The Active:2:Grow programme is a 42 week wellbeing and multisport programme delivered in partnership with the Ghillie Dhu Project within Irvine.  The Active:2:Grow programme is designed to target young people aged 11+, supporting them to better manage their own health and wellbeing, and become more physically active.

SSF Active:2:Grow offers young people a safe and inclusive environment to evaluate their wellbeing and put in place mechanisms  to support this, connect with peers, socialise with others and become more active.  

The SSF Active:2:Grow programme uses a combination of wellbeing workshops and physical activity to support young people to; 

- Improve their mental health and wellbeing 

- Increase confidence  

- Better identify ways of how to manage their lives and build resilience 

- Develop their personal and physical skills 

- Increase levels of physical activity 

- Increase connections with the wider community 

The Active:2:Grow programme is delivered weekly every Monday evening in the Volunteer Rooms (Irvine), with every session including a physical activity element and a wellbeing element where young people are supported to explore topics such as: 

- Emotions  

- Stress  

- Feelings 

- Goal setting 

- Decision making 

- Relationships  

- Life skills  

Funds provided through this application will contribute to the following resource costs:

-Winter gift bags £150

-Wellbeing boxes £150

-Sports Kitbag £200

-Broadening Horizon Activity/Trip/Transport £500

Team building helps to build skills that are useful for the girls now but also skills the girls can take into their adult lives. Team building helps to develop problem solving skills, bring out leadership qualities, encourage creative thinking, as well as helping to improve listening qualities in girls. Girls have a tough time as teenagers as well as preteens so even small wins boost self esteem and develop self confidence. The range of activities also help to show that not every girl has the same set of skills but every girl has a skill. This would be a great opportunity to help develop empathy as where one girl excels in one activity she may struggle with another. These are all skills that are important not just for now but for later in life, we as guiding leaders try to develop these qualities week to week however days out like this allow the girls to express their self and really show what they are made of, what they are good at and what they would like to be good at. 

Costs

Cost per girl/leader - £25.00

24 Brownies - 24 Guides - 6 Leaders - £1321.20

Team building badge - £0.60 

48 Badges - £28.80

Total cost - £1350.00

The money would be used to put on a Theatre Show in March 2024 to assist with costumes, props and scenery.

The young people gain experience with performing and working together which builds their mental and physical wellbeing, communication and teamwork skills and builds confidence and trust. Most importantly they mix all of these skills with having fun and growing together. The Showtime Youth Theatre assists young people to express themselves; gain confidence with public activities and ensures that nursery, primary and secondary school young people interact and the culmination of learning songs, dances and acting skills creates a fantastic performance.

The young people are working very hard every week to learn their new dances/routines and whilst we have auditions for the lead parts, all young people have an active and inclusive part to play whether it is in acting, dancing, singing or drama. This builds not only confidence but also maintains positive mental and physical wellbeing and entertains the people of Ayrshire whilst being a fun activity.  One main aim is the development of our young people and to watch them grow throughout the years but we also wish for our local community in Ayrshire to thrive and we therefore try to source and support our local businesses as much as we can.

The Showtime Youth Theatre is an integral part of Irvine life as the young people participate in Marymass, put on shows at Fullarton Connexions, for the Ayrshire Hospice and sing Christmas Carols within local Supermarkets. The young people also learn the value of team work, kindness, community spirit and about the Irvine locality when they bag pack and fundraise in local shops and supermarkets.

Through participating in a show and working on their group activities and then as a whole team together, the young people gain many skills from teamwork to trust to understanding others and working at different paces to reach their end goal, showing how hard work and participation gives achievement and puts on a fantastic show which is fun and benefits them.

The main benefactors of the funding are the young people but it is also the Instructors and friends and family who get to enjoy all the hard work when they see the performances and smiles on the faces.

Costumes - ready made outfits and dance costumes –14 x £15 - £210;  45 x £9 - £405; 20 x £10 - £200;  = £815.00

Material, thread/ribbon/accessories - 4 x £4 - £16; 4 x £5 - £20 (materials); £50 (accessories and threads) = £86.00

Props – £24.00

Scenery - hire of some ready made scene landscapes and paint/brushes for handmade elements - £75.00