We come from all backgrounds and walk of life, but we have a common goal, a determination to gain independance, to strive for success both in the group and in our personal lives and build our confidence in learning new skills, making meaningful connections and building our confidence. The DISC Award is an adaptation of the over 50's Discovery Award where we will try new things through the "hobbies & interestes" section, give back to the local community through "service in the community" and explore new people and places through our "journey of discovery". 

What started as a weekly cooking group is now a planned and structured environment of which we have big plans for. We currently meet within the Ardrossan Youth Centre and would like to aim our first project towards helping the young people who use the centre. 

With this, we would like to upcycle the unused telephone box within the centre grounds and make this a well being space for the centre. Allowing us and the young people to have a space to seek information, access fidget toys and just have a quiet space to calm down or reflect if they want. 

We would also like to go on quarterly trips as part of our award, giving people the opportunity to explore new places and cultures. 

Depending on circumstances, not everyone is in the habit of eating a nutritious breakfast. We would love to be able to offer a small bite to eat at the start of our sessions to make sure everyones starting off with a full tummy. 

Although the group only started in January, so much progress has already been made. We would like to continue to grow and this grant would help us make a good start. 

Cricket Machine with materials (Glass in telephone box) - £319

3D Printer & materials (to make fidgets) - £243

Breakfast items for 1 year (Bread, tea/coffee, milk, butter - £562

We are planning on taking the girls to Bouncestation in Orvine for a trip.

The girls didn't get a trip this year as they previous leader sadly passed away.

The total cost of the trip is

26x£13 admission= £338

Bus hire = £250

food and drink for the girls 26x£8 = £208

Total =£796

ACHS would like to purchase a colour laser printer, ink, paper, and laminating pouches. ACHS are in process of trying to get a Heritage hub built on castle hill. This would provide much needed toilets, indoor shelter, and exhibition/education space. As part of our feasibility study we need to engage with the community. To do this we need posters, flyers, surveys printed off as well as printing of plans and building specifications to share with public. We hold many outdoor events on the hill and often need laminated information and signage on display. The requested items would enable us to do this.

• Printer £480
• Ink £385
• Sundries £135

We would like to apply for a funding amount of £1000. If successful in our application, this would enable us to provide a summer bus outing for the residents, with the remainder being used towards funding our annual lunch and party, which is attended by approximately 30 residents. These events have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of residents and provide an opportunity to take part in activities that might not be available to people due to mobility or cost of living ussues.

The cost of the bus would be £480 and the remaining £520 would be used towards the cost of lunch and live entertainment for our party.

• Bus Hire - £480
• Lunch x 30 - £450
• Entertainment fee - £70 

The Committee aim to keep this a free event in line with the rising cost of living struggles which are evidenced in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation figures, with Stevenston sitting in the top 10% most deprived decile.

Our aims is to work in partnership with local organisations to provide free fun activities on the night like face painting, glitter tattoos, badge-making, arts & crafts, large outdoor games, retro gaming and much more however, we would like to invite in other businesses to bring something different to the event. This includes the hire of a snow machine, providing free food & and live entertainment. We are also lucky to have the appearance of Santa, where young people will get to visit him and receive a free small token gift in the form of a selection box.

We also host 2 competitions on the run up to the event. These include a Christmas Card Competition and a Window display competition. (Prizes are generously donated by local businesses) The Christmas Card Competition is an opportunity to get our young people at primary school involved. The top three cards will be professionally printed and gifted to the successful young people. We will also make additional prints to sell on the night for those interested. This sale helps kick start the fundraising for the following years event. The window display is an opportunity to encourage community engagement and participation. A friendly competition between businesses and neighbours to get people into the festive spirit and help create community cheer.

With the help of North Ayrshire Council in the past the display of the lights costings have been covered, however, with budget cuts this now falls into the hands of Stevenston Lights Volunteers to source. Alongside the cost of living crisis, businesses and individuals are no longer in a position to sponsor like they once did, as they face rising costs also. So we need to reach out to funders like you to request assistance.

 This event is a year long commitment to plan and implement and requires £8,000 - £10,000 each year to host. We are applying in advance for our 2026 switch on event to help kick start our fundraising efforts.

We are applying for the following resources to be considered for funding:

£500 - money to buy ingredients for free food distribution

£150 - Santa's Grotto inflatable

£350 - Live entertainment delvered by Irvine Beat FM

The project will cost £1500 plus VAT, if awarded the £1,000 from PB the club will match the rest to complete the project. 

The shelter can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LKsDvhXFv/ 

Lunches £450

Tea & Coffee £50

Buscuits £50

Hall hire £450

The Dementia Project provides one-to-one befriending for people living with dementia, offering companionship at home and support to access their local community. It also gives unpaid carers vital respite through our carers’ peer support.

In addition, our Dementia Wellbeing Cafes in Saltcoats and Irvine provide a welcoming space where people with dementia and their loved ones/unpaid carer can come together to enjoy social activities, entertainment, chair yoga, or simply connect over a game of pool, a cuppa, and a chat. The cafes play a key role in tackling social isolation while supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.

Both the befriending service and the cafés are free, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to anyone attending. A dedicated volunteer fundraising committee organises events to raise funds for days out for people living with dementia, their unpaid carers, and volunteers.

Any funding received would help us keep the cafés free and support the delivery of activities, themed events, and entertainment, ensuring they remain a fun and inclusive spaces for all.

Baby sensory classes promote communication and language skills in babies.  The sessions are lead by a person qualified in childcare and specialising in Baby sensory activities.

The cost is £100 per session 

Start Little Grow Big partners with North Ayrshire Food bank, The Three Towns Growers, The Argyle Centre, West Coast Furniture Bank and The Criminal Justice Team to build a community garden within Ardrossan that addresses food insecurity and strengthen community resilience. By encouraging collective action and skill-sharing, the project nurtures individuals, promotes learning, and empowers all Three Towns residents to grow and enjoy nutritious food. Diversity of skills and experience is valued, making the spaces open to everyone and aimed at improving community wellbeing. This proposal will create three self-sustaining community gardens, one in each town. These gardens use permaculture principles to provide fruit, vegetables, and therapeutic gardening for those without gardens, directly addressing food insecurity and supporting community wellbeing. The project aims to build community ownership locally and promote both formal and informal education in food production. It will focus on hands-on learning, risk assessment, and sharing peer-led expertise, valuing practical experience. The project is committed to organic-only growing, supporting natural pollinators, and avoiding pesticides and artificial growth enhancers. Efforts will also repurpose materials and explore upcycling. The initiative will engage a diverse range of cultural groups, including New Scots from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and long-standing communities in the Three Towns. Their involvement will combine traditional and modern cultivation practices, enriching local food production. The project is dedicated to fostering collective action and empowerment within the community. The project's long-term benefits are significant. It will empower the community by building ownership of growing spaces, providing fresh produce for community larders, and offering opportunities for exercise and mindfulness. The project has encouraged wider community engagement around food access and provision. It has also promoted biodiversity and pollinators, reduced carbon footprints, and provided volunteering opportunities that boost self-confidence and wellness. This project has built solidarity and a common cause among the Three Towns communities. By creating these spaces, we aim to start conversations with community members about issues they may face. The community campaigner has facilitated a mutual aid style of group work with and for individuals. The project has had a positive impact on the community as it involves 30-40 individuals in its development. An estimated 250 people will benefit from the produce, while 150 will have the opportunity to engage in activities such as storytelling and educational sessions at the project sites. This initiative aims to create spaces where people can relax, actively participate in their community, and engage in gardening based on a "do what you can" ethos. Partnerships with other organizations will facilitate directing participants to the project and providing on-site services. The Three Towns project aims to foster community ownership and sustainable practices through the promotion of organic cultivation. Participants will be encouraged to grow their own produce, regardless of their living situation. This initiative not only focuses on food growth but also on personal development and community collaboration. By involving diverse individuals with various skills, the project will thrive, offering valuable experiences and knowledge about nutritious food and healthier lifestyle choices to all residents of The Three Towns. 

Breakdown of costs 

Water Butts 4X _£160 Compost Bins 2x = £260 PPE- Gloves (Riggers Quality) 15x= £75 Protective eyewear £150 Water Containers 6x =£60 Seed Various £200 Topsoil and compost £95