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

Crossing Together Toddlers was formed in March 2024 following the project being approached by two local new parents who felt there was a need for a group locally in Bourtreehill. Both mums, along with another four mums who joined the scaffolding core team last year, are the lead participant, along with our Mission Pioneer in running the weekly sessions on Tuesday mornings for 2 hours at the Relief Mission Centre. The group lost 9 children at the end of last session to nursery and 4 families where the mum returned to work, but since advertising during the summer we quickly reached capacity of 40 babies/toddlers again, who attend with a least one adult per child. The sessions are free to ensure it is accessible to all.

At Crossing Together Toddlers we aim to provide a fun, warm, safe, welcoming and accessible space for babies and toddlers to come along with their grown-ups from Bourtreehill and the surrounding areas of Irvine. In setting up the group we initially looked at accessing funding to purchase equipment and toys however a toddler group in Troon had recently folded and they gifted us items that meant we could launch the group immediately. The group is free of charge to families to access and weekly snacks and craft materials are provided through donations and fundraising. It is important for us to maintain a no charge policy to maximise accessibility due to the cost of living crisis and our locality being significantly impacted with regards poverty. Weekly snacks provided are balanced with items like fruit, toast and juice/water being provided for the children and a warm drink and biscuits/cakes for the grown-ups. As well as the weekly sessions we want to continue to provide the families with new experiences that can include their older children and partners which will extend the community spirit that is being built in and around the group already. These new experiences include family fun days, parties, trips and days out locally and further afield. 

Many of the families who attend the group rarely travel outwith Irvine and it would be great to improve the health and wellbeing through a summer trip to a farm park, which would provide a new experience by seeing the animals we sing about and read about at our weekly song and story time. A Christmas Party with entertainment, hospitality and a visit from Santa would also encourage positive mental health during the festive time that brings much stress with extra financial outgoing in winter. A weekend family fun day using the local park space would enable us to include working parents and older children and through hospitality/food and fun activities create a positive aspect to a park area that carries much saddness in the community and encourage resislience and new owership of the local space. In addition we supported the local community to attend all ages art sessions this year and to host a day just for the toddler families to engage and empower them to see how art together can aid mental health wellbeing and be a positive bonding experience we plan to offer this at Easter this year.

For Crossing Together to provide these experiences at no cost to the families in our locality we would be applying for the PB Locality Funding to help meet these costs as well as doing additional fundraising and seeking donations.

Examples of costings to provide such experiences are:-

Farm park admission (approx 80 people includes under 2s free) = £650

Childrens Party Entertainer = £125

Family Art for the Soul Session with Art Therapist and art/craft materials = £150

Hospitality Party/Funday = £130

Additional costings for items like craft materials and additional hospitality would be sought through donations and fundraising.

1. Transport to the SEC show in March 2026. Average of quotes £450 A lot of our members do not drive anymore and public transport to the SEC is not direct. Hiring a mini bus and driver means these members are included which makes a big difference to the whole group. The Scottish Quilting Show is the only one left in Scotland and we would like to support it with our attendance as much as possible. The show provides inspiration and generates ideas. There are workshops that can be signed up for which build skills.
2. Engaging a tutor to give us a workshop. Estimate £400.  The group has had workshop providers in the past and would like to have the again. Having a tutor come to us means that all members are included. These workshops will build skills and provide inspiration.
3. Materials so that members can present a workshop and everyone has materials provided. £150  This allows long standing members to share their knowledge and experise. This is very good for all concerned as it values the skills in the group. The cost of fabric has risen and whilst we reuse and recycle as much as we can in our quilts, sometimes it is appropriate to have materials that co-ordinate and are pre-prepared for a workshop.

Feedback from community groups and events indicates a strong desire for a program catering to this age group, especially given the challenges posed by Hayocks' geographic location and the rising cost of living. Our association currently operates a weekly Hayocks Youth Café  on a Thursday 6-8pm for kids aged 11 plus in partnership with NAC Community Development and the National Lottery. With this funding, we would be able to initiate a similar program for younger kids and utilise the same equipment.

The primary beneficiaries will be children aged 7-11 living in the Hayocks area. This group includes those from families experiencing financial hardship, as well as children who may lack access to after-school clubs or other social spaces. The café will also indirectly support parents and carers, providing free food and drinks. In a safe environment. The café will be entirely free to attend. No fees, subscriptions, or charges for food, activities, or materials will be applied

Our goal is to promote equality and break down barriers for local children, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to socialise, try new activities, build confidence, and make new friendships without financial strain.

By supporting this age group and focusing on well-being through the provision of a consistent, structured environment for positive weekly activities, we can build rapport with the kids, facilitate early intervention, instil pride in our community, and help deter boredom and antisocial behaviour.

Activities will be supervised by trained staff and volunteers, who will ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive atmosphere. Ranging from team sports, gaming, and creative arts to self-care, ensuring that every child can find something that interests them and fosters confidence among peers.

. Expected Outcomes

• Social Benefits: Increased opportunities for friendship, teamwork, and positive interaction.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Improved self-esteem, resilience, and sense of community belonging.
• Reduced Screen Time: More time spent in active, creative pursuits.
• Economic Support for Families: Reduced pressure on household budgets and greater access to enrichment activities.
• Equality and Inclusion: All children, regardless of income, can participate equally.

Specialist Activity Facilitator costs-  £20ph x 2 hours = £40 X 12 weekly sessions = £480  12 weekly sessions Food provision - £43.33 @ £1.44 x 30 kids = £520  Total £1000

This initiative promotes gender equality by encouraging participation and building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership in girls. We’ve recently launched a new U16s Girls Team with 12 regular players, currently wearing the Irvine Ladies’ old men’s kit. By providing gender-specific rugby kits, we aim to ensure our players feel comfortable, confident, and ready to perform at their best.

We’re also focused on developing more female coaches to serve as role models and to support the unique needs of female athletes across all age groups. Their presence will help foster a more inclusive and empowering environment at the club.

To celebrate and grow the female game, we plan to host an all-female rugby festival, inviting youth and senior women’s teams from across the region. This event will offer a safe, inspiring space where girls can thrive without comparison to boys, and where our Ladies team can motivate the next generation.

Through our development plan, we aim to increase female participation in rugby over the coming years. Introducing a dedicated kit is a key step in boosting visibility, encouraging engagement, and reinforcing our commitment to gender equality in sport.

Proposed Costs:

Rugby Kit -  £700

Coaching development - £200

Festival Referees - £100

Our clubs mission is to the give people of irvine and surrounding areas a chance to get physically active and play the sport of table tennis. Alongside playing, our club brings people together from all from all backgrounds and creates an opportunity for social interaction and physical activity which can and does improve their health and wellbeing. Table tennis and sport is one of the best tools we have to improve mental and physical health and table tennis is a sport which can be played and enjoyed by all ages regardless of ages & abilitity. Irvine TT Club priortity is the keep our costs low and affordable for everyone who attends our club night and classes. We continue to offer a FREE first night for newcomers and we have no upfront membership fee. We also provide all relevant equipment at no extra cost such as bats, balls tables and barriers to seperate the playing space. 

We would like to apply for support to assist us in creating table tennis competitions to be held at the portal in additional to our club night. The Portal in irvine is our main hub for our club and have players of all ages and abilities playing. These competitions will run in order to give players from our local area a chance to play competitively against players at their own level and age. This will also act as a pathway into competitive table tennis. This will give irvine locality more opportunities to be active in a friendly competitive enviroment and improve their playing level and keep more players involved in our sport. 

Breakdown of Costs TOTAL - £809 - £525 - 3 tables at £175 each. £90 - 3 nets at £30 each. £84 - Trophies. Hall hire £110 - £11 per hour x 10. 

We are a yoga and support group who have been going for almost 20 years.  Many of our members and now into their 70's and 80's but  are still actively involved in yoga practice.  Yoga helps enormously with strength, balance and flexibility as well as mindfulness. This is important in our advancing years.  We have social outings such as  coffee meetups, lunch or an outing to combat the feeling of loneliness and isolation incurred when people have ailing partners or indeed become widowed. Being sensory impaired also causes much loneliness and isolation.We have one member who is registered blind and several who are registgered as hearing impaired.  We would love to arrange a theatre trip early in 2026 to help conbat winter blues.

theatre tickets 25x30 = £750

Bus home  from Ayr = £250

Total   =  £1000