We meet at kilbirnie loch every Thursday evening between April and October to paddle on the loch . In winter we move indoors to Garnock community campus pool , where members learn life saving skills in the water , and how to keep themselves safe in the water . We have week about for youths and adults . 

The club provides the boats , kayaks , paddle boards and life jackets to members , thus ensuring there is no barriers to anyone despite cost . 

All members are encouraged and supported to do training to become coaches and can find support to build on their experiences. 

We have a family friendly atmosphere that encourages newcomers to try out new activities with support and experience of other members .  

There is opportunities to go on camping trips , and days away at different locations. these are great for building confidence in people of all ages .  The club is great for mental health , keeping fit , and allowing people to socialise in a safe and suppprtive environment.  We hoping to use our funding for maintenance to our boats and possibly replace some older ones . The boats will be roughly £200 each to repay and update .  we have no running costs , or building rentals to consider .   

A concert is often seen as old-fashioned, but following covid the evidence suggests that older folk in particular are reluctant to venture out, especially at night. Consequently our Musical Afternoon  says it all. We will arrange a concert featuring Irvine and Dreghorn Band (or other band as avaialble), recent winners at the West of Scotland Brass Band Assoication. They will be supported by the talented choir of Kilbirnie New Parish Church. We will celebrate

Hall Hire (£200); Irvine and Dreghorn Band £500; Choir cost: £200;  Purvey at Interval for band and choir and audience: £100 Total: £1,000. Explanatory note on expenditure viz. This event will take place in early Spring or Autumn 2026, depending mainly on availability of band and choir which cannot be finalised at this time.  We know that the cost of the event will be more than £1,000 applied for but the additional expenses involved will be funded by Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club and Beith Lasses and Lads Burns Club and the raffle at our 81st Annual St Andrew's Dinner will go towards supporting this event where expenditure exceeds the £1,000 grant applied for. What is certain is that the cost of the band and choir will be fixed and depending on the venue, the normal charge is £200, but that may increase slightly by the time the concert is organised. It is important in our view to provide the audience with light refreshments at the interval and such costs will be provided by our two sponsor Burns Clubs.

The concert would last for just over 2 hours. featuring the band and choir in the first half and the choir and band in the second half. The last concert was graced by the presence of Provost Anthea Dickson and Kenneth Gibson MSP and various elected members of North Ayrshire Council. All were delighted with the concert and encouraged the organisers, Barrmill Jolly Beggarts Burns Club, to consider holding more. The event organiser, Kathleen Reid, is joint treasurer of the Jolly Beggars and has the required skills and ability to successfully deliver this concert.

Having organised previous concerts there is clearly a demand for them as the comments from attendees was very positive indeed. Last concert comments included: "Fantastic, best day ever." "I didn't realize how versatile a brass band could be." "The concert was truly inspirational and the commitment of the band and choir was very special indeed." I had goose-bumps with the band playing:The Dam Busters theme." "Can you let me know when the next concert is being held please."

The available evidence suggests that getting folk out of their homes - older folk and the younger generation - into a welcoming environment encourages health and well-being and meeting others at such inter-generational events helps build community spirit. We firmly believe that actively encouraging music gives a boost to everyone. Music is often described as a universal language that connects people across cultures and time periods.The old adage remains forever true: Music makes you smile and enriches every aspect of your being. 

We have expanded our capacity at the Community Garden,  this will enable us to offer more activities and events throughout the year which will be accessible to all.

Bringing our young people and adults together for art projects using upcyclied materials and objects saved from landfill.

We host events throughout the year, building community  spirit  through various activities which in turn  supports our  Health & Wellbeing.

Our volunteers like many othes give up their valuable time supporting others and have done so over the last four years. We would like to provide a lunch as a thank you in turn, supporting local businesses.

3x cases paper recyclable cups   £90

Sundries                                          £150

Arts and Craft /tools                     £200

15 x lunches @ £10                       £150                

For over 20 years, we have taken care of the woods and created a space where people from all walks of life can feel safe and supported. We encourage retired individuals, those facing mental health challenges, and veterans to engage with nature outside of their daily routines. Our goal is to use the calming influence of nature to help distract them from their issues.

We also welcome various groups, such as Scouts and schools, to use our woodlands for educational purposes about the environment. Many individuals find joy in exploring and enjoying the woods.

This year, we are seeking funding to refurbish and replace our equipment, which has been worn down by the harsh conditions we face. Maintaining the paths is much more challenging than simply cutting a lawn.

Refurbish our mowers x2 = £400. We cover routine maintenance, but this is a one-off safety upgrade and inspection, so we can keep older models going rather than just buying new ones when these need to be refurbished. We believe in reusing and recycling. 

Drill and Driver kit £150. -

A battery-powered strimmer that utilises the batteries we already have, or for small jobs, allowing people who find the big petrol-powered strimmers too heavy to use them.

£130 

At present we do not have access to the ground for our disabled and wheelchair user supporters due to uneven ground, lack of ramps and broken steps. We are looking to remove a ticket gate which would give access from the back car park, fix the broken steps and put in a ramp. This would give access to a sheltered area in the stand which would provide an ideal viewing area. This area would need to be highlighted and marked off with tape/paint.

Cost for this would be £1820. 

Growing and cultivating our own produce at home presents challenges for some families in terms of cost of equipment, the time required to tend to the plants, lack of space and knowledge.

With the wealth of skills and experience GVAA members can offer there is a desire to pass this onto the young people of the Garnock Valley.

GVAA members are in the process of erecting a polytunnel on site which will be available to be exclusively used by young people. We aim to increase their awareness of where their food comes from, promote skills in gardening and horticulture, increase their knowledge of their environment and encourage teamwork.

The project will be led by a member of GVAA and it is aimed that by passing on their knowledge, skills and experience to the young people taking part in the project, that it may lead to pathways in volunteering, and further training or employment in horticulture.

The additiional benefit of working outside and in the environment is well documented to improve mental health.

In order for the polytunnel to be complete and equipped for growing the following equipment is required. It is intended that the young people will be involved with getting the polytunnel ready for the next growing season.

Raised beds and shelving =£400                                                 

 Lightweight strimmer x 2= £300                                                   

Strimmer helmet & visor x 2 = £40                                                  

Bosch water pump and rechargeable battery = £150                 

Gloves = £60                                                                                   

  Seeds and plants = £50

Through creative activities, wellbeing classes and positive social connections, the She Shed strives to achieve a sense of belonging, where women feel valued, supported and better equipt for life's challenges. We want to build confidence and resilience in women, helping them to step out of their comfort zone, meet new people and try new things. 

Funding will allow us to stay at no cost to our members, keeping us inclusive for all by removing financial barriers to participation. As a result, we can strengthen the growth and sustainability of our group, ensuring that it continues to be a supportive and welcoming place. 

Breakdown of project costs:

- Branding/advertisement £200 

- Food, drink and catering suppplies £100

- Mindfulness and relaxation activities £300

- Art and craft supplies £400

Procured Chef hourly rate £18 per hour (£72 per class)

Ingredients for 10 - 12 participants per class - £150 per class

Tupperware and bags provided - £10 per class

Participants cooking fresh, nutritous meals and taking their creations home to share with family whilst retaining skills and knowledge to go forward we consider this activity invaluable for our community.  We connect the activity to our wider cost of living service and offer all participants follow up one to ones if they wish to discuss any issues that may require connection to another support service.  Cooking classes are having a positive impact on reducing food insecurity and social isolation for Garnock Valley residents.  All sessions are within school hours which allows parents the freedom to take part.  The building is also a ground floor entry, disability friendly facility and lies on the local bus route.  To date we have recieved excellent feedback of participants replicating recipes at home with their families.  Its an activity that is well attended, and recieves a lot of good news praise on local social media.  £1856 would allow us to cover chef and ingredients for another 8 classes to be run which is of great value to all who attend.