations, and create lasting friendships in the community. Bridging cultural gaps and celebrating diversity, this event will contribute to a more connected and harmonious community in North Ayrshire, especially during the festive season

Funding will be used for:

Rent of premises - 50

Trampolines for children - 270

Treats, food and drinks, sweet gifts - 310

Materials for craft workshops - 70

Games and activities facilitators- 120

Funding will be used for:

Rent of premises - 50

Trampolines for children - 270

Treats, food and drinks, sweet gifts - 310

Materials for craft workshops - 70

Games and activities facilitators- 120

Kids entertainer (Santa or another Christmas character) - 100

DJ for children and youth disco - 70

As well as GVAA members the association encourages community participation with many young people who are engaged in projects in the allotment.  Some of the projects currently running are growing and harvesting produce for the Wee Pantry and Solace Cafe and young people involved in learning how to prepare areas for growing, how to sow, care and harvest produce. A primary and indispensable piece of equipment would be the installation of portable power stations in the allotment which would be used to energise various tools essential for gardening tasks. Portable power stations would ensure we have have the necessary electricity on demand. The members currently take the rechargeable batteries home to re-energise which often means that communial tools required by the members and young people are not always available to complete the task.  A portable power station capability would not only enhance efficiency but also provide the flexibility to maneuver and operate equipment throughout the plot without being tethered to fixed power sources.  The portable power stations would be charged from two solar panels thus reducing the carbon footprint of members travelling to and from the allotment to collect and deliver charged batteries and the personal costs to members associated with fuel and energy.

2 x portable power stations = Ecoflow River 2 Max + 110W portable solar panel =£1000 (GVAA will meet the costs beyond this amount)

Following the reduction in Streetscene's budget, there are a number of maintenance issues that need to be addressed by the community.  This application will give us a budget to arrange these works in conjunction with other local groups.  A few months ago, the Dalry Community Development Hub organised responsibility for maintaining planters in Dalry with various local groups.  They received funding and were able to purchase plants, both annual and perennial, from Gateside nursery.  We would like to do something similar in Kilbirnie.  Whilst Dalry had only 9 planters to arrange, there are more areas in Kilbirnie needing work:

9x planters in car park beside Salvation Army

5x planters outside old folks houses in Main Street at the Cross

5x planters between BBQ Hut and Easties on Bridge Street

1x flowerbed at foot of the path outside Kilbirnie Library

1x flowerbed at the top of Bank Street / Glasgow Street

As well as these flowerbeds, other works needing done includes weeding along kerbs and property boundaries on pavement side; clearing vegetation from public paths, such as the Cat's Lane