We're looking for funding to continue the Skills development of the membership, as they progress their skills their increasing the types of items they are making, are more complex & the Quality is improving all the time. Which gives the members a great sense of achievement. The funding will help to purchase more Materials form the local Builders Merchant.

150 Fence Boards x 60 145 Planed Pine x 30 47x50 Fence Rail x 30 45x45 Planed Pine x 20 PVA Glue x 2

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.

We are normally open on Sunday afternoons from April to September from approx 1pm until 5pm.

Our Museum site known as Skelmorlie Secret Bunker as a secondary role has a vision of promoting Active Travel within North Ayrshire for the benefit of all our community. 

We can provide a toilet and refreshment facility through using our self contained Groundhog Welfare unit which provides a proper toilet facility and small kitchen for the provision of hot and cold drinks. 

In addition apart from catering for small groups such as individuals and families we can by prior arrangement cope with organised walking and cycling groups both on Sunday afternoons and outwith those times.

We are applying for £360 to get our toilet facility serviced over that six months, £150 for flyers to advertise within North Ayrshire the Active Travel Waypoint and £130 for kitchen sundries such as water, tea, coffee eco cups and milk to provide a refreshment service all at no cost to the users of our museum site.  

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

 

 

 

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. 

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. 

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.

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