Bypass Art is passionate about Dalry's history and heritage, and over the years we have been involved in numerous community projects aimed at telling Dalry's story - Community Recital of John Hodgarts Hilltap Toon, The 'Our Town Heritage Board',  Auld Men's Shelter Mural and loads more - but Bessie On The Bypass is a bit different.

The Bessie sculpture will stand tall near the Dalry Bypass,provide a historical gateway into our town, be seen by huge amounts of passing motorists and provide a unique opportunity for the Garnock Valley to highlight and promote the area and encourage footfall into our towns.

To effectively promote this project we are seeking to buy a gazebo so we can set up at community outdoor events and consult with the public about Bessie On The Bypass. We wish to purchase branded fleeces that will demonstrate a visible commitment to our project as we interact with the public. Additionally we aim to acquire promotional items that will spotlight and publicise the Bessie On The Bypass initiative. These items will help us reach a wider audience, spark conversations about the project and inspire community involvement.

Gazebo £300, Branded Fleeces £180, Paper £15, Ink £70, Collection Cans £25, Promotional Items £400 = £990

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. 

We are aiming to raise awareness of the natural environment & how we can protect it by showcasing the range of perennials we can grow in our temperate climate. Not just flowers but foliage plants, grasses & ferns all thrive here. These plants provide food & shelter for insects & wildlife, as well as colour & movement to soften the harsh concreate & grey pavers.

Whilst we are aiming to grow plants from seeds, & cuttings, many species can take some time to establish; this funding request is for initial plant purchases to begin the pathway. We want to highlight to the community how even an awkward plain walkway can promote life & nourish the environment. These plants will self -seed & can be used for cuttings & divisions in the future to further populate the communal areas around the walkway.

The planting will take a naturalistic approach, repeated in blocks along the length of the walkway. Each perennial block will cost £333.40 which includes a discount from the nursery. Total = £1000.20 

We have three blocks of perennials along the length of the walkway, each in slightly different colour tones. The benefits of being in nature are well documented & will bring a soothing element to start & finish the busy school day.

We would like to apply for a funding amount of £1000 and if successful we would be able to provide a bus outing for approximately 50 older people, with the remainder being used towards providing a lunch for our members. The funding would provide an opportunity for our members to enjoy a social outing and lunch that might otherwise be unattainable due to cost of living or mobility issues. 

The cost of the bus would be £550 and the remaining £450 would be used towards funding the lunch.

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

In Summer 2025 we planted up twelve raised beds and our indoor gorwing space with a wide variety of vegetables, held open days and invited members of the community of all ages and abilities to join in and learn, shared knowledge and food with visitors and donated fresh vegetable harvest to the Largs Food Larder, Clark Memorial Food Bank and directly with residents.

We have created our own social media page with over fifty members, where we share our public events and photographs of recent happenings at the community garden. We have hosted a local nursery on multiple occasions and the children excitedly helped with potato harvest, learned to sow seeds and how to transplant plants, and were able to enjoy peas right out of the pod (many for the first time!) We have opened the space to primary and secondary school classes and invite groups and individuals to visit the garden area to relax in nature and learn more about our community project. The garden volunteers have shared tomatoes, beans, chard, peas, herbs and other vegetables directly with visitors for them to enjoy at home.

We hope to make 2026 even more exciting and bountiful by expanding our community engagement and volunteer network through more local events and open days. We intend to expand the number of local charities we donate to, plant fruit trees and continue growing and sharing local food with Largs.

Five one-ton bags of compost at £50 = £250

Fifteen 50l bags soil at £12 = £180

Materials, like gloves, netting, pots, tools and trellises = £80

Seeds, seedlings, bulbs = £100

Three dwarf fruit trees at £30 each = £90

Three large barrels for trees at £50 = £150

Two blueberry bushes at £20 = £40

Drinks, snacks, themos and cooler for Community Pop Along Days = £50

Arbor frame = £60

We currently develop and maintain 13 major gardens and green spaces in West Kilbride which vary in size from a field to small seated areas. By joining the Scottish Garden's scheme we will be advertised nationally and locally on their social media platforms and in their printed material.  This will attract visitors to our village and increase footfall for our local businesses and studios thus supporting the economy of our area.

We will also produce and sell a small booklet and map for £5. The money collected will be shared with between the Community Gardens and the Ayrshire Hospice.

Design costs - £250

Printing cost for 500 high quality gloss leaflets - £90

We are Lok Oi, a Hong Kong Cantonese community group – our name means bliss or happiness in English. Our project will bring elderly Cantonese speakers and the wider community together through shared lunches. These events will reduce social isolation, give people a chance to meet new friends, and celebrate Cantonese and Chinese culture with others in North Ayrshire. Each session will include traditional food, music, and karaoke to encourage fun, relaxation, and participation. We aim to create welcoming spaces where cultures are shared, connections are built, and wellbeing is improved.

• Venue hire: £300

• Food ingredients and preparation: £700

With your vote, we can make these lunches a reality and bring joy, friendship, and culture to our community.