We are looking for funding to help support our Community Larder, which will be 3 years old come November, initially launch as a food bank during COVID and later developing to the Larder model. The funding would be used to purchase an additional upright glass fronted freezer, Countertop Food Display Unit, for the free pastries we receive, lable maker, and Individual Aprons / fleece for our volunteers.

We wish to purchase a wood burning machine to do professional wood burning signs for the community

Our aim is to allow people from our community to access food with dignity. We are looking to support 250 households access food with dignity through our community larder, This will no doubt be a relief to many working households who are struggling with the rising cost of living and who many do not qualify for extra help. The community larder has no criteria, so anyone can use it when struggling, we help those most in need through referrals from housing associations, CHAP, money matters, social services and community link workers. We offer a range of food that all members can access and choose what they need the most as a top up on their weekly shop. This can make the difference of eating themselves, feeding their children or even providing the basic hygiene products. As the winter months start to creep in we also find that people are having to choose between heating and eating, This puts a huge strain on any household and we endevour to help those members by allowing them to free up money they save from accessing the larder and being able top up gas and electricity.

Who are we?

Two local Girls from Stevenston in North Ayrshire who share a passion for recycling reclaimed items such as textiles and small household furnishings. We have set up this non-profit Social Enterprise to share our work with others.

What do we do?

We create items such as bags, pouffes’, quilts and much more using reclaimed clothes, bedding and scrap materials that are reusable.

Why do we do it?

We want to share our passion for what we do with people across our communities to share the fun learning and open up new ideas to people who may have never considered using a sewing machine or recycling reclaimed items.

The benefits

Learning new skills, being creative is relaxing and rewarding its helpful to the environment and its great fun!

The Garnock Valley Allotment Association ( GVAA ) was established in 2009 to allow local people to start up a plot for the purpose of growing their own food and improving their life through horticulture.The cost of living crisis and increased focus on healthy lives means it is more improtant than ever to grow your own. Our membership of over 80 people is made up from Garnock Valley residents and we actively encourage and advertise for others to join. Our committee is made up of members volunteering their time to maintain and improve the site.

The GVAA has strong links with the local community. Communal growing space is provided for local community groups such as Cafe Solace and Spike Wheat Scots. Additionaly local schools such as St Bridgets Primary and Garnock Academy are regular visitors to the site growing fruit and vedge, learning about horticulture and completing maintenance tasks. All members are encouraged to donate excess stock such as potatoes, onions, carrots, rhubabrb, herbs, lettuce, turnips etc etc  to the local community. We would like to extend this service by producing and distributing honey made from our recently introduced bee colony.

To replace the two temporary wooden pallets with a permanent aluminium non slip platform.

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.