Ayr United Football Academy is a well-established Third Sector organisation in South Ayrshire, committed to improving health, wellbeing, and lifelong learning through football. Based primarily in Ayr North—one of the top 5% most deprived areas in Scotland—we deliver inclusive, community-led programmes that support people of all ages, from schoolchildren to older adults. With a dedicated team of over 100 staff and volunteers, we use the power of football to promote positive change and tackle deep-rooted social inequalities.

Our new Dementia Walking Football Programme is a community-based initiative offering tailored football sessions for individuals aged 50 and over who are living with dementia or related cognitive conditions. Building on our successful walking football provision, this programme directly responds to local community feedback calling for more dementia-friendly activities that support holistic wellbeing.Participants will attend two one-hour sessions per week, each followed by an informal social gathering with refreshments and occasional guest speakers. Sessions are designed to be inclusive, supportive, and enjoyable—providing a safe and welcoming environment for people to stay active, engaged, and connected.

Programme Objectives

• Enhancing physical health – improving mobility, cardiovascular fitness, and coordination in a way that is safe and adapted to participants’ needs

• Stimulating cognitive function – encouraging memory, focus, and decision-making through structured, enjoyable activity

• Fostering social interaction – reducing isolation and encouraging the building of friendships and support networks

• Promoting emotional wellbeing – providing participants with a sense of purpose, enjoyment, and belonging

Strategic Fit with UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) The Dementia Walking Football Programme strongly aligns with several key UKSPF investment priorities, particularly under the “Communities and Place” and “People and Skills” pillars:

✅ Health and Wellbeing This programme supports better health outcomes by promoting regular, adapted physical activity for older adults. It also aligns with the Scottish Government’s A Fairer Scotland for Older People strategy and South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership’s Dementia Strategy.

✅ Social Inclusion and Reducing Inequalities The programme reaches a vulnerable and often overlooked group, providing accessible and inclusive support. By removing financial barriers, it directly addresses health and social inequalities and increases community participation.

✅ Pride in Place and Community Participation Using trusted local venues and engaging community volunteers, the programme fosters local pride, strengthens community ties, and increases opportunities for people to contribute meaningfully to civic life.

✅ Local Delivery, Local Benefit Firmly rooted in Ayr North and surrounding communities, the programme reflects the UKSPF’s commitment to place-based investment. It harnesses existing community assets—facilities, volunteers, and networks—to ensure sustainable, locally-driven impact. It also supports the South Ayrshire Council’s Local Place Plans and the strategic objectives of the Health & Social Care Partnership.

Conclusion The Charity's Dementia Walking Football Programme is about far more than football—it’s about dignity, connection, and supporting people to live well. The programme is a cost-effective, scalable, and compassionate response to a growing health and social care challenge. Through clear alignment with UKSPF priorities and a strong foundation of local delivery, it represents a strategic investment in healthier, more inclusive communities and provides a replicable model of best practice in dementia-friendly sport and wellbeing.

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The purpose of Troon Men’s Shed is to provide recreational facilities and advance the social needs, health and well being of men of all ages and backgrounds living in Troon and surrounding areas.  

Troon Men’s Shed was established in April 2024 and has a growing membership with 75 members, and currently meet fornightly in a hired hall with guest speakers. Our members have volunteered to help out at community events in Troon at Wintertainment, Troon Round Table Fireworks and Santa Float, and we are currently assisting Ayrshire Cancer Support with practical DIY work in their new Ayr Centre.

Members benefit by meeting with other men in a safe environment, reducing their social isolation and providing mental stimulation, which also benefits their families. The acquisition of the Hosiery Park Pavilion will enable us to meet more regularly and undertake practical workshop activities which we are unable to do in a hired meeting hall. The establishment of workshop activities will enable men to utilise their practical skills, and to pass on their knowledge to others.

A Stage 1 Community Asset Transfer Request was submitted to South Ayrshire Council in November 2024, and the Stage 2 request is currently being prepared, with a target date to submit of 31 May 2025.

The Hosiery Park Pavilion building is in poor condition as it has been unused for several years, and once acquired would be repaired and converted into a suitable facility comprising of an activity workshop area where woodworking and other similar practical activities can be undertaken, and a separate multi-use social space.

Funding will directly support the UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s goals by strengthening community resilience, tackling inequalities, and improving life chances for vulnerable men affected by addiction in Girvan and South Carrick — as part of Harbour Ayrshire’s Bridge to Shore project.The Bridge to Shore pathway supports individuals from crisis through to stability, community integration, and ultimately, independence. This proposal focuses on the early and middle stages of that journey, providing essential support where it's needed most.

Harbour Ayrshire currently delivers a vital weekly support group led by staff and volunteers with lived experience. The group offers a safe, trauma-informed environment where men can share openly, build peer connections, and learn practical coping strategies. By addressing root causes of addiction — such as poverty, poor mental health, and intergenerational trauma — the project empowers participants to break negative cycles and build long-term resilience, both personally and within the community.

This funding will cover essential delivery costs including venue hire, refreshments, and holistic therapies. These elements are key to removing barriers to engagement and ensuring all participants feel welcomed and supported.

In addition to sustaining the current group, funding will enable expansion into surrounding villages where need is high but services are scarce due to poverty, digital exclusion, and lack of transport. Development work — under the Bridge to Shore framework — will focus on:

Increasing outreach and engagement in rural areas of Girvan and South Carrick

Supporting individuals to access central services and digital resources

Building local capacity by helping communities create peer-led support groups

Fostering community cohesion and empowerment through shared learning and lived experience leadership

By supporting this project within the Bridge to Shore model, you are investing in the creation of healthier, more inclusive communities, reducing health inequalities, enhancing social capital, and empowering individuals to contribute positively to their local areas — fully aligning with the aims of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This application is to support Vics In The Community with capital costs for our new Community Hub that is scheduled to open in June 2025. The application for funding would assist with costs to protect the building from anti social behaviour.

The new community hub located in North Ayr and will be the cornerstone of the community serving young people, adults and families. North Ayr is reconised as an area of deprivation and this facility will allow us to further enhance our support to the community and address challenges such as mental health and wellbeing, food insecurity and financial hardship.