Skelmorlie Camera Club has successfully organised an annual photography competition for young people over the past 5 years. The club has enjoyed a special link with the photography department in Largs Academy. However.the competition is open to all young people of school age (primary/secondary) attending any school in the North Coast area. The principle aim of this venture is to improve the well being of young people by encouraging them to go outdoors with their camera or mobile phones, use their imagination and capture their own personal vision of "Autumn".

There will be a presentation event on December 12th in Skelmorlie Community Centre. Each submitted image will be critiqued and given constructive feedback.

The authors of the top 3 images will receive a canvas copy of their image ( 2 A4 @£40 each and 1 A3@ £60 )  and the overall winner will receive a £50 voucher.

Note 1: On the evening of the 12th December the winners will each receive a certificate. If our application is successful we will award each winner the aforementioned prizes at some point within the 12 months of the grant award.

2 training sessions of 4 hours for 12 young photographers will be arranged with 2 professional trainers (organised by Peter Stevenson a professional photographer and ex Jessops trainer) at £360 per session. The total training costs will be £720

Note 2: If our application is successful we will organise the training for the young people at some point within the 12 months of the grant award.

6 wooden tresele tables cost = £101.94 each Total £611.64 for all youths in the group to do arts and crafts and cooking in the scout hall and any other activities like parties and board games

2 x6 man tents for wild camping for the Cubs Scouts Explores to sample wild camping outsway Tipi £116.99 each Total £233.98

4 x Portable Gas Burners for kids to learn to cook in the scout hall ready for camping in the wild cost £22.93 Total £91.72 includes gas

6 x wooden chopping Boards for cooking in scout hall and wild camping cost £10.93 each Total  £65.58

All kids in the group can learn new skills and have fun doing it safely with the items requested above 

We are seeking funding for a new set of match kit and also a new set of footballs and new nets for our goals. These are necessary to enable the children to train, play and reach their potential. Full kit: £500

Training balls: £140

11 a side goal nets: £200

Our coach Bobby travels each week from the Isle of Bute to deliver a session after school on a Monday.  Bobby gives his time free of charge, we do however need to meet the travel expenses which he incurs.  To keep the weekly session cost as low as possible we would like support from the Youth fund. 

£500- to help cover expenses 

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

Kilwinning Academy Parent Council is a very active and supportive group of parents who work together to ensure young poeple are able to access the range of educational and wellbeing opportunities provided by the school or other services.

As a group we meet once a month with the Head Teacher to find ways to address any issues raised by parents but also to promote the fantastic progress and achievements many young people have made.

Part of our focus is on finding ways to support learning and teaching which will support raising attainment and an outcome, but more recenlty we are very aware of the growing concerns parents have over the Mental Health and Wellbeing of pupils at the school and in the community.  As a group we have apporached the school to find ways to support groups of young people who may be struggling with their mental health and wellbeing resulting in those been identified as struggling to reach their potential.    One distinct group we wish to help on this occasion is the growing concerns over young male pupils who are struggling to engage in their learning and are unwilling to accept the usual supports offered by the school.

As parents we agree that one of the best ways to engage young males is through providing high quality sport and fitness activities delivered by specialists out with the school environment.  So as a group we have identified a Kilwinning company, "BetterU Fitness" who have a number of highly trained professionals with a range of experience of supporting young people.  Our application for funding would cover the costs and activities provided by the BetterU Fitness staff.  The plan would be for a targeted group of young male pupils, identified by the school, to participate in an eight-week programme delivered during school time at the BetterU Fitness unit at the Nethermains Industrustlal Estate.

Discussion with the school has resulted a shared understanding that the intended benefits of this project to those involved would out way any time lost to lessons due to concerns over their engagement in school.  Following this discussion, the school is very keen to monitor the scucess of this project and will commit to funding another group if this project provides to be a success.

BetterU Provision provide for the £997.88 bid

• Fully qualified coach for session delivery 2 sessions per week for up to 8 weeks
• Facilties and all required equipment
• Planning and delivery of sessions in line with age and stage of development
• Focus on supporting participant's fitness and mental health and wellbeing
• Personal clothing item for each participant

Outcome

It is hoped that by the end of the 8-week programme the participants will be fitter, be more willing to discuss the support required to reach their full potential at school and feel more positive about their own mental health and wellbeing.

52nd Ayrshire are organising a group camp for all our young people (both male and female) who attend all three of our scout sections - 50 young people plus 

The camp will take place in June 2024  from a Friday afternoon to late Sunday afternoon

During this time the group will participate in indoor and outdoor activities . Some young people will camp outdoors while others will stay inside in dormitories or hobbit huts

The activities included are:

• Caving
• Archery
• Low ropes
• Orienteering/geocaching
• Indoor curling
• Giant board games
• Crafts
• Backwoods cooking
• Den building
• Late night Hike and Camp Fire

During camp we will provide everyone with three 2 course hot nutritious meals as well as snacks including fruit and hot and cold drinks through the day