We would spend the award on the provision of the lunch at the venue. We expect 100 guests and anticipate cost of £25.00 per head.

We are a constituted body, that has been providing outings and lunches for over 50 years, promoting community spirt , positive mental health and well being.

Community Gala day.  Some costs based on 2025 costs.

Costings - 

Kids entertainers - £560

First Aid - £300

Public Liability - £200

further costs but these are associated with paid for wristbands for inflatables and fairground rides that are sold ay the event. 

The Isle of Arran Pipe Band is at the heart of the island’s traditions, carrying its music and spirit into every local gathering, parade, and celebration. 

Replacements for pipe chanters, reeds, sticks, and drum skins (£1000) ensure that the music the band produces is clear, tuneful, and powerful enough to fill the open air of island events. These items wear out quickly through constant use, and keeping them in good condition is not a luxury but a necessity. With the right equipment, the band can deliver stirring performances that honour both tradition and community pride.

Benefits for Members

• Being part of the band gives members a sense of belonging, discipline, and pride.

• It allows people of all ages to develop musical skills, teamwork, and confidence.

• For younger players, it provides mentoring from experienced musicians and a positive outlet for their energy and creativity.

• For adults, it offers a meaningful way to contribute to island life while deepening friendships and community ties.

Benefits for the Community

• The band is a source of cultural identity, keeping alive Scotland’s iconic pipe and drum traditions for future generations.

• Their performances bring people together at fairs, memorials, parades, and celebrations, turning events into moments of shared pride.

• The sound of the pipes and drums is woven into the island’s atmosphere, marking its history and seasons with music that unites residents and visitors alike.

• By nurturing local talent, the band strengthens intergenerational bonds and creates experiences that children, families, and elders all enjoy.

Supporting the hall hire and essential instrument upkeep is not just about covering costs—it is about safeguarding a living tradition and ensuring that the Isle of Arran Pipe Band continues to enrich island life with its music, spirit, and sense of togetherness.

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

Our club was established in 1860 and currently has just over 100 full playing members as well as a number of associate members. We aim to Build community spirit and Promote Health and well being by inviting various groups and individuals along to Open days. Kilbirnie has limited and ever decreasing community assets. The Club needs to stay viable and we believe that these events could be for the greater good of all parties, potentially increasing our membership and engaging the wider community.

Equipment required ; Bowls Gatherers x 4 £320. Umpires Kit £200. Score boards £240 Markers £100. Matts £100 Score cards £10. Tea, coffee and biscuits £30

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

Start Little Grow Big partners with North Ayrshire Food bank, The Three Towns Growers, The Argyle Centre, West Coast Furniture Bank and The Criminal Justice Team to build a community garden within Ardrossan that addresses food insecurity and strengthen community resilience. By encouraging collective action and skill-sharing, the project nurtures individuals, promotes learning, and empowers all Three Towns residents to grow and enjoy nutritious food. Diversity of skills and experience is valued, making the spaces open to everyone and aimed at improving community wellbeing. This proposal will create three self-sustaining community gardens, one in each town. These gardens use permaculture principles to provide fruit, vegetables, and therapeutic gardening for those without gardens, directly addressing food insecurity and supporting community wellbeing. The project aims to build community ownership locally and promote both formal and informal education in food production. It will focus on hands-on learning, risk assessment, and sharing peer-led expertise, valuing practical experience. The project is committed to organic-only growing, supporting natural pollinators, and avoiding pesticides and artificial growth enhancers. Efforts will also repurpose materials and explore upcycling. The initiative will engage a diverse range of cultural groups, including New Scots from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and long-standing communities in the Three Towns. Their involvement will combine traditional and modern cultivation practices, enriching local food production. The project is dedicated to fostering collective action and empowerment within the community. The project's long-term benefits are significant. It will empower the community by building ownership of growing spaces, providing fresh produce for community larders, and offering opportunities for exercise and mindfulness. The project has encouraged wider community engagement around food access and provision. It has also promoted biodiversity and pollinators, reduced carbon footprints, and provided volunteering opportunities that boost self-confidence and wellness. This project has built solidarity and a common cause among the Three Towns communities. By creating these spaces, we aim to start conversations with community members about issues they may face. The community campaigner has facilitated a mutual aid style of group work with and for individuals. The project has had a positive impact on the community as it involves 30-40 individuals in its development. An estimated 250 people will benefit from the produce, while 150 will have the opportunity to engage in activities such as storytelling and educational sessions at the project sites. This initiative aims to create spaces where people can relax, actively participate in their community, and engage in gardening based on a "do what you can" ethos. Partnerships with other organizations will facilitate directing participants to the project and providing on-site services. The Three Towns project aims to foster community ownership and sustainable practices through the promotion of organic cultivation. Participants will be encouraged to grow their own produce, regardless of their living situation. This initiative not only focuses on food growth but also on personal development and community collaboration. By involving diverse individuals with various skills, the project will thrive, offering valuable experiences and knowledge about nutritious food and healthier lifestyle choices to all residents of The Three Towns. 

Breakdown of costs 

Water Butts 4X _£160 Compost Bins 2x = £260 PPE- Gloves (Riggers Quality) 15x= £75 Protective eyewear £150 Water Containers 6x =£60 Seed Various £200 Topsoil and compost £95

If our application is successful, we propose to buy a Nova Viking 16" DVR-83700 at a cost of £1194.70 including VAT. Delivery will be extra but we will fund anything over £1000 from our own resources. 

We currently run sessions in Irvine and Kilwinning, as a club we are looking to build and branch out over North Ayrshire having more sessions across the local authority. We currently stuggle with storage at our sites. We'd like to purchase two storage units where we can store all our equipment. This would prevent us losing any of our equipment or equipment getting mixed into other groups resources. We are always looking to promote our club at community events and need some merchaniseing materials such as banners, poster pop ups, tshirts and flyers with our logo and information. This would help us get our publicity out and reach the wider community.  At the moment we are a mens and over 18 club. We are currently aiming to diversify our club by holding more sessions and having womens basketball, under 18, under 16 & under 14 basketball. 

 2 Storage Cages - £640 x 2 = £1280

4 New Basketballs - £80 x 4= £320

New Marketing material (Pop up banners,Posters, Merchandise) - £150

One off hall hires for new pilots (womens basketball, under 18, under 16 & under 14 basketball) - £250

We are looking for £1000 to contribute towards these costs.

Mindful Makers brings together Three Towns adults to combat the adverse effects of loneliness and social isolation with mindfulness. This community group is run by four volunteers organisers (no cost) and comprises weekly Crafting Sessions and a Book Group. Sessions are open to all and are mainly free of charge to users although a £1 charge applies for tutored sessions. Friday meetings are held in Saltcoats Library where the welcoming environment encourages regular attendance. Week 1: Crafting - a new skill tutored by an organiser; Week 3: Book Group; Weeks 2 and 4: crafting together. Crafting and mindfulness are beneficial and can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness and even dementia (craftscouncil.org.uk and verywellmind.com). Sharing experiences can counter depression through a feeling of belonging. Feedback from participants will guide our work and shape our 2026 programme. We use WhatsApp group to share and communicate between meetings, and a new Instagram account will raise awareness.

Our bid for £900 will allow for increasing costs expanding membership, and will (a) continue the provision of free / minimally priced crafting resources so no one is excluded for economic reasons - £500 (b) enable us to continue to provide community and outreach work - £50 promotion, and (c) increase equality of access for disabled members - £350 towards transport. We need to keep our activities as minimally priced as possible as it becomes harder to budget for activities to help us thrive.

In 2025 we arranged a very successful group visit to the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock which we would love to do again in future.  However transport costs are prohibitive (costing £300 for a small minibus to take the group) and therefore funding is necessary to allow for future trips.

We respect sustainability, recycling items wherever possible, and augment our funds through craft sales and donations. We support an average of 15-20 members at any time - an optimum number given the donated time and effort for organisation.