Primary Schools' Education Programme: Irvine Burns Club

Project code: 890

Amount applied for

£1,000

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Project Summary

Annually, P6 pupils and staff from all 12 local schools (498 in 2025) visit Wellwood Burns Centre & Museum to learn about Robert Burns and the role Irvine played in inspiring and encouraging Burns, the apprentice flax-dresser, to become Burns, the apprentice poet. The “Champion of Champions” verse speaking event allows primary pupils show their budding speaking skills, boosting their self-confidence and gain an appreciation of the Scots language.

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Project Description

To reinforce the school visits, Irvine Burns Club produce a workbook for each attending pupil, the stock of which require to be replenished.

For the verse speaking event, funding is sought to provide trophies for the pupils representing their schools by performing their chosen poem in three categories, Primaries 1-3, Primaries 4-5 and Primaries 6-7.

Those nominated by their schools are also eligible to compete in the Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs’ Schools’ Competition held later in the year.

There are 12 Primary Schools in the Irvine Area, and it is hoped that, again, all would participate.

We seek funding towards the re-printing costs of the workbooks, £1000, and the purchase of 39 trophies at a approximate cost of £800, a total of £1800. However, only £1000 is being requested towards this cost.

2026 marks a 200-year unbroken history since Irvine Burns Club was founded in 1826.

In promoting the works of Burns and his significant links with Irvine, annual we host visits to the museum and a verse speaking event for primary school pupils. We also welcome other groups and individuals who wish a tour of the building and to view the treasures we hold.

In partnership with NAC and other organisations we developed several initiatives in the town including the Herbour Dauner.

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How have young people been involved in shaping this project?

This annual project of School visits and verse speaking competitions has been running successfully for about 20 years and is aimed at primary school pupils aged 5-12 years, but predominately 9-11 years. Due to the young age of those being catered for, it has not been considered appropriate to consult directly with them. Rather we have relied on the feedback from the teaching staff, who are highly supportive, particularly with regard to the recent introduction of workbooks to reinforce the visits to Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum.

Location: Wellwood primarily serves the communities of Irvine New Town Area. However, we reach out to the wider areas of North Ayrshire and beyond.

Proposed on behalf of: Irvine Burns Club/ Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum.In partnership with NAC and other organisations we developed several initiatives in the town including the Herbour Dauner.