We are piloting a new after-school tutor-led learning club in Kilwinning for primary and secondary pupils (ages 8–16). The project aims to provide free, accessible support in core subjects such as literacy, numeracy, and study skills to help raise attainment, boost confidence, and reduce stress for families who cannot afford private tutoring.

The club will run weekly sessions in a local community venue for 10 weeks, with small-group tuition led by qualified tutors. Places will be open to all pupils, but we will prioritise children from families living in SIMD 1 and 2 areas who are most affected by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. By removing financial barriers, the project ensures all children, regardless of background, can access support to reach their full potential.

This pilot will test demand and outcomes. If successful, it could grow in future, helping Kilwinning’s children improve school performance, develop resilience, and feel supported by their community.

Breakdown of Costs:

• Tutor fees (2 tutors x 10 weeks) – £1,200

• Venue hire (community space for 10 weeks) – £300

• Learning resources (books, stationery, equipment) – £200

• Healthy snacks for pupils – £150

• Promotion & materials (flyers, posters, digital) – £150

Total: £2,000

The Garden Haven will be a purpose-built community space within the Community Roots Garden in West Kilbride – a once-derelict site reclaimed by local people four years ago and steadily developed into a thriving community asset. The Haven is a stand-alone project that will provide a base to connect our Community Garden and Village Larder with wider holistic aims of wellbeing, sustainability, and education.  

This welcoming, sustainable building will build on the community’s success in transforming neglected land and place it into fuller use, directly supporting North Ayrshire’s Community Wealth Building strategy. It will create opportunities for skills, learning, and local enterprise while ensuring that wellbeing services are accessible to everyone, regardless of income.  

From the Haven we will deliver workshops on sustainable growing practices, nutrition, and the use of herbs for health, alongside stress management and complementary therapies. These activities promote healthier lifestyles, reduce environmental impact, and help people adopt low-cost, sustainable choices. Sessions will be offered free or on a pay-what-you-can basis, tackling inequalities in access to wellbeing. Through partnerships with the local college’s complementary therapy courses and local holistic practitioners, the project will also support education, fair work experience, and local expertise.  

Costs and Funding  

• Phase 1 – Core Build: £59,849. Due to commence end of October 2025. Funding secured: £50,000 (National Lottery Community Led Fund). £5000 Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund Shortfall: £4849

• Phase 2 – Finishing & Sustainability (decking, fencing, landscaping, solar panels, battery storage, decorating and furnishing): £18900

With support, the Garden Haven will complete the transformation of a once-neglected site into a sustainable, community-owned hub for wellbeing, learning, and environmental resilience 

The Community Wealth Building award will go towards the outlined costs and we are seeking out other sources of funding for the remainder. We aim to be completed by Spring 2025

DDLS is a local competitive dance team in North Ayrshire, with many young members from areas affected by deprivation. Competing at a high level brings amazing opportunities for our dancers, but costs for travel, entry fees, and kit often create barriers for families. We want to test new ways of fundraising that not only support our dancers but also benefit the wider community by bringing people together and opening up access to dance.

This project combines three small but powerful initiatives:

1. Community Showcase Event – A large-scale performance event featuring DDLS dancers alongside local schools and community groups. Funding will cover venue hire, costumes, lighting, and marketing. Tickets will generate income to reinvest in competition costs, while the event itself celebrates community talent and inspires others to get active through dance.

2. Branded Merchandise – Purchase of initial stock of DDLS-branded hoodies, water bottles, and dance bags. Sales will build a sustainable income stream, while also promoting team identity and local pride.

3. Dance for All Workshops – A series of community workshops led by DDLS dancers and coaches, open to children and young people who may not otherwise access dance. These sessions will be free or low-cost initially, with future paid workshops generating income to support competition costs. This gives back to the community while building a model for longer-term sustainability.

Breakdown of Costs (total £2,000):

• Community Showcase Event (venue hire, costumes, lighting, marketing) – £1,000

• Branded merchandise (hoodies, bottles, bags initial stock) – £500

• Dance for All workshops (venue hire, facilitator costs, resources) – £500

Total: £2,000

This project fits strongly under the Enterprising Communities theme, as it is designed to test and develop new ways for DDLS to generate sustainable income that can be reinvested into our goals. The community showcase event will bring in ticket sales to help cover competition costs while also creating a positive event for the wider public. The branded merchandise will provide a small but ongoing income stream that promotes team identity and encourages community support. The Dance for All workshops will give local children and young people affordable access to dance, while establishing a model that can generate income for future community sessions and help subsidise competition costs.

It also links to Local Innovation, as we are piloting a combination of new activities (merchandise, workshops, and a public showcase event) to see which approaches work best in creating financial sustainability. By testing these ideas, we are building resilience into our organisation, reducing reliance on one-off fundraisers, and finding new ways to involve the wider community in dance.

This project therefore directly supports the Community Wealth Building mission by maximising the potential of our place and our young people, while reinvesting income to ensure that opportunities to compete and succeed in dance are not limited by financial barriers.

A Film Club would provide opportunities for the commuity to come together, for cutural and educational benefits.  What was once the old cinema could once again deliver many different genres of film.  As the new building is totally accessible everybody will be able to participate.  There could be screenings individually for children, for those suffering with dementia, for those who would revel in the old stories of the Clyde and the tales of Para Handy, for families. These are just a few examples.

A consultant would research this local innovation to provide a clear strategy and guidelines to be developed for future use by those taking the project foward.

A self employed consultant at 8 hours per week for ten weeks at £15 per hour would cost £1,080 - see role profile below for further information.

If successful, the CWB funding would allow us to bring in a consultant to strengthen our branding and marketing. As a charity, we have grown significantly in both our size and the support we provide, and we want to make sure we can fully showcase the breadth of our work in ways that are clear, accessible, and inclusive, ensuring no one is left out.

As a not-for-profit organisation, every penny we earn/raise goes straight back into the charity, the communities, and the people we support. Our charity is a a social care chairty and the teams go above and beyond every day to meet increasing demand. At present, they create resources using the tools available to them, but this takes up valuable time. With this funding, we would be able to produce professional, accessible materials that reach a much wider audience, easing pressure on our teams while ensuring our information and support are inclusive for all.

By voting for us, you’re helping us continue to grow, remain accessible, and make a bigger difference for the people and communities who need us most.

Historically, most villages on the Isle of Arran had at least one tennis court, reflecting a vibrant local interest in the sport. However, over the years, many of these courts have fallen into disrepair or been lost altogether, leading to a significant decline in accessible playing spaces. At present, there are no organised coaching sessions available on the island. This, combined with limited facilities, presents a substantial barrier for those wishing to take up the sport—particularly beginners, individuals with additional needs, and anyone requiring adapted coaching methods or specialist equipment.  Brodick Tennis Club are committed to reversing this trend and are working alongside Tennis Scotland and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to achieve this. Our vision is to create a welcoming, inclusive tennis environment that is accessible to all, regardless of age, gender, ability, or background. We aim to:

Offer regular, structured sessions for all skill levels

• Provide disability-inclusive coaching, led by appropriately trained instructors
• Promote participation among under represented groups
• Ensure that both our club culture and physical facilities meet high standards of accessibility

By actively championing inclusion, we hope not only to revitalise interest in tennis on Arran but also to foster a sense of community, wellbeing, and shared enjoyment of sport.

Having successfully secured funding to resurface three public courts in Brodick village, we have also begun a programme of training LTA qualified coaches on the island. The courts will shortly be ready to welcome players back and, upon accreditation, our newly trained LTA Level 1 Assistant Coaches will be able to begin providing inclusive tennis sessions for our community. We are applying for funding to cover the costs of acquiring equipment. This will enable us to offer tailored sessions and ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate meaningfully.

Bucket of Orange stage balls (n=96) £102, bucket of Green stage balls (n=96) £102, 27” adult size rackets x 12 £252, grips x 12 £15, throw down lines (48 yellow) £78, blue marker spots (30cm) x 12 £39, red marker spots (30cm) x 12 £39, set of six blue hoops (30cm diameter) x 2 £30, set of six red hoops (30cm diameter) x 2 £30, large court number signs x 3 £42, portable metal baskets to hold tennis balls x 3 £144, large secure metal storage container for equipment £800, delivery and assembly of container £150.

We also recognise the value of learning from others. As part of our commitment to best practice, we are also applying for funding to carry out knowledge-sharing visits to established, inclusive tennis clubs across Scotland, including:

• Prestwick Tennis Club – LTA Disability Club of the Year (2020), offering wheelchair tennis and sessions for adults and juniors with learning difficulties
• Strathgryffe Tennis Club – runs weekly disability classes for players with both learning and physical support needs
• Irvine Tennis Club – provides a broad programme with dedicated sessions for women, men, and players aged 50+, in addition to social tennis and general coaching

These exchanges will inform the development of our own inclusive practice and help us build a strong, sustainable, and welcoming tennis culture on Arran.

Return trip to Prestwick £66.05*, return trip to Irvine £65.90*, return trip to Strathgryffe £74.30*     

*(cost of two passengers and car on the ferry plus mileage)

Total requested = £1999.25

This year we running a Christmas pantomime fundrasier for the running of the festival, this is open for all of the community at a reduced rate. For 2026 we'd like to offer showings at a even more of a reduced rate. This year the cost of tickets are £10 per person where normally the tickets are £16. Next year we'd like to have the opportunity to greatly reduce the cost of the tickets for school children. We'd like a friday showing for schools to make it acessible for lower income families. Ticket will be at the reduced cost of £3. We will be running other days which will be open to the public which will generate an income. The income we make will be reinvested back into the festival planning and organisation of the festival celebrations for the year ahead.

Pantomime Booking (Geeza a Break Productions ) - £1800

One off hall hire  (Volunteer Rooms) - £200