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

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

Meadowbank Studio CIC will develop and deliver a series of six informal social art sessions in six different communities around Arran in the Spring of 2026 - a pilot project, with a view to expanding it into a series of similar and regular events throughout the rest of the year if additional funding can be raised from other sources.

The sessions will be delivered by island-based tutors and will be designed for over-25s who are likely to come to the events with a wide range of artistic abilities. Absolute beginners will be welcome - the key word of Arran Art 4 Us will be FUN!

Participants might try out drawing portraits of each other, painting landscapes from their photos, or even weaving patterns and pictures with wool and fabric.

Our tutors have years of experience of delivering creative activities, including Arran's 'Art in Mind' and 'Paint & Pint' - both of which encourage people to just have a go, regardless of their ability and skill level. Arran Art 4 Us will do exactly the same - it will be art for everyone and with no experience necessary!

With much of Arran's existing artistic learning provision currently based in and around Brodick (e.g. Arran Visual Arts workshops, Paint & Pint, Art in Mind) this pilot project will deliberately target the less populated smaller communities around the island, to widen access to creative opportunities. Locations for Arran Art 4 Us sessions will be Whiting Bay, Kildonan, Shiskine, Pirnmill, Lochranza and Corrie.

Each 2 hour session will be delivered for a small charge of £2 to Arran residents, with capacity for up to 15 participants per event. All materials will be provided (as well as a plentiful supply of tea and biscuits!)

Public liability insurance will be provided by Meadowbank Studio CIC. The organisation will also carry out risk assessments for each site and event. Tutors will hold appropriate accreditation for working with adults. 

Who will benefit

The project will offer opportunities for potentially 70-90 Arran residents to socialise and be creative in safe and relaxed local environments - where they can have fun without feeling intimidated by any lack of previous experience or ability. Anybody over 25 will be welcome to give it a try, even it it's mainly an excuse for a bit of socialising while they have a laugh creating something.

Arran Art 4 Us will help to make practical art more accessible to low income and isolated people who might find barriers in cost, transport or perception of 'not being an artist', and will complement the other artistic activities available on the island.

Being charged out at just £2 per person, sessions will be accessible to the majority of residents, regardless of their financial situation. We will hire local community venues which will encourage participants to walk to the sessions, and every attempt will also be made to time them to fit around bus schedules where possible. 

We believe Arran Art 4 Us has the potential to develop into an all-year-round provision, and make a real lasting contribution to reduce social isolation, grow individuals' personal confidence and wellbeing, and foster greater community interaction on the island.

Costs we are applying for

We are applying for a £939 grant towards the overall cost of £1143 to deliver the project - the remaining income will be from the £2 contributions from participants. The Meadowbank Studio team will also contribute around 30 hours of volunteer time to help organise and run the six sessions.

The main costs for delivering six sessions will be venue hire, materials, tutors' time, promotion, travel, catering. A breakdown is included in one of the attached documents for reference. 

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.

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.

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.

Creating opportunities for young children (aged 4-8 years) on Arran to discover tennis is a key goal of Brodick Tennis Club. With funding from the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) Parks Tennis Fund, we’ve resurfaced our three courts and are nearing completion of this project. While waiting for the courts to be ready, many of our primary school teachers have completed a CPD tennis module delivered by Tennis Scotland so as to be able to actively promote tennis activities within their schools.  We now also have a new group of LTA qualified Assistant Coaches who are eager to share their skills and enthusiasm with local children. Children as young as four can participate in tennis activities. To launch children’s tennis sessions on the island, we now seek funding for the essential equipment needed to introduce tennis to this age group.

The club is seeking funding to purchase age-appropriate tennis equipment that helps young children develop the key hand-eye coordination and movement skills tennis requires, all while having lots of fun. Research from the LTA shows that early enjoyment and success are critical to long-term participation. By providing properly sized and learning stage appropriate racquets, nets, and balls, as well as fun training tools like hoops, cones, and bean bags, we aim to create a positive, confidence-building environment for young players.

We are seeking funding for the following core equipment:

Red stage balls suitable for children aged 5-8 years (n=72) £86, foam balls for children aged 4+ (n=48) £104, pop up nets x 3 £300, 19” tennis rackets x 10 £159.90, 21” tennis rackets x 10 £159.90, mini cones (set of 4) x 3 £45, set of 6 hoops (50cm diameter) x 4 £84, set of 24 bean bags x 2 £60 

Total requested = £998.80

Having the appropriate equipment for our youngest learners will also help the club to be inclusive, removing barriers of expensive and multi-stage equipment costs to families on the island, and enabling every child aged 4-8 years who would like to explore the game of tennis to get the chance to do so. Tennis is a challenging sport for our children to learn, but provides multiple potential benefits of physical activity, complex coordination and motor skills, confidence-building, and the mental and social skills offered by tennis being both an individual and team sport. We hope to use our island’s new playing spaces and trained coaches to help create a community of enthusiastic young tennis learners, contributing both to their physical and mental wellbeing.

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.