After a very successful 2024-25 season the Irvine Sharks have for a second year won their league undefeated and again received promotion from Division 2 to Division 1. The teams members majority are all approaching 40 or over. Many who had been inactive over the past years before the start of this club. This has led to a dramatic boost again in members physical and mental health.

Our project is a continuation of a long-term development plan to empower girls through rugby by developing their skills, confidence, leadership, and sense of belonging. We aim to support gender equality at Irvine Rugby Club by providing female-designed rugby kits for our growing number of girls playing the sport, offering female-led coaching, and hosting an all-female rugby festival.

Our group, Irvine without Incinerators, wishes to monitor air quality in Irvine, to reassure worried locals that the Waste Incinerator at Oldhall West is not producing more than permitted levels of pollutants, in particularly NO2( nitrous dioxide). We propose to use the funding to pay for an appropriate monitioring machine.

Ayrshire Fire Basketball club is a recreational Basketball Club based in Ayrshire with sessions in Irvine, Kilwinning and Kilmarnock. The sessions are open for ages over 18 and for all levels of ability. The club plays an important role in helping the players confidence, skills and build on social connections. The club has a positive impact on the players mental health and wellbeing.

Irvine Pipe Band would like to get new equipment for training and uniforms for members of the band who are not able to afford their own equipment. The project will link people up from all walks of life including New Scots as well as others from across North Ayrshire who share a passion for Scottish music. The band provides an opportunity for people to boost their mental health and wellbeing by making new friends and taking up an instrument completely free of charge.

Every year the Irvine Seniors Forum run an information day and now, after our successful first health and well being day, we are looking to put both of these events on in 2026. These events are great for older folk who enjoy the these days and interact with others out with their normal circle whether large or small.

The Vennel Friends Discovery Group meet weekly in the Vennel Gardens and helps older people come together to meet new people and try a whole host of activities while working towards a recognised award. Our group is open to anyone over the age of 50. We participate in a wide range of activities that promote the health and wellbeing of our group members. The group provides a safe and welcoming place for older people to connect socially which helps to combat loneliness and isolation.