An aged 50+  group offering a place for people to meet, discover new interest, new friends share/learn skills while working towards an award. The group reduces social isolation, improves wellness, mental health, keeps people active.

We would like to continue to offer Tai-Chi classes to people living with Dementia in our local Community. Funding a qualified Tai-Chi Instructor and hiring an appropriate Hall, to undertake the classes for the local Community. Research Studies showed that in people with mild cognitive impairment Tai-Chi slowed the progression to Dementia more than other types of exercise and improved cognitive function in a comparable fashion to other types of exercise or cognitive training. Tai-chi is a safe effective activity that improves physical balance and emotional wellbeing in older adults.

Enhance existing Community Garden on entry to Largs, create new focal point for Seasonal Displays and signage advising of what's happening in Largs 

Community garden located at corner of Irvine Road and Googoside Road is a highly visual prominent focal point on the way into central Largs viewed by locals and visitors 

Garden is looked after and maintained by Community Council and brings a great deal of happyiness and wellbeing to those driving or walking past

In recent years Seasonal Displays have significantly added to the visual impact : Chistmas tree & snowman, Easter bunny & chick, Halloween witch,cats & bats, Rememberance poppy and Viking warriers  - Intent is to provide an enhanced display area by moving existing hanging basket frame and installing new metal frame to secure displays onto as well as installing ducting for lighting cables and slabs for easy access to display area

In addition install signage to promote Largs Community Council and notify public of "What's Going On" in Largs thoughout the year (sign to have changeable notice board section)

The Club is looking to enhance the quality of the equipment offered to Club members.  The understanding is that better, more modern equipment brings about more efficient technique as the equipment will be lighter, and so allowing the particpants to have effortlessly more fun. 

The Virtual Dementia Tour is the only scientifically and medically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain the experience of what dementia might be like. Invented over 23 years ago in America, the virtual Dementia Tour has been experienced by over 5 million people in 22 countries. The Virtual Dementia Tour has been available in the Uk for over 6 years and over 1 million people have participated in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Some of the organisation that have accessed this training are care providers, NHS trusts, Councils , Fire Services, Police, Prisons, Universities and many more. This inspirational training is changing the lives of so many including the amazing people that support people with dementia.

When a person that has dementia has finally been diagnosed, we must give the support team around them a true understanding of what they are experiencing and what they experience during their future dementia journey. The Virtual Dementia Tour is a vital bridge to entering their world, it is unlike any training course available and challenges the misconceptions surrounding dementia.

The Virtual Dementia Tour is available for your staff, families and anyone that comes in to direct or indirect contact with people living with dementia.

We would like to use this funding to purchase a suitable sized Polly tunnel, to erect within our garden, for our service users and the community to reap the benefits. There is limited ground in the Garnock Valley for this and we feel that this is something that we could offer.

 Costings for this would include – The Polly tunnel and groundwork. 

After the covid crisis and during the current cost of living crisis, voluntary groups in Scotland have found it difficult to engage with young volunteers, This could be because young people want a paid position to they can take care of their own expenses and releave the pressure on parents, or simply do not know what it is that's required. We at Ayrshire Communities Education and Sport and Woodwynd community association and many other groups, and clubs have  struggled in the past trying to engage with young volunteers many asked for part time work however to employ workers is both difficult due to funding and also brings in so many other issues. We feel that by showing what's required and having the time to do so would benefit young people, and groups, especially like ACES and woodwynd community Association. the priciple idea would be to train young volunteers at a speed where they are comfortable then when they have confidence in the training and guided by a qualified member of ACES they can begin to volunteer. 

Wee Mac Arran 2024 is a children's book festival.

There is already a buzz of anticipation and excitement within our island community that some of Scotland's finest children's authors will be coming to the Isle of Arran. 

Travel to and from Book Festivals on the mainland is both cost and time prohibitive for many families on Arran.

Bringing authors to the island  for a festival breaks down social barriers with the joy of live literature accessible to all.

Following on from our successful pilot in 2022, Wee Mac 2024 events will be hosted in the Garden Room and marquees in the grounds of the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum. 

The enclosed safe setting offers a relaxed and inviting environment for children and families. It provides a fabulous informal festival feel and free for all to enjoy. 

Having met and interacted with our invited guest authors, we hope our young people will be enthused to read for pleasure and encouraged about the possibility of becoming writers themselves.