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 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.

The previous year has taught me that we will likely spend at least £500 this next year in replacement strings and reeds (which range in costs depending on the instrument, but can cost £20 per set).

Im also aware of a few individuals who are saving to buy a second hand instrument to join us, and with funding I will insist the club pay for those to assist greater inclusivity. This means that the club owns the instruments and that others can play them. A recent example of this was our purchase of a mandolin for £100, which several Regulars enjoy learning. Going forward, I aim to provide more brass instruments, including a trumpet, which a few would-be members have enquired about. A quick scan of Ebay tells me that I will likely need to commit at least £100 to this.

In Summer 2025 we planted up twelve raised beds and our indoor gorwing space with a wide variety of vegetables, held open days and invited members of the community of all ages and abilities to join in and learn, shared knowledge and food with visitors and donated fresh vegetable harvest to the Largs Food Larder, Clark Memorial Food Bank and directly with residents.

We have created our own social media page with over fifty members, where we share our public events and photographs of recent happenings at the community garden. We have hosted a local nursery on multiple occasions and the children excitedly helped with potato harvest, learned to sow seeds and how to transplant plants, and were able to enjoy peas right out of the pod (many for the first time!) We have opened the space to primary and secondary school classes and invite groups and individuals to visit the garden area to relax in nature and learn more about our community project. The garden volunteers have shared tomatoes, beans, chard, peas, herbs and other vegetables directly with visitors for them to enjoy at home.

We hope to make 2026 even more exciting and bountiful by expanding our community engagement and volunteer network through more local events and open days. We intend to expand the number of local charities we donate to, plant fruit trees and continue growing and sharing local food with Largs.

Five one-ton bags of compost at £50 = £250

Fifteen 50l bags soil at £12 = £180

Materials, like gloves, netting, pots, tools and trellises = £80

Seeds, seedlings, bulbs = £100

Three dwarf fruit trees at £30 each = £90

Three large barrels for trees at £50 = £150

Two blueberry bushes at £20 = £40

Drinks, snacks, themos and cooler for Community Pop Along Days = £50

Arbor frame = £60

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.

This project wish to build on previous 'Cinema events' hosted by the Largs Community Council, and create a fully inclusive event, where people can come together, enjoy a movie, chat, and have a meal, without having to worry about cost. We wish to engage as much of the community as possible and will publicise on social media, through the schools as well as care homes and other channels. The venue is fully accessible.

The format will be as follows:

• Children and ASN movie - late afternoon showing. This will take place in the Valhalladrome and will comprise one or two shorter movies with subtitles. We will be advertising to ensure that parents know it's aimed at younger children, or those with ASN and as such, can come and go as required and also children, under  parent/carer supervision, will be welcome to 'be themselves' and enjoy the movie without worrying about requiring to keep seated and keep quiet. 
• Simple meal in cafe area - utilising the newly refurbished, Cafe area, we wish to be able to offer people a simple meal to be enjoyed in the seating area. This will be free of charge and will have offering to suit all ages as well as when possible accomodating allergy requirements. 
• This will still be a family friendly movie, albeit longer, and in the Barrfield Theatre - our intention is to offer a 'current' movie release which will allow people to enjoy a genuine movie experience without having to travel further afield. 
• We hope to be able to engage a local band to play during the meal time in the lobby of Vikingar! to add to the ambience, but also show case their talents to the wider community.

Final costings are to be confirmed however expected to be as follows:

Cinema screenings - 2 movie showings on one afternoon - c£250. This will be confirmed nearer the time as there is variability depending on movie choices and specific license costs. We will engage with our community to identify the films that are top of people's list to see nearer the time.

Hall Hire - expected around £250 to book both venues for the required period. 

Food - £500 - Vikingar staff will operate the cafe and provide a simple menu which is based on that current at The Portal. We expect this will fund up to 100 meals (Soup+Sandwich or Main and side), however LCC have also some funding available for previous cinema events which will allow us a buffer if demand outstrips the funding allocation. 

Cinema and licensing - £250

Hall Hire - £250

Food - £500

Total £1000

We currently develop and maintain 13 major gardens and green spaces in West Kilbride which vary in size from a field to small seated areas. By joining the Scottish Garden's scheme we will be advertised nationally and locally on their social media platforms and in their printed material.  This will attract visitors to our village and increase footfall for our local businesses and studios thus supporting the economy of our area.

We will also produce and sell a small booklet and map for £5. The money collected will be shared with between the Community Gardens and the Ayrshire Hospice.

Design costs - £250

Printing cost for 500 high quality gloss leaflets - £90

The Bridging the Gap Project has attracted many residents keen to learn new skills which involve Sociable, Active Mindsport in a warm and welcoming daytime activity which in many ways will help alleviate the economic pressures that have been brought about by the cost of living crisis.

Due to the number of people who have registered for beginners bridge lessons, it is necessary to have appropriate bridge tables which can be stored easily,. The tables will provide for the game of bridge to be played on suitable surfaces without the varying bridge accessories slipping or being knocked onto the floor. Ths in turn creates a more enjoyable experience for the players as they concentrate on the learning process of this fascinating game. 

Five tables 89cm x 89cm @ a cost of £165 each would be a valuable acquisition for the club. 

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.

For this fund, we encourage and support those with lesser mobility to socialise outdoors either with a picnic in nature or within a local establishment. The aim is to have intergenerational interaction supporting a sense of being involved and connected to all of the community, without being segregated by mobility or age.  Meeting fortnightly we incentivise increased mobility and socialisation by contributing once per month towards a lunch within a local establishment or provide a picnic in nature. Request £80 per month; our average attendance is 10 people and the suggested contribution is £8pp towards their meal. (£80 x 12 months = £960). When more people arrive, the contribution is reduced or the additional cost is supported by other YES contributions.

YES Your Entire Self cic runs 3 weekly groups of Mindful Living for a Healthier Community, Chill n Do Social Club and Wheel and Walk Club.  Each group on a weekly basis can have attendance of between 10-30 people.  We run free Forest Therapy sessions for the Community to support overall Health and host additional Forest Therapy events for those with less mobility.  We promote nature as a tool for wellbeing. We have an annual 12 week course to support recovery for Women of Domestic Abuse.  We hold Wellbeing and Self Care Days for Families of Loved Ones with Addictions as well as Self Empowerment Days for those with Addictions.    We collaborate with Hope (CLASP) Harbour Ayrshire, NA Mental Health Nurses, Link Workers, Drum4Life, EmpowerMe, Forest Therapy Practitioners, NA Social Services, NA Community Hubs as well as NA Recovery College and Douglas Park. In any one week we can support between 40-70 people, all having a positive ripple effect on family members and friends with NA communities.

YES set up as a cic 3 years ago with one weekly group and one Mindfulness course.  We have since grown in demand each year, building up a reputation for positive outcomes and professional services.  All our volunteers and facilitators have lived experience of self empowered wellbeing and overcoming life challenges.  2026 we will continue to grow due to the current collaboration requests from other Ayrshire Third sector establishments and Social Services.  We continue to raise the voices of the unheard and unseen within our communities.