Our Synergy Broadcast unit needs an upgrade to enable us to interview guests and to host groups of people in the studio. The upgrade will cost about £100. We'd also like to get some better seating for presenters and guests, which will cost £560. The seating would allow presenters better access to the controls and allow more people to be seated around the broadcast unit. 

Cancer has touched every family wether its someone we know, or one of our own loved ones.

To show a little kindness and let them know we are thinking of them, we would like to involve the community in sewing Christmas Cushions and stockings for donations to The Ayrshire Hospice and The Beatson Hospital.

We will host 3 half day sewing sessions for local people to come along and volunteer their time to create christmas cushions and stocking for the christmas project.

We dont have a laptop or internet access in our workspace and use our own mobile data. To show tutorials at workshops and communicate information of the workshops and the achivements would help us promote what we do.

To help us achieve this project we ask for:

Laptop-£ 339.00

Christmas Fabric -£200.00

Cushion inserts-£150.00 

Dementia Wellbeing Cafe has recently opened on the 21st July and runs every Friday in the Argyll Community Centre from 1-3pm.  It is for people living with demenita and the unpaid carer, friend or family member to come along to have a chat and a cuppa and meet other likeminded people to provide support.  There is also releveant support organisations that come along to answer any questions. 

The money will be used to reemburse volunteer expenses, replensih cafe stock e.g. tea/coffee biscuits etc to enable us to continue to provide the cafe free to people to, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to people attending. 

Mindful Makers supports Health and Wellbeing in the Three Towns. Our mantra is ‘Be Kind to Your Mind’ (see Descriptive Image attached), and we will build on our successful previous projects (see Document 1 attached, Saltcoats Mindful Makers Report July 2023). We are a non-registered not-for-profit group and are applying for funding to continue teaching and nurturing creative textile skills in the context of mindfulness and social connection. Our aim is to combat loneliness, so we bring people together in a positive and safe environment while building confidence through the acquisition and practice of new skills. We also aim to enhance emotional resilience, by encouraging and challenging people to adapt to new techniques; for instance, in August we explored how being outdoors in nature can heighten the stress-reducing benefits of mindfulness, and the success of this exercise meant that we intend to repeat it annually. To meet the increased demand for Mindful Makers activities over this past year we doubled engagement opportunities for participants who come from all across the Three Towns. Please see the Box below for a description of how we organise our activities.  Funding goes to the provision of materials, and workshops and tutoring are provided free of charge to ensure there is no financial barrier to participation amongst vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities (see Document 2 attached for a few examples of Mindful Makers activities). Mindful Makers will provide a warm welcome throughout the winter at Saltcoats Library, and through our outreach work at CLASP HOPE in Stevenston, while a link has been established for outreach work in Ardrossan where we plan to hold an Introductory Workshop at the Library in January 2024. Additional activities already planned for the next few months include:  A further 6-week outreach textile project at CLASP HOPE in Stevenston starting on 19 September; we will be supporting the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival in October by holding an extended workshop focussing on the benefits of mindfulness and shared experiences for mental well-being, and also involve Saltcoats Book Group using carefully selected reading materials; we will support a collaborative community fund-raising event in conjunction with CLASP HOPE in October where we will sell items produced using participants’ new skills to raise additional funds to support our sustainability. Through a link with Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society made at the North Ayrshire Participatory Budgeting and Chit Chat event we are proposing to hold a field trip as the basis for a creative project.

We are applying for funding of £600, to reflect the enormously increased costs of materials in recent months and our greater number of participants. £550 will be for materials, and £50 for awareness-raising and hand-outs.

We live in an area of deprevation, this means that council up lifts or skip hire is costly for some people to prevent these costs reidents are fly tipping. There is alot of fly tipping in our area and we are greatful to the local volunteers who who take time to try and do the their best to make our community a place to be proud of as well as making it it safer for our wildlife, animals and kids to run around. Some of the items fly tipped are to big for the volunteers to lift, so have to leave it until these are picked up by Streetscene workers.

We are applying for money to cover the cost of  two skips, so local resident can come and use it rather than fly tip it. There will be no cost for people to come along and dispose of their rubbish, hopefully this will reduce the fly tipping, making our commmunity a better place. We will pilot this over 2 months to see if it reduces the fly tipping and then maybe look at doing it a few times a year. 

Skips x 2  £816

Permits x 2 130

We meet every Monday in the Hayocks Hall, Stevenston. The aim for the funds raised will go towards local senior citizens having activities within their local community, this will prevent loneliness and will also benefit physical and mental health, we play bingo and have quizzes, this funding will also help contribute towards prizes to keep members motivated.   

The funding we're applying for will go towards:

• £580 for bus trips, having this funding means members from all financial situations can be involved. 
• £420 for yearly events such as Christmas Dinner, Burns Night and Easter. 

Building upon the foundation of our longstanding Adult Drama group, which has been a source of empowerment for individuals, aged 18+, in the Three Towns and North Ayrshire since 2015, we are excited to offer immersive classes led by industry professionals. Our goal is to inspire both our current attendees and newcomers to refine their acting abilities, delve into the art of scriptwriting, and showcase their own creative performances. Our vision for this current group entails the creation of a unique performance that will unfurl as participants embark on this artistic journey, rekindling a captivating local Scottish legend, ‘The Flannan Isle mystery’.  Under the guidance of a professional Theatre director and theatre maker, participants will cultivate skills in devising, improvisation, script interpretation, and enhancing their vocal and physical performance prowess. Our mission goes beyond just creative growth. In the aftermath of the COVID-19, many people have struggled with isolation, loneliness and lacking confidence in social situations, our Adult Drama group offers individuals a chance to join a group of likeminded people and reduce social isolation. We believe in promoting enhanced mental well-being and fostering adaptable skills that extend beyond our sessions, including, contributing to securing employment prospects and educational opportunities. Our classes are be situated within local venues, which are easily accessible by public transport or within walking distance, which also promotes exercise and physical health. We prioritize marginalized communities in our initiatives, striving for equity. Our Adult Drama class is offered at an affordable price and to make sure participants are given the chance to attend and are not hindered by financial barriers. Over the years, we've nurtured a vibrant community of passionate Arts enthusiasts, nurturing camaraderie, and enthusiasm among our members. Our aspiration is to nurture and expand this Adult Drama group, ultimately creating a performance that instils a sense of local pride within the Three Towns, forging partnerships with local businesses and venues, and fostering connections that contribute to the physical and mental well-being of our participants and the community at large.

Project Costings:

Theatre Facilitator: - £400

Performance/Venue Space - £150

Set/Props/Costume - £200

Marketing - £100

Administration Costs - £150

Total - £1000

Seasalt Streets intend to run a series of events in and around the town centre. These events are intended to create a talking point, a feel good factor, a want to get involved and inspire others to create their own event thereby starting a Ripple Effect !!! The group intend to organise pop-ups which are different to the norm in Saltcoats town centre.

Our ideas vary from Smoothie bikes - bicycles with blenders attached which the rider uses to create fruit and / or milk smoothies, old style kerbie days - the game where opponents try to bounce a football back from the opposite "kerb", a "free for all stage" where locals and others can showcase their talents - poetry reading, violin playing, dancing, joke telling etc.  Other ideas include pop-up sample sessions using established groups to promote their clubs and increase membership. Clubs interested include NATTC (North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club). Shibumi Karate Club, Dance Mafia (Hip Hop dancing), LeROC (line dance etc).

All of the events are targeted at community building, health and wellbeing, promoting mental health and encouraging economic growth.

If successful, SeaSalt Streets intend to use the funding to purchase a large gazebo (6m x 3m) to showcase their event (regardless of weather). The gazebo will be a vivid colour making it visible from a distance, encouraging people to inquire more !!!  The cost of this gazebo, including protective sides, leg weights and carry case is £699.00

The group would use the balance of the funding to purchase (a)  SeaSalt Streets branded "T" shirts and hoodies for existing group members (8) to enable them to be identified as points of contact for enquiries and security reasons, and (b) to purchase branded promotional material to promote and grow the group membership. this is costed at £200.00 for clothing and £100.00 for merchandise,

To book the mobile cinema for one session - £250

Purchase of food for a meal for 120 individuals  at £3.50 per head - £420

Snacks for during the film for 120 at £1.50 per head - £180

Selections boxes for  children - £150