4  short handled shovels   4 x 15             Total   60

1 battery operated strimmer   180

1 battery operated lawn mower 260

hand shovels                              100

loppers and shears                     60                      

ergomatic hand tools                  120

Many of our members our older and we have need of new and safer tools for them.  Some had been donated and a few have broken while in use.  We need to make sure our members have good quality new tools as they do a lot of work volunteering in our garden and well as using them for their own gardening.  We would like our volunteers to find strimming and mowing the garden easier with a battery operated strimmer and mower. Several people have arthritic hands and the ergomatic tools should make gardening easier for them.

ergomatic sets of easy grip tools for arthritis sufferers  120

Many of our members are older and many tools have been donated or aren just old and are no longer fit for purpose. Some have broken while using them.  We take the safey of our members seriously. We want our members to have better, safer or to use tools and a more modern battery operated lawn mower and strimmer.  This will be easier for our volunteers to use and be more ecological.

Project Aims

• Pay the £595 ‘change of use’ fee to North Ayrshire Council to secure the derelict land donated to Largs Green Futures.
• Purchase and install a clear corrugated plastic roof to protect groups from wet weather and harness rainwater.  This will provide a sensory, educational experience demonstrating how rainwater can support sustainable crop growth.
• Buy clear perspex to visually enhance the fence barrier and provide opportunities for the community to create seasonal, themed and freestyle art, creating a space where the community can visualise changing seasons, explore plot-to-plate cooking, and express themselves freely in a safe environment.

Impact

Paying the £595 'Change of Use' fee will secure long-term access to a safe, sensory, and therapeutic community space, bringing benefits to every demographic within our community. Children and young people gain hands-on learning experiences in sustainability and healthy eating, while older adults find an accessible, sheltered and welcoming environment to connect, share knowledge, and engage in meaningful activities that support wellbeing. Families can participate in workshops developing environmental stewardship, cultivating pride in their neighbourhood and learning practical skills to reduce carbon footprints, save money, and enjoy fresh, home-grown produce.

In securing this space long-term, we future-proof not only our project, but our whole community—building resilience, nurturing wellbeing, and inspiring environmental responsibility across all ages and abilities.

Total Budget: £1,000

• Change of Use Fee (North Ayrshire Council): £595
• Corrugated Roofing (Outdoor Kitchen Shelter): £305
• Perspex (Boundary Fence Enhancement): £100

Total: £1,000

We are applying for £1000 to cover the essential costs of musical instruments, repairs, and accessories such as replacement strings, drumsticks, reeds, and other small but vital items that ensure instruments can be played and maintained. Having reliable instruments in good condition is crucial for our members, particularly those who cannot afford to buy or repair their own.

This funding will directly benefit a wide range of people in our community, from younger adults taking their first steps into music to elderly people looking to reconnect with a passion; LMC is for those who want a positive and creative outlet. By removing barriers to participation, we make sure that everyone—regardless of experience, age, or financial means—feels empowered to take part and grow in confidence.

We believe this idea deserves to be funded because music has a powerful impact on wellbeing, community spirit, and self-expression. By supporting LMC you’ll be helping us to give more people the chance to learn, collaborate, and find joy in making music together. With this investment, we can continue building an inclusive space where creativity flourishes, friendships form, and the next generation of musicians feel encouraged and inspired.

Over the last two years, we've been helping young people create an open air photo gallery in the streets of West Kilbride during the Easter holidays (see picture) . For our 2026 project, we've something different in mind. Inspired by the work of Indian "rotiographers'" studios, we'd like to open our own pop-up studio in West Kilbride.

These backstreet photographers used a wonderful collection of lo-fi backdrops and costumes to create images that put people into their own fantasies; you want to be royalty, a cowgirl, a spaceman...? The photographer can make it happen, and you will have the photograph to prove it!

So, our project will involve the rental of a vacant unit on West Kilbride Main Street; setting up the unit as a portrait studio; inviting people to submit to us their dream or fantasy; creation of the backdrop and costumes to make it come true; the photoshoot; perhaps a chat about where the fantasy is rooted; and afterwards the creation of an exhibition and slideshow (see submitted video for example of past work) of the images created (with the permission of the subjects).

Costs include rental of unit for 4 weeks £400

Backdrop hire and creation £200

Costume purchase and rental £250

Publicity £100

Lighting hire £250

Printing costs £100

We are looking to install a bench at the Memorial..as a group we feel this would be the finishing touch. 

On the day of the memorial unveiling..18th April 2025..four direct relatives of those souls who perished that day 100 years ago attented.

We feel a bench would offer a place to linger in quiet contemplation and remembrance.

The residents of our village are so positive about this space said bench would offer them the chance to pay their respects..to sit..enjoy the view and the plants too.

As in previous years we have approached Kevin Hutchinson who works locally..Largs.

Kevin has furnished us with fabulous benches for the Community Garden..we have approached him and asked for a version of the previous bench design with the addition of a planter at either end..finished in black.

He has estimated a cost of £165.

The Millport Town Hall charity is about to complete the regeneration of Millport Town Hall into a vibrant, self-sustaining community space with activities, self-help groups and community events to address social isolation and loneliness in our vulnerable elderly population, stress and anxiety in our younger people and with indoor sports, creative and performing arts and recreational facilities to improve the mental and physical well-being of our whole community. Well-planned disabled access throughout the building will ensure everyone has access to all the facilities, with 22 community groups ranging from the Boys' Brigade to Millport Pipe Band planning to regularly use the building. We want to buy an evacuation chair to ensure that anyone with reduced mobility can be safely evacuated from the building in the case of fire, power loss or other emergency. The equipment will help prevent delays and injuries should the building need to be evacuated by providing a safe stable method for moving people who can't use stairs. 

We are applying for compost, plants, and seeds for both our community garden and for local households who are supported to grow their own food. 

Our community garden has already transformed from an overgrown space into a thriving hub where food, nature, and wellbeing come together. Fresh produce grown here is shared with local families and the Village Larder, helping to reduce food waste and provide affordable food. The garden is also a place where people of all ages and backgrounds learn sustainable growing practices such as no-dig, food forestry, and polyculture. These methods enrich soil, cut emissions, and create more resilient growing systems. This funding will allow us to maintain and expand our growing. Compost is essential for healthy soil, seeds and plants are the basis of our crops, and biodiversity-friendly plants ensure we can work with nature rather than against it. At the same time, we will continue to support Village Larder customers and other households by providing compost, seeds, and starter plants to help them grow food at home. 

• £350 for compost – to improve soil in the garden and provide small amounts to households.

• £450 for plants, plug-plants, seeds, seed potatoes and containers/materials to build containers- to replenish the community garden and for giving beginner growers and households a confident start.

• £100 for biodiversity plants – pollinator-friendly flowers and companion plants

We are aiming to raise awareness of the natural environment & how we can protect it by showcasing the range of perennials we can grow in our temperate climate. Not just flowers but foliage plants, grasses & ferns all thrive here. These plants provide food & shelter for insects & wildlife, as well as colour & movement to soften the harsh concreate & grey pavers.

Whilst we are aiming to grow plants from seeds, & cuttings, many species can take some time to establish; this funding request is for initial plant purchases to begin the pathway. We want to highlight to the community how even an awkward plain walkway can promote life & nourish the environment. These plants will self -seed & can be used for cuttings & divisions in the future to further populate the communal areas around the walkway.

The planting will take a naturalistic approach, repeated in blocks along the length of the walkway. Each perennial block will cost £333.40 which includes a discount from the nursery. Total = £1000.20 

We have three blocks of perennials along the length of the walkway, each in slightly different colour tones. The benefits of being in nature are well documented & will bring a soothing element to start & finish the busy school day.

There is a lot of administrative requirements involved in the above, both day to day admin for the Barony and studios and also considerable admin for each exhibition in the Barony Centre. Our office equipment is heavily used. It's quite old now and is  becoming unreliable.  We are seeking to replace and upgrade a printer and a laminator, along with replenishing ink and paper stocks.

1) HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw A4 Colour Multifunction Laser Printer 7KW75A- £639.14 (incl VAT)

2) Laminator 5724901, A4 & A3 £170.54

3) ink cartridges and paper £190.32

We would propose to buy a Yonex badminton set which includes 20 rackets, 6 packs of plastic shuttles, 2 nets and a robust carry case for all items. This is sold as a packaged set and is much better value than buying the items separately.

£300 inc VAT (price from Greaves Sports)