<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">West Kilbride Village Gala is an annual event that has been running for over 60 years and provides an opportunity to bring the community of West Kilbride together.&nbsp;We hire in a variety of fun equipment and rides and offer reduced cost wristbands for unlimited use to ensure that these are accessible to all regardless of financial situation.&nbsp; The Gala provides the people of West Kilbride with an opportunity to socialise and enjoy themselves, promoting community cohesion, health and wellbeing&nbsp;and tackling social isolation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In addition to the fun equipment and rides there are a range of stalls e.g., tea room, bbq, bottle stall, cake and candy, bric-a-brac, hook a duck and lucky dip and much more.&nbsp; These activities take place in two large marquees, which require to be stored throughout the year.&nbsp; We are seeking funding to purchase storage cages&nbsp;for the marquees (which are also used by other community groups), storage boxes and ground mats.&nbsp; As the storage cages are on wheels this will allow easier transport of the marquees.</span></span></p>

<p>As a community organisation and registered charity we provide facilities for men over the age of 18 years where they can socialise and take up new /continue with old hobbies. This helps with social isolation and also enables us to help the local community by making planters etc for local schools and private gardens. All of our products are much cheaper than commercial products as we do not charge for labour. Some of our power tools which were donated second hand are now coming to the end of their working life and we need to replace them bit by bit to continue with our projects.</p>

<p>We are looking to redevelop our outdoor space into a community garden area with seating and raised beds to grow fruit and vegetables.</p>

<p>We have established a steering group made up of friends and family of residents, we hope to provide chances for residents get out of their houses make new firends and decrease social isolation.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="tab-stops:list 72.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Montgomery Court Entertaiment Committee have establised in June 2023 to support&nbsp;Residents and Community members with the opportunity to take part in weekly lunches&nbsp;and activities within Montgomery Court engagement hub.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify">We hope to gain more participants from the community and began hosting trips for our members.</p>

<p>After the success of the fun day in July 2023 we thought it would be great to be able to replicate and add to this for 2024 whilst trying to keep everything as low cost as possible. From Pony rides to misbehaving donkeys, and the cutest alpacas around there will be something for all the family to enjoy. We are applying for this funding towards the cost of activities for next year.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.&nbsp;There is limited ground in the Garnock Valley for this and we feel that this is something that we could offer. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Costings for this would include &ndash; The Polly tunnel and groundwork.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The newly created Skelmorlie Community Garden space is looking beautiful. We would like to install a little library for book sharing in the community, to increase use of the garden.</span></span></span></p>

<p>We are residents of Kyleshill Court in Saltcoats, we regularly take part in the David White Engagement Hub acitivities, we have formed a steering group and would like to apply for PB funding to enhance the opportunities on offer for residents.</p>