We are a community youth brass band based in Dreghorn. Our youth brass band plays at various events each year e.g. community concerts, school events, festivals, Christmas carolling. We also provide free or low cost after school music lessons and equipment for young people. We have c. 45 members in our groups. Young people who participate in our bands and our audiences obtain mental well-being and educational and personal development benefits from musical activity. Our members come from schools all over North Ayrshire (we have c. 10 schools represented).

Any funding obtained would go towards our uniform costs and supporting attendance and National Youth Brass Band of Scotland courses.

Our young people have yellow hoodies which identifies us at concerts and festivals and gives us an identity and encourages team behaviours. Although we pass hoodies down we need to replenish the sweatshirts regularly as they wear out and young people grow. We are requesting funds for 25 hoodies to replace worn out ones and replenish stocks.

Several of our young people are members of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS). We actively encourage participation as it supports musical and personal development. The band provides a small subsidy for members attending of the residential summer course each year. The courses last one week and are expensive. In 2024 we had 7 young people attend the course and the band provided a £100 subsidy, however parents / families provided most of the cost. We hope to increase attendees in 2025 (we are estimating 8) and we’d like to provide a larger subsidy and also remove finance as a barrier to any young person attending. Part of the requested amount will go towards our subsidy fund for attendees.  NYBBS residential course has master classes, small group practice and full band rehearsals to provide the opportunity for some serious music making for the students while ‘extra curricular’ events take place too. Culminating in an end of course concert. Almost 200 students took part during 2024 and we’d love to increase the North Ayrshire representation. Costs breakdown : Uniform - hoodies    25 @ £18 = £450 NYBBS attendee subsidy  8 @ £60 = £480 Total £930 Additional NYBBS subsidy costs to be provided from band funds / other fundraising.   

We are hoping to arrange sports coaching sessions for our young people at The Portal in Irvine. We are also hoping to arrange a visit to Bouncestation - a local play and activity centre. We think it is really important to promote positive physical and mental health in young people who are struggling to cope with the challenges that Tourette's bring. Tourette Syndrome is a complex neurological condition. Many of our young people suffer from social isolation; difficulties at school; judgement from others; dealing with regular health-related appointments; and various other challenges. Our group, based in Irvine, is a safe space for young people - and their families - to meet in person with other young people living with Tourette's. We offer arts and crafts, sporting games and board games at our regular meetings. The aim of our group is to have everyone feel included, supported and understood. 

We are hoping to put on six sports sessions throughout the year in addition to our support meetings at Bridgegate in Irvine. 

Cost to hire out Portal space and a sports coach, plus provide a healthy drink and snack to each participant - £115 per session. 

Cost to take 20 participants to Bouncestation - £310

Total cost: £115 x 6 = £690

                               +    £310

                                                 =              £1000

Night Time Soccer and Fly Tying are the choice of activities by the young people. The age range cover 8 years to 25 years old and will be split across 2 age ranges.

Soccer Training -  3 hours per session at £22.50 per hour x 2 sessions = £135 per week for an 8 week taster.

This will run over the course of a year, Fullarton HUb are providing the flood lit pitch free of charge and are seeking furthter funding to continue this beyiond the 8 week period. There will be no charge for the participants as the cost of living crisis means households have no money for leisure activities. We want this to be as inclusive as possible.

We wish to provide resources for pupil Mental Health Ambassadors (S5 and 6 pupils) to help them develop a safe space in the school where all young people can access support for their mental health. All Mental Health Ambassadors will receive training - the Parent Council will use Youth PB Funding to cover travel expenses and certificates/badges. Badges will ensure all Mental Health Ambassadors are easily identifiable to all young people in the school to approach if they want support.

• Resources for safe space eg. posters, beanbags, fidget toys - £300
• Travel expenses/badges/certificates - £200

In addition, we wish to increase awareness and challenge attitudes, beliefs and cultural norms that underpin gender-based violence, through the promotion of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme. This programme, aimed at S5 and 6 pupils, addresses physical violence, name-calling, sexting, coercive and controlling behaviour and harassment, which all have an impact on young people's mental health. The MVP programme supports young people to positively influence the attitudes and behaviours of their peers. Pupils will receive training which will then allow them to become MVP mentors to deliver programmes to Primary 7 pupils through to S3 pupils, with a focus on encouraging young people to become active bystanders, by challenging and reporting gender-based violence. The Parent Council will use Youth PB Funding to cover training travel expenses, and certificates/badges. The 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence Campaign, beginning 25th November, will be promoted by MVP mentors in the school through planned events (still to be decided) which the Parent Council hope to fund through Youth PB Funding. 

• Travel expenses/badges/certificates - £200
• Cost of snacks for pupils involved in the 16 Days Of Action - £100
• Planned events run by MVP Mentors - £200

As a club we are always trying to improve the opportunities available to the children however we are constantly coming up against financial barriers due to the rising costs of hiring pitches, referee fees, coaches education and general equipment. We are currently raising money to take the team to a football tournament in Barcelona during the easter holidays 2025 which is a 5 night stay including 4 days of football for the children. This is a great opportunity for the team to socialise and have a weekend with their family and friends whilst playing competitive football. Some of the boys in the team have never been abroad so this is a huge opportunity for them and being accepted for this grant would help us reach our target ensuring that no boy misses out due to the cost for their family. If successful with this grant we would use the money to cover the cost of the tournament entry which is £140 and the cost of the bus to transfer the boys from the hotel to the tournament each day which is £675

The parent council, have worked closely with the pupils of Lawthorn Primary to discuss the issues surrounding road safety in the local area.  Within the school there are representatives that are Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO) who consult the other young people on issues relating to safe travel in the surrounding community area.  The school has 284 pupils that travel from Girdle Toll area/ Montgomerie Park.  The young people have told us that they feel unsafe when not traveling to school by car.  We have a very small carpark, and surrounding areas has narrow roads where during pick up and drop off both sides of the road are filled with parked cars making it unsafe for young people to cross.   Health and wellbeing is so important for our young people, being able to exercise whilst traveling to and from school safely increases physical health but also wellbeing, being outdoors, meeting friends and traveling together whilst also learning invaluable skills like road safety and independent travel.  The JRSO would also like to do more initiatives from points in the community including walking buses and cycle to school programmes.  Reducing car pick up and drop off also works towards the councils target of tackling climate change and young people leading the way in climate action. The JRSO have asked young people what they would like to see and they have asked for £1268.48 (inclusive of VAT)

This money would buy:

• A banner 8ft x 1ft no parking on zig zags
• ‘No parking’ sign for lamppost 
• 4 parking dummies (2 drop off only, 2 no parking on zig zags)
• Traffic cones no parking x 6
• 2 pavement signs (parking here may endanger your child's life).

These items will:

• Discourage people from parking in the drop off bay and unsafe manoeuvring in the area.
• Remind parents and carers not to park or stop for picks ups keeping the area clear for safe travel in front of the school gates.
• Create safe crossing for children and young people.

The young people involved in the project said “We feel that this would be a great chance for us and the parent council to help us in our goal of encouraging more young people and families to travel safely, help the environment and improve our wellbeing.  The parent council have listened to what we need, and we have really enjoyed being part of this application.”

By voting for this bid it ensures that UNCRCs Article 31 ‘A right to play’ gives young people the feeling of safety going to and from school in ways that they associate with play and connecting with others.

The Parent Council wish to help support the young people with gaining the best experience with all aspects performance of music and drama events within the school but especially the musical shows. The funding we are applying for is to allow the purchase of technical equipment which will enhance the experience of the working within music industry and also be used for other events in Music and Drama throughout the year. 

We are also looking to fund some of the more sustainable aspects of the stage makeup to allow our young people to further develop their skills which they have developed already within school in our Lovilious class.

Stage Lighting set with 8 Pre-Wired LED Pars, DMX Controller and Stands- £900

Make-up brush sets- £100