The aim of the project is to support volunteers involved in the Irvine 'Adopt a Flowerbed' scheme through offering basic tools, bulbs and seeds. It will offer a chance to come together as a supportive group to share hints and tips as well as seed and plant swaps for use in the flower beds. The project will promote physical activity, social inclusion, positive mental health and enhanced wellbeing.

A Facebook group will be set up to share photos of the flowerbeds and events organised to bring volunteers together. The aim is to build a supportive community amongst the 'Buddies' while helping to enhance the Irvine locality for both locals and visitors alike through the maintenance of its flowerbeds.

The approximate costs applied for are:

Bulbs and seeds: £540, gardening gloves: £21.60,  hand trowels: £51.84,  Seed trays £46.08, plant labels: £11.98, seed envelopes:£19.99, refreshments: £96.78, Promotional flyers: £31.99, tote bags: £17.74, room rental for year (monthly x10): £162.

Additional costs involved such as soil improvement, compost, additional plants and bulbs and protective gear will be sought through fundraising and donations.

Festive Celebration for People Affected by Substance Use

Cafe Solace in collaboration with Fullarton Connexions

We are applying for funding to deliver a festive meal and celebration for people in our community who are affected by substance use and/or lonlieness. Many of our service users face stigma, poverty and social isolation, particularly over the festive period when most services are closed. We have facilitated an event over the past 2 years with great success. This project will provide an inclusive, welcoming space where individuals can enjoy a freshly prepared meal, participate in activities and celebrate together with dignity and respect. Ideally, the meal would be held on Christmas Day, however, due to the limitations of availability of payment on time, the event can be held anytime throughout the festive period up until 4th January.

Aims & Objectives

• To provide a safe, stigma-free environment where people affected by substance use can come together and celebrate the festive season.

• To reduce isolation and loneliness by creating opportunities for social connection and shared experience.

• To promote dignity, inclusion and wellbeing by ensuring everyone has access to a festive meal and celebration.

• To strengthen community partnerships through collaboration with Fullarton Connexions Church who are allowing us to use their facility for this event 

• We are hoping that the event will be attended by approx 40 enjoying a high-quality festive meal and activities.

• Attendees will report feeling less isolated and more connected to their community.

• The event will help challenge stigma by creating a positive, welcoming space where people can be valued and included.

• Stronger links will be built between service users, local community, our organisation and community partners.  

The event will be hosted at Fullarton Connexions, who have generously offered the use of their facilities. Our volunteers, will prepare and serve a festive meal, with entertainment, music and activities to create a celebration. Transport support will be provided for those who would otherwise struggle to attend. Each guest will also receive a small festive gift to take away.

Budget Breakdown

• Food & refreshments: £450 

• Decorations & festive items: £150

• Entertainment & activities: £150

• Small festive gifts / wellbeing packs: £100

• Venue hire: £100 

• Essential Travel Costs £50

Total funding requested: £1,000

For over 20 years, we have taken care of the woods and created a space where people from all walks of life can feel safe and supported. We encourage retired individuals, those facing mental health challenges, and veterans to engage with nature outside of their daily routines. Our goal is to use the calming influence of nature to help distract them from their issues.

We also welcome various groups, such as Scouts and schools, to use our woodlands for educational purposes about the environment. Many individuals find joy in exploring and enjoying the woods.

This year, we are seeking funding to refurbish and replace our equipment, which has been worn down by the harsh conditions we face. Maintaining the paths is much more challenging than simply cutting a lawn.

Refurbish our mowers x2 = £400. We cover routine maintenance, but this is a one-off safety upgrade and inspection, so we can keep older models going rather than just buying new ones when these need to be refurbished. We believe in reusing and recycling. 

Drill and Driver kit £150. -

A battery-powered strimmer that utilises the batteries we already have, or for small jobs, allowing people who find the big petrol-powered strimmers too heavy to use them.

£130 

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. 

The Three Towns Discovery Award Group is aimed at all people over 50 years of age, to help promote an active and healthy lifestyle by offering challenges to both stimulate and motivate.

The Discovery Award is a personal challenge, through a programme of your chosen leisure activities with no exam at the end. You need no special qualifications, just a willingness to have a go and the determination to do the very best that you personally achieve. 

As part of this, we bring in other services to educate and draw awareness to local and national topics that impact us and the wider community. We aim to help combat social isloation and lonliness in the community by hosting open events like coffee mornings for those who are not able to join the group for various reasons. 

We are applying for money to help towards the cost of a group trip, buy resources to continue making crafts that we sell to help generate a small income and  donate monies to local charities and host an Easter coffee morning for all Discovery Award Groups (Irvine, GV, Kilwinning & Ukranian Group) and the wider community. 

We are asking for the following costs to be considered:

1. Edinburgh Bus Trip Tour (x10) = £ 230

2. Lunch on Trip (x10) = £200

3. Resin Kit = £70

4. Multicoloured Felt Fabric Rolls (x3) = £30

5. 3D Printer = £230

6. Coffee Morning Supplies (Including, coffee, tea, milk, sandwiches, cakes & decorations) = £240

The project will see 60 apple, pear and plum trees planted in Holm Green. The public will be free to pick the fruit each year for their own use. This project is part of a wider movement of planting community orchards across the local area. The trees will cost approximately £2300. We are seeking £1000 from the Participatory Budgeting fund.

Impending end of lease with Dalry Community Sports Club necessitates relocation of the Men's Shed.  We intend to relocate our woodworking element first and seek to prepare the new area for this activity in terms of provision of mains outlets, wall-lining and a dust extraction system.   This application is aimed entirely at the cost of a dust extraction system at £899.98, in order to promote cleaner air purity for those participating in woodwork activities.  Axminster Professional AP340E 3HP Extractor - 230V

Our project is to provide a welcoming space for local children and families to enjoy throughout the year but particulary during the bleaker winter months when isolation is a problem in rural areas. The current pool table has been damaged by the old pool cues. The wall surrounding the dart board does not have any protection and has many small dart sized holes in it. We hope to recloth our pool table, purchase new pool cues and other necessary items for playing pool and keeping the area tidy. Purchase a Bluetooth speaker to enjoy their own music in each hall, new darts for our dart baord and all the necessary items required for this. For our larger hall, the equipment to enjoy pickle ball and badminton. The halls are used by various groups for different activities, it would be nice to tidy up the spaces for all that use them, while our pool table and dart board can remain out looking neat and tidy while our knitting group or coffee morning team are using the space they are not sitting with damaged walls and pool cues lying out, we are limited for space to keep the place tidy for all. 

 AMAZON - Pool cues 4ft x 3 £34.10, 6 x 57' Pool cues + Spare tips £64.25, Pool Chalk 12 cubes £7.98, Extendable pool cue rest £10.66, Pool cue wall holder £24.89, Pool table cloth £28.89, Pool table cover £17.99

Amazon - Cork Dart Board Surround/wall protector £88.95, Darts sets x 4 £14.99, Dart Board Counter £25.95, Darts Oche mat £39.99

Amazon - Bluetooth Speaker with Karaoke for larger hall  £137.19  Bluetooth wireless speaker for smaller hall £39.99

Decathlon - Pickle Ball set and net £259.99

Decathlon - Badminton set £74.99

Decathlon - Voli Racket sets £55.96

TOTAL COST £926.76

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.