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.

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.

Members state that the excursions we provide are an important part of the group as they feel inc!uded in an activity which they would not be able to participate in otherwise. We would be unable to provide this without funding such as the locality PB. We have been fortunate enough to receive this previously and provided a fantastic days out  to Cumnock Factory Outlet and a meal at Romeo and Ju!iets. 

We would like to apply for funding to provide another 2 trips next year which will be chosen by the members of the grouo. We therefore require £1000  which will cover the approximate cost of the bus at £500 and approximate cost of the meal at £500

Our committee aim to provide either two small trips or one trip and a meal out.

These excursions encourage our elderly people to enjoy company and reduce social isolation and improve their general wellbeing. 

Ripple Effect Saltcoats (RES) are currently undergoing the Community Asset Transfer of Melbourne Toilets and Community Asset Lease of Melbourne Public Park. Phase 1 of RES's plan is to renovate and reopen the public toilets. In order to make the project financially viable and sustainable in the long term, Ripple Effect will reinstate one of the former 18 hole putting greens and intend to introduce 2 or 3 Target Bowls rinks. Further plans include a fixed, giant chess and draughts board and possibly a concrete table tennis table (there was one there in the 1980's). 

Not only will these additional outdoor activities compliment the work already done by S.A.L.T at the new Pirate Playpark, and the proposed development by SPLASH and the outdoor pool, they will serve as a revenue stream which will feed into the funds necessary for the polonged upkeep of the toilets and park. 

The container will house the putters, balls, flags for the putting, bowls for the target bowls, chess sets, draughts sets and table tennis equipment. Initially, the 'office' will be manned by volunteeers who will rent out the equipment, however it is Ripple Effect's intention to create employment in the future.

If successful, Ripple Effect would continue to stick to its unwritten rule of buying 'local'. We have sourced a suitable container from Rhino Containers in Glengarnock, a reputable company who came highly recommended by another community group with whom we work in parthership, SeaSalt Streets. 

The container offered by Rhino Containers is priced at £1375.00 plus VAT @ £271.40 plus delivery cost of £155.00 plus vat @ £31.00, plus 2 x Magmaus Shipping Container padlocks (£29.99 each) £59.98.     TOTAL = £1892.38

The surplus of the requested amount will be used to purchase used tables, cahirs and cupboards to house the equipment.

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.

We would propose to buy a Yonex badminton set which includes 20 rackets, 6 packs of plastic shuttles, 2 nets and a robust carry case for all items. This is sold as a packaged set and is much better value than buying the items separately.

£300 inc VAT (price from Greaves Sports)

We would like to supply our members with two free shops in the winter months as well as provide a free ticket to a soup and sandwich event taking place in February/March 2026. We would like to provide more soup making vegetables in the winter months and a bigger supply of fresh produce.

30 members approx in one week = 60 free shops  at £4 = £240

30 members approx in one week X  £5 Ticket to soup and sandwich event = £150

30 members approx in one week X soup pack at approx. £1.50 = £45 X 4 months January to April = £180

Provision of homemade meals from a local supplier for trial period of three months at £2 per meal = £420

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.

£500 Colour Laser Printer 

£430 Pin Badges

£70 Sundries 

West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd WKCIL was established as a regeneration project focussed on revitalising the centre of the town.  In 1998 half the town shops were boarded up and the green spaces were derelict and uncared for. WKCIL registered as a charity and now has three main projects - Craft Town Scotland, the Environmental Group and more recently the Media Studio.  With the help of many funding organisations Craft Town Scotland was able to either raise funding to purchase, or was gifted, nine shop units along the Main Street which are now let as subsidised craft studios. With support from the National Lottery an old church was upgraded and is now an arts centre with a shop, gallery and cafe.

The equipment we have applied for is to support the work of the charity as there are many facets which require a lot of managing and promotion.  Most of our work is carried out by volunteers alongside three part time employed posts. All our admin is carried out in the Barony Centre and our office admin is desperately in need of new equipment to carry out the work, hence our application  to the Participatory Budgeting.

We are a charity and a company limited by guarantee which is not far away from a CIC.  We are a non profit making, volunteer based organisation and quite honestly in the current financial climate every penny is counted carefully for us to be able to even survive.

We are seeking to replace and upgrade a printer and a laminator, along with replenishing ink and paper stocks.

1) HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw A4 Colour Multifunction Laser Printer 7KW75A- £639.14 (incl VAT)

2) Laminator 5724901, A4 & A3 £170.54

3) ink cartridges and paper £190.32