The project was started in 2018 with over 100 children being taught prior to Covid. Unfortunately following Covid, our numbers dropped significantly and we are now on a journey to rebuild. We are now based at Geilsland Estate with Beith Trust, reaching out to over 60 plus children within and the Garnock Valley. During the summer we held our Wee Pipers in the Park where 28 children learned to play the chanters and drums over 4 days. This was a combination of fun activities and learning through our tutors, volunteer tutors, volunteers and helpers. At the end the week they put on small showcase which was truly amazing considering the short time they had been learning (short video attached) .

Thanks to Creative Scotland we have after school tuition delivered by two tutors and two apprentice tutors from 4 to 6 pm on a Monday afternoon. We also teach children in the primary schools in Dalry thanks to funding from Dalry Parish Boundary Trust. Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust have also helped with funding with in school tution. Last school session, we ran 4 week taster block sessions at most of the Primary Schools within the Garnock Valley which was very well recieved and created much interest in learning the bagpipes and drums. As we continue our journey, we are starting weekend tuition which will bring many of the children together to start forming a band.

Our project brings children together helping their confidence, improve their self esteem, improved mental health , giving them a sense of belonging, building friendships, working as a team and most of all, enjoying the experince of learning the drums and bagpipes. At a recent event in Dalry three of our youngsters, one P7 and two from S1, played together in front of the public which they throroughly enjoyed

After school sessions we have three skill groups, beginners, intermediates and more advanced. This is very rewarding, have received much praise from the CEO of the SSPDT and the Scottish Children's Lottery for the way we ensure children have the opportunity to develop new musical skills.

 If we were fortunate to secure funding it would be used to purchase new equipment . Some of our drummers are nearly ready to move from drum pads to snare drums. If we were able to purchase small harnesses for our snare drums it would be a great step forward for our new drummers. Being able to play the snare drum would be a huge uplift for them .  If we could purchase two harnesses that they could share, would help the development of the program hugely. A small harness would cost £333 each. If we could purchase 2 would be £666.

To meet the demand for new learners we also need drum pads and drum sticks and also chanters. Drum pads and sticks cost £40.99 and would like to apply for 5 which would be £204.95 while chanters cost £43 and would like to apply for 5 which would cost £215. Total cost for drum pads, sticks and chanters £419.95

As our numbers increase new equipment ensures that we can continue to enhance the program for as many young people within the Garnock Valley.  

Hire of bus £360 hire of activity centre £400 Food and drink £300 equiptment £250 total £1310, The 50 children learn new skill both inside and outdoor are learning to mix and hopefully enjoy themselves

As Garnock Valley Sports Leaders we will be volunteering our time to give young people the opportunity to take part in free high quality sports sessions to benefit their mental and physcial health. It will also allow the opportunity to try new sports, find a passion for one and a sense of commuinty. It will also provide t-shirts for leaders to make them easy to identify to pupils and staff when taking the club. The t-shirts will help the leaders also feel part of a community and sense of representation when out coaching in the local schools. 

Tshirts & Pritning - £800 

Equipment - £200 

At Gateside Primary School, we believe in fostering a strong connection between our pupils, their environment, and the local community. Two years ago, our pupils took the initiative to create a community garden, installing four raised beds in the field beside the school, just outside the Early Years gate. This space has since become a hub for outdoor learning, where children regularly explore nature, develop their gardening skills, and learn about sustainability.

Our next step is to encourage further community Involvement through Intergenerational Projects. We will extend opportunities for children, families, and the wider community to work together in projects connected to reading, sustainability, gardening, and nature. These activities will take place after school and at weekends, encouraging participation from across generations. The aim is to strengthen community ties, provide meaningful, real-world contexts for learning, and create shared spaces where children and adults can learn from one another.

 We are seeking support to fund three key improvements:

1. Picnic Bench Seating – £500

In the original garden design, the children hoped to include seating to encourage families and community members to use and enjoy the garden space. However, due to limited funding, this was not possible at the time.

We are now looking to purchase picnic benches that will:

• Provide comfortable, social seating for families and community members
• Offer a place for everyone to sit during our intergenrational projects or whilst enjoying the garden space and what it has to offer.
• Make the garden a more inviting and functional community space for everyone to enjoy and learn in.

2. Outdoor Book Storage – £400

As part of our Eco Schools initiative, pupils have recently created a "Reading Garden" within the community garden. Currently, they transport books to and from school in boxes, limiting accessibility and creating additional work.

We propose to install a secure, weatherproof outdoor bookcase that will:

• Encourage a love of reading outdoors, for both children and adults
• Provide permanent, accessible book storage
• Enhance literacy opportunities in a natural, relaxing environment involving local community members and families.

3. Refreshments for After School and Weekend Groups £100 To encourage participation and make our community activities more welcoming, we plan to:

• Purchase flasks for tea/coffee as well as reusable outdoor cups and mugs.
• Provide a selection of tea, coffee, juice, biscuits and cakes during sessions.

This upgrade will help create a warm, social atmosphere, encouraging even greater use of the garden by both the school and local residents. By making gatherings more enjoyable, we will strengthen community ties and ensure outdoor learning feels enjoyable, meaningful, and fun.

Total Cost: £1,000

We are seeking £1,000 to help bring these enhancements to life.

Impact:

These improvements will:

• Encourage more families and residents to engage with the garden
• Support sustainable outdoor learning for all pupils
• Foster intergenerational community connections
• Make the garden a more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable space for all

We hope you will consider supporting Gateside Primary pupils in their efforts to create a more welcoming and inspiring community garden for everyone.

Our group has resources but are very old and in need of being replaced. The young people engaged well in consultation and have each given their ideas to what we should buy to help their youth group to stay active and engaging. 

Amy "all of the stuff is getting a bit old and its starting to break" - "I love coming each week to see my friends and play games"

Harrison "we want to play more sports and build on our team work skills"

Mairi "young people deserve a chance to play, exercise and hang out with their friends with good resources"

Aleigh "to keep the youth group interesting and not repetative"

Erin "I love coming to youth group to hang with my friends and have fun"

resources they young people have requested (photo attached below) are: priced from amazon

Tenpin Bowling £200

Slime making equipment £50

Cooking and baking ingredients and equipment £60

A speaker to play music £40

Bopits £40 x 2 - £80

Art materials and pens £80

Dodgeballs £30

Board games £100

footballs for the summer £22 x 2  £44

xbox games £100

playstation games £100

pogoballs £14 x 4 - £56

spiragraph £13 x 2 - £26

etch-a-sketch £24 x 2 - £48

rounders equipment £10.99

volley ball and net £38.97

switch games £80

We started up our team with a small group of kids and a few parent volunteers who agreed to become novice football coaches. 

Since then, our team has expanded in popularity and we now have a small army of 21 boys and girls who train twice a week and play games in the local Ayrshire Youth Football League at weekends. Our team promotes health, wellbeing and fitness for all players- they practice hard and this gives them the chance to lead healthy and active lives, encourage friendships and alleviate social isolation.

Our team is ably assisted by a band of volunteer parents who help out in all weathers whether coaching, providing transport to games, setting up equipment, cheering loudly, chasing balls, administering first aid, manning a coffee and tea stall at games, or anything else required!

As with many such local groups, funding is always a significant issue. We have always tried to keep the fees for parents as low as possible and we have been grateful so far to have the support of some kind local business owners who have helped out with the costs of match-day and training kits as well as equipment such as footballs. We have had to increase our fees for parents recently due to increases in our costs.

A large part of the income from fees is spent on training and match day facilities as well as replacing balls etc.  which doesn’t leave much extra to spend on gear for the kids. 

We are hoping to get funding to cover the cost of waterproof duffel bags for all of our players to transport their jackets, boots and gear to training and games. The west coast of Scotland isn’t known for being the most forgiving places for wet weather especially in winter.  At the moment, players' gear is kept at the side of the pitch and can get muddy and wet in the rain. 

The ideal bag we have identified is the Nike Academy Team Duffel Bag (black/red), which is durable and good quality. We would be looking to get 21 large sizes @ £29.99 (£629.79).  With added player initials and team badge stitching, the total cost will be £761. 

Any help you were able to offer with this would be hugely appreciated by all of the kids and our volunteers. 

The young people who use the centre via groups and our youth board were a part of consultations within their groups. One of the common themes was that they'd like to have a space where it would be good to create a fun/comfy area in which they could relax during groups, or have as a chill space during study sessions when exam season comes around. The idea would be to make it a space that young people would want to hang out in, with nice seats/couches, LED lights to create a nice setting, some books that could help with exams or even some new books for the rest of the community to possibly enjoy when the youth groups aren't on. It has also been decided by the young people to be in our glass room. This room is soundproof and has been identified as a good spot, as it provides a quiet space for our neurodiverse young people when they need space. Budget £650 - flux leather couches (x2) £80 - LED Light stands (x2) £150 - additional items to create a welcoming space.