Being awarded funding to open our studio space will align with UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s goals by strengthening the resilience of our community through creative learning and reducing isolation in our communities by bringing people together in a space that they can take ownership of. By providing accessible and affordable quality arts and entertainment we will be tackling inequalities and improving life chances for people living in our community and beyond

The Iris currently delivers creative learning workshops where people can learn how to express themselves and have their voices heard about things that matter to them by learning how to create film and theatre. By teaching people living in our community creative writing and film productions skills, we can empower people to learn and help them to improve their mental health. The Iris is a multi-award winning production company, having produced 100s of creative learning pieces with people living in our community since 2019. By having a studio space open we can empower the community to create more, bring more people together and access free or reduced cost creative learning and entertainment.

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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.

The project will support two different levels.

1. Archery Tag – This will support community engagement at the weekly Come and Try events we run at Riverside Sports Arena and community charity events that we support. Having just moved into new outdoor facilities at Annbank Football Club, Weston Avenue New Pebble Park, Annbank, Ayr KA6 5EF we will be supporting the Annbank Community Fund to support the local community. Archery Tag is a way to get all ages involved in group games which then introduces people to the sport moving onto other target games, soft archery and eventually to engage with the sport of archery. In the past we have had success from 8 – 80 years in age.
2. Disability Sport Support – We have members of the club that are disabled. To have their equipment adjusted it requires a minimum of a 10 hour round trip or to send equipment away for adjustment/repair.  We propose to buy several items for bow maintenance which will be held and stored at the club’s facility to allow access to repair and tune compound bows and recurve bows.  The compound bows are compressed and cannot be adjusted without specific equipment including a Bow Press, Draw Board, and a  Bieter Vice.  

   The Archery Tag will be used as part of the Come and Try / Community events that we host weekly / monthly in Ayr North and other areas where we are asked to support community events throughout South Ayrshire. We expect to begin to host out own Archery Beginners courses to Archery GB standard June / July 2025 which will be open to residents across the whole of Ayrshire.

   Initially we will be targeting SIMD areas working in partnership with Active Schools and Scottish Disability Sports Sport. The club has a range of equipment suitable for beginner’s courses and a limited supply of equipment that can also be borrowed.  

   Disability Bow Maintenance  The equipment being applied for will allow archers from across North Ayr and beyond to access equipment to maintain their personal equipment. The club at the moment has several disabled archers who also are competitive archers and shoot across the UK most recently gaining a 3rd and 4th place in the Scottish Indoor Championships. To aid the disabled archers who shoot compound we need to invest in specific items of equipment that allow compound bows to be maintained without having make a 10 hr round trip to an archery shop.  Part of this can also be used by the whole club as clamps and draw testers for different types of equipment. Introducing maintenance develops new skills within the sport and the community. It also means that individuals take ownership of equipment and learn how to develop new skills Archery is one of the most inclusive sports there is. It is multi-generational and multi-cultural while being a sport that abled and disabled can complete together.  As a club we have worked with the local area West of Scotland Archery Association and Scottish Archery to support inclusion running events for Scottish Disability Sport. Locally we have supported Active School with children who were non attendees at school and many neurodiverse children have found archery to be a sport that that they can focus on and repeat. One of the Scotland U21 Team that I manage who is neurodivergent has now progressed onto representing the country at senior level a fantastic achievement.