Arran Dogs (SC053020) is a newly formed Scottish Registered Charity (registered in Dec 2023) with the aim of promoting responsible dog ownership, training and education. We are focused on ensuring that our facilities and training are accessible to all, regardless of age or  abilities so that all can benefit from the positive impact dog ownership has on physical and mental well being.

While Arran is rich in open areas such as countryside, forest paths and beaches for exercising dogs, these are generally not suitable for people with impaired mobility (or sight/ senses) or dogs that cannot be exercised off-lead or mix with other dogs.  As a consequence, both these owners and dogs miss out on valuable bonding and exercise opportunities, with the mental health and well-being benefits this brings.

We have just opened Arran’s only secure dog field which is free to use, and bookable online for hourly use.

Our field is open to residents and visitors. We estimate that there are 2000 owned dogs resident on Arran and approximately 3795 visiting dogs. (Source: Arran Vets and Auchrannie).  Initial bookings and feedback since opening a month ago have already shown this to be an in-demand and appreciated resource with 27 residents and 8 visitors booking in our first week. 

This has enhanced the facilities available to the Arran dog community and visitors to the island. This is ideal for owners with elderly or reactive dogs, poor recall or just need to recover from injury in a safe space.

The field is also used for Arran Dogs’ lifeskills dog training classes which will help with building a sense of community involvement and so reducing social isolation by encouraging dog owners to meet likeminded people.

The field is now open to the public. Our aim is to make it more inclusive by adding accessible paths which will facilitate movement around the field for those with impaired mobility. This will then provide an opportunity to exercise their dogs in a secure place or to be able to participate in our weekly training classes along with the wider Arran dog training community.  

 The anticipated cost of the paths is £5700. We propose funding this by:

  - applying for £1000 from the Local Participatory Budget Fund

 – match funding with an application for £4000 from the Community Benefit Fund

  – match funding of £700 (and any extra required) from our own fundraising and donations.

Trindlemoss Day Opportunities is based in Irvine. Trindlemoss aims to transform community attitudes to better support and promote opportunities for people with learning disabilities and address mental health. We will help individuals share their strengths and skills with the community and encourage recognition for their input.

Throughout all our work, we stay focused on our customers, and the relationships that support and enrich them.

The group would like to organise social events in the evenings to utilise the building in the evening and invite parents, carers, family and friends to participate monthly to begin with to meet up with a long-term goal of making it a weekly meet up depending on how many family and friends would like to support this .

This would encourage a peer support group where the adults with learning disabilities would have the opportunity to meet up with their friends and socialise in the evening. The group would also give parents and carers, family and other care supports the opportunity to make friends and meet up with other parents and carers and support workers who support people with learning disabilities.

Trindlemoss also have residents who would also benefit from social events it would give them the opportunity to meet their neighbours.

The criteria we meet is Health and Wellbeing as Friends of Trindlemoss would promote physical and mental wellbeing the project would address social isolation, bring the community together.

The people who reside in the houses have mental health and learning disabilities so we also hit the criteria for building community spirits as we want to create a venue that is also an environment that they know. We also have other groups who use our building like Healing Hearts who have also shown an interest in volunteering, befriending, and helping  at Friends of Trindlemoss community events.

We would like to hold social events in the evening as winter is nearly here our Focus group have asked if we can put in for funding for the following items. With the following items we can have the oppertunity to fund raise ourselves and have games nights, bingo nights and fun nights. 

 Wireless  PA System - £200

pool table - £420

Curryoke Night - £260  Social event for 80 people (Curry, poppodoms, Rice) Pizza's for non curry lovers & refreshments for Tikka Bar

Entertainment  DJ - £100

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 a result, community sessions have been developed through the season to include children and young people (40 taking part weekly) in which they have been very involved at games and lifted the league trophy with the team at the presentation. The club has provided a platform for Irvines first competitive basketball team and inspiring the next generation. 

We are applying for approximatley 50% of the cost of hall hire (£690 based on 2023-24 costs) for the upcoming season and referees costs (£310 based on 2023-24 costs however the referee fees have been increased for the new season). 

This would really help support our members by decreasing our membership fees during the current financial climate and support them to continue to take part in their sport and continue to increase their physical health and mental well-being.

The Parents Wellbeing and Health Event will be open to parents of young children and will be inclusive of the following activities to promote physical and mental wellbeing; introduction to yoga and mindfulness, introduction to PT for mental health, havening session an how to increase the resilence of Parents and their Children. A breakdown of the costs below 

- introduction to yoga and milndfullness £250 

- Havening session £250 

- Intro to PT for mental health benifits £250 

- Resilence session £100

- Refreshments £100

- Hall hire £50

We aim to further enhance Arran's community gardens and green spaces through continued development of different models forest garden principles and no-dig techniques. This project will increase biodiversity, improve soil health, and boost local food production. Our team will use this funding to provide on-the-ground sessions on forest garden design and no-dig methods, and supply essential materials to participating gardens for the 2024/2025 season.

Cost Breakdown:

• Organic compost and mulch: £400
• Organic seeds and seedlings (fruit trees, shrubs, perennials): £250
• Tools (e.g., broadforks, sheet mulching materials): £150
• Transportation costs for materials (including bringing pallets of compost by ferry to Arran): £100
• Workshop materials and printing costs: £50
• Signage for educational purposes: £50

Total: £1,000

This project will empower Arran's communities to create sustainable, productive landscapes while promoting ecological awareness and community resilience.

We would like to apply for funding to help us provide social events, a Christmas lunch and party and free lunch clubs throughout the year. 

Christmas Lunch and party £200 

Lunch Club £500

Entertainer fees for 4 special events £300