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 children at Morrpark are currently learning the skills to fix broken bikes. These new skills will be offered to anyone in the community who has a bike that needs fixing. Our children are responsible citizens and understand the improtance of a wellbalanced lifestyle.  Following on from the successful cooking classes that promoted healthy eating for our families, this year getting people to exercise in a way that supports the envrionment is the main focus.

The children at Moorpark are keen to help others in the school get on the road and travel to school by bike.  They also want to be able to offer this service to everyone in the community to get Kilbirnie moving! To do this they need storage for the bikes while they are being fixed and the tools to fix as many bikes as possible in a safe way.

The children will operate from a workshop set up in the school grounds and invite anyone in the community to come along with their broken bikes and have them fixed for free.  By offering this facility the children are promoting better mental and physical health as well as contributing to a cleaner local environment when people switch from driving a car to riding a bike. This free service now makes exercise accessible for those faced with costly repairs they couldn't previously afford.

The children want to see less cars at the school gates and more children riding their bikes to school, this will also make the school safer for our children.

They need a work space to fix and store the bikes and a variety of tools to complete the work, the following materials need to be purchased...

£400 for a metal shed and security padlock so that the bikes and tools can be stored.

£100 for storage boxes and tool boxes to store tools and equipment

 £450 for tools to fix the bikes

£50 for safety equipment such as safety glasses, overalls, gloves so the children are safe when fixing the bikes.

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 will create a series of free print workshops exploring the different methods of printmaking e.g. Gelli plate, Collagraphs, dry point etching and tetra pak printing.  Using nature and our local community as the theme for the workshops we will explore print making using materials that we would normally discard, and we will look at how art and creativity can look at the natural environment and reuse and recycle to protect it.    There are lots of transferable skills occurring in the workshops and they can be linked to other aspects of daily life without even realising it; communication, understanding, environmental, relaxation, creativity.  The printing will be for all ages and all abilities giving confidence and creative skills.

We are also hoping to engage not only the younger age range but work with older youngsters in encouraging them and their creativity as well as encouraging them to volunteer support during some of the sessions. Each participant will leave the workshop with a sense of achievement and a piece of artwork with which they can engage with others.  Finished pieces may also be exhibited on the gallery wall of the Print Studio.

Quotes from parents and young people

“It was fabulous to see them so excited about the process of producing Art.  Thank you for allowing the kids to use and work with the specialist equipment and for the accessibility of the classes for All to ensure opportunities for everyone” a parent

“it was amazing to use the special arts equipment and a printing machine and see how it worked.  I really want to go back"  a young person

““It was very fun as it was something I had never done before at school or any other art class. I would love to go back again”  a young person

“A really unique art class giving the kids a chance to experience different ways of printing and using their creativity”  a parent

• Caligo Safe Wash inks   £200
• Printing paper   £80
• Table top etching press    £323
• Frames to exhibit work    £100
• Acrylic paints for printing     £60
• Tote Bags 50     £70  

Removal of the old wendy house and replacement with a new one, including a new foundation.

Playhouse from www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk

BillyOh Lollipop Max Playhouse 6 x 7 Max Platform £551

Picket Fencing Option D £59

Ecobase Fastfit Full Base £135

Decorative Wooden Window Shapes x 2 £9

Assembly Kit £25

Delivery £75

Millport Curling Club would like to give young people on the island an opportunity to experience the sport of curling by arranging test sessions for 10-12 year-olds at a mainland ice rink. It’s challenging for young islanders to participate, given the need to travel off-island and the expense involved so we will arrange bus transport and professional coaching at a curling rink for a group of 10-12 year-olds to inspire and encourage them to get involved in the sport. Millport Curling club members will host the away-days, together with Cumbrae Primary School teaching staff and professional coaches, at Greenacres Ice Rink. The project will improve the health and well-being of young participants through physical activity and social connection and the funding will address the Cost of Living crisis by making the activity financially accessible for all youngsters who wish to take part.

Estimated costs for 2 sessions of 12 participants:

Ferry & Bus: £600 

Venue fees (Ice/coaching): £300 

Total: £900