Largs Academy’s Duke of Edinburgh Award group was established at the start of 2022/23 at the request of pupils, through the Parent Council, to provide an extra-curricular opportunity for our senior pupils to learn new life skills, become more physically and mentally active while having a positive impact on their local community. The uptake is extremely positive with 50 young people nearing completion of their bronze award, this is expected to grow this year. The inclusivity of the programme has meant that pupils from all backgrounds have been able to participate and has given those who are disengaging from school a positive focus and a huge sense of achievement, enhancing wellbeing. The programme requires pupils to complete four sections; volunteering, physical, skill, and expedition (an overnight adventure by foot, bike or kayak). Sessions develop teamwork, communication and valuable skills including map reading, using a stove and outdoor first aid. The programme has allowed pupils to be themselves and form new friendships, build their confidence, get outdoors and have experiences they may not have otherwise had.

We are seeking funding on behalf of our young people who, when reflecting on their expedition section asked if we could purchase our own outdoor equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, walking boots, waterproof clothing and backpacks. We currently have a small supply of equipment but not enough to support our demand with over a quarter of our young people having to borrow resources from the council store to complete this section. We have attached a graph showing the equipment that was requested for this year’s expedition. We consulted the young people regarding what they got out of the Duke of Edinburgh group, and what they would like to purchase with unlimited funds, and their responses are attached.

We believe having our own equipment will allow us to better support our participants, giving them a sense of belonging and ensure that lack of equipment is not a barrier for participation, particularly considering the expense of the equipment and the cost of living crisis, and bearing in mind the cost of the school day. The funding will also allow us to support our most disadvantaged pupils to experience the outdoors and help to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our young people.

With the expansion of the Duke of Edinburgh Award we hope to set-up a silver group to provide a pathway for successful bronze candidates to continue to build on their sense of achievement.

Estimated costs

We would like to build up our Largs Academy store of equipment, particularly rucksacks, waterproofs, walking boots, roll mats. We would like to work with a local supplier, with a mind to the local economy, and costs at Vango in Port Glasgow are as follows (as of September 2023):

• Rucksack £120
• Waterproof trousers £32.50
• Waterproof jackets £34.99
• Walking boots £45
• Sleeping bags £52.50
• Tents £175

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 children of Woodlands Primary have taken a vote and decided that they would like to have our markings in the playgound renewed as most have worn away. When speaking with them they have spoken out to wanting more activites that they can do within the sports element, this way it helps keeping them healthy by being active which also helps in the mental well being. 

The kids have asked for Netball court to be painted as well as other amazing educational markings and games that could help with the younger end of the school.

We are still waiting to hear from contractors for the pricing and costs for the paint and labour to make this amazing project possible for the kids at Woodlands Primary

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

The Ardrossan youth association are looking to apply for funding for outdoor equipment for the youth centre to help young people experience outdoor group activities such as badminton, racket ball, soft archery, camping and more.

Health and exercise along with being outdoors will help young people with team building skills, self-esteem and confidence. It will encourage young people to live a healthier lifestyle .This will improve their health and wellbeing with being outdoors more, which is known to improve general fitness and health along with improving their mental health. The AYA are looking to buy some outdoor equipment for the youth centre, such as badminton nets and rackets, shuttle cocks, rackets for rounder’s, balls and some tents, waterproofs to also help give young people the chance to take part in camping and other outdoor activities and encourage them to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

4 X 3 person tents £680

badminton set £48.99

softball set £30.99

Tennis set £39.99

8 X rucksacks £120

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

Our group seeks to help foster skills in 12-25 year olds by growing soft literacy and numeracy skills, as well as creative storytelling, critical thinking, social interaction, and brainstorming.

Our group compromises dedicated players and dungeon masters who share a common belief in the transformative power of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Ranging from 12 to 25, we come together to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that fosters personal growth, social interaction, and skill development.

We operate out of the Ardeer Community Centre in Stevenston and meet up once a week to play through engaging scenarios that involve a lot of team work, brainstorming, and critical problem solving.

Our Objectives

• Enhancing Social Interaction: D&D is a collaborative game that promotes teamwork, communication, and empathy. Through role-playing and problem solving, participants learn to work together, respect diverse perspectives inspired from real world cultures across the globe, and building friendships that last outside of the game.
• Critical Thinking: Dungeons & Dragons is a game of strategy and decision making. Players face complex scenarios, forcing them to think critically, plan, and adapt to unexpected challenges. These skills are transferable to academic and other real-life situations.
• Soft Skills: D&D involves basic arithmetic, probability, and reading comprehension skills. By engaging in storytelling, participants improve their literacy, numeracy, and analytical abilities in a fun and engaging manner.

We believe that through these three objectives, we are able to give people a creative space and a voice for youth to grow socially, intellectually, and emotionally.

The need for funding

To continue our mission effectively, we require funding to acquire more rulebooks, modules, and supplementary materials. These resources will allow us to:

• Expand our reach: With additional materials, we can accommodate more participants, reaching youth who may not have access to such opportunities otherwise.
• Customise Experiences: D&D is versatile, and having a diverse collection of books enables us to tailor our sessions to the specific interests and needs of our participants, making learning more engaging and relevant.

The impact of this funding goes beyond the gaming table, as it helps participants develop critical life skills, gain confidence, and foster a love for learning. Lessons learned in our D&D sessions positively influence the academic and personal success of our participants.

Pricing Breakdown

• Supplement books: £400 (approx) to get 10 additional source books
• Tabletop 3D models: £150 (approx) to acquire 6 custom figures for our current players, and £100 to purchase a plethora of more generic models to give to future players.

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