Following COVID, there has been population movement away from Arran resulting in Think About Plastic losing some of their volunteers and supporters and an influx of new people who may not be fully aware of the work of TAP. Think About Plastic-Arran (Charity No. SCO48987) is a steering group, set up in response to community concern, which works by involving community groups, businesses and individuals to think about their plastic use at source, in use and in disposal (reduce, re-use, re-purpose, recycle),  This project seeks to engage or re-engage people to work together (thus reducing social isolation and loneliness) to reduce the amount of plastic in use on Arran and subsequently reduce plastic litter in our environment (benefitting our seas and marine life and our countryside) and promoting the health and well-being  by maintaining and improving our beautiful island. Every single person can truly make a difference.

1. The project aims to raise awareness of the services of TAP and encourage people to become actively involved in reducing the amount of plastic entering the seas around Arran through the launch of a new @friends' scheme. To support this we would like to purchase materials to engage/ re-engage individuals and groups including a supply of metal pin badges for members and friends and generally raise awareness of issues with the general population and visitors to Arran.  500 badges @31p each  £155    Total £195 and to produce and stckers to raise awareness about the disadvantages of wet wipes being flushed down the toilet. (the incidence of plastic-containing wet-wipes has increased on Arran's beaches and constitues a health hazard. as well as being unpleasant). These two actions will form the basis of a 'Don't Flush' campaign in Spring/Summer '24. Initial set-up costs for badges £40, 500 badges'@31p each £155  Design fee for 'don't flush' stickers £150  80x 75x110mm vinyl stickers £89.76  Postage £3.90   Total   £438.66                                       

The cost of bringing one author to Arran including travel to the island,  overnight accommodation, subsistence plus their fee (on average) was  £500  in 2022 - all depending on where they are travelling from.

It is anticipated this figure will increase for 2024. At the moment our Wee Mac Programme is expected to have 8 guest events over the two days

Venue hire for 2 days - final figure yet to be advised by AHM Committee but the very modest sum of  £200  hire fee is expected to increase for 2024.

Set up of Microphone, Speaker/Sound equipment and cabling - supply and in person support for Wee Mac over two days £350 

The funding we are applying for would be used to cover :-

Arran Heritage Museum venue hire costs, sound engineer and any balance left to help towards the cost of one programme guest.

A 'Wendy House' style shed for equipment to be stored safely in a child friendly and all weather setting. Cost £500

Raised and flat planters for herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables. Cost £250

Seeds and young plants to be planted seasonally. Cost £150

Tactile and Sound items such as cedar shillings, lava stones and wind chimes. Cost £100

• The tubs across from the school are already tended by the Primary school year round. We have a janitor who is employed all year and she does this and would take charge of the sensory garden during the holidays.

• The Primary school has a very close relationship with the community. We have had daffodil tea afternoons and Christmas Coffee afternoons which are open to the village residents. We use the local church for school services and we would look into a collaboration with the Warm Rooms. Due to school risk assessments and council restrictions for people who are not part of the school community, it would not be feasible to have them come to the garden. However having spoken to a member of the church and Warm Room volunteer they feel it would be of benefit to them to have flowers, drawings and a presentation when the work is completed. 

• Whiting Bay benefits from a Community Land Initiative and we would be working in conjunction with them to source sustainable and local plants

Support us to build an inventory of tools, materials and resources to deliver workshops on traditional and heritage skills around the Isle of Arran. This will be with the aim of helping our communities to learn the skills to manage the land around Arran using sustainable methods.

Through the network of community gardens we have helped to establish in different villages around the Isle of Arran, we are planning to help local people to manage the green spaces in our communities through learning traditional methods such as Scything, hedgelaying, natural construction, woodcarving, carpentry, craft skills and more. This budget will go towards purchase of equipment to deliver workshops and develop educational materials that can be applied to a variety of different contexts around the Isle of Arran, buillding on our track record of prototyping sustainable methods of land use over the last three years. 

Breakdown of Costs:

• Scythes and scything equipment: £400
• Handtools: £400
• Budget for printing educational materials (handbooks, training materials): £200

The Club would like to be able to offer lighter paddles with a flexible feathering system.  Very simply, paddle feathering is when you adjust the two blades of your paddle so one of them is at a different angle than the other.  Some people like to have the two blades at the same angle resulting in no twisting of the wrists.  Others like to feather the blades so erducing wind resistence as you push the blade through the air, but requires wrist rotation. The paddles the Club are looking to purchase can be feathered at any angle (from )-90) so the paddler can find any position that is comfortable (including left/right handed). This is especially important to those with current wrist injuries, want to go on long journeys, or hope to paddle regularly for many years.  6 x Ainsworth Paddles Sea polycarbonate blade with glass shaft option £115 each.

The Club wants to also invest in four new buoyancy aids.  Two for adults and two for youths/children.  Buoyancy aids do deteriorate over time so a number of the ones in the Club store are due now for retirement.  Modern buoyancy aids are more streamline and less bulky, and have places for a radio to be attached to and a pocket for a safety whistle and safety knife to be stored.

2 x Yak Buoyancy Aids adult £81 each 2 x Yak Buoyancy Aids youth £68 each 

Members use Club kit every Thursday evenings during the summer months, and in weekly pool session during the winter.  Members are also able to borrow Club kit for supporting local water events eg the Holy Isle race and the Lamlash Splash.

We are keen to enhance the dog owning experience on the island by providing agility training for all ages and abilities. This will help with social isolation (group work), build confidence by helping people train their dogs, help with physical exercise and coordination. This is in addition to our current work with owners, puppies and older dogs. Some of our members are mobility impaired, elderly and live alone. We have Kennel Club trainers from mainland North Ayrshire who regularly assist us.

The funding would be spent as follows:-

£800 on Dog Agility equipment:

• Aluminium Jump £90
• Tyre Jump £395
• Tunnel £255 
• We have been advised that delivery will be approx £200

£200 for a storage facility.