At Carrick Rugby we are committed to promoting health & wellbeing through the sport of rugby in the Carrick area. Carrick Rugby is based in the communities of Girvan & Maybole & is committed to offering everyone the chance to take part in healthy activity, improve their social connections, improve their life chances & support their mental & physical health. We are immensely proud of our success in keeping young people engaged in both playing & coaching younger members & in helping to develop their careers in sport & in many other areas.

The direct beneficiaries are the young people and adults (male and female) participating in a fantastic team sport that develops confidence, discipline, health, social & general wellbeing. On a far wider scale the families also become involved & the sense of community that is built around the club has an impact far beyond the pitch, helping to break down barriers & build social cohesion.  We work with partners from the community and have built strong links with Active Schools, Girvan Youth Trust, VASA, Scottish Rugby, Girvan and Carrick Academies and Thriving Communities.

• Active Schools

“Carrick Rugby Club do amazing work in supporting their local communities, & our own Thriving Communities service, through the provision of programmes designed to reduce social isolation, improve mental health & wellbeing, & build community resilience. They support the development of young people & adults with skills for life improving employability & life chances, reducing poverty & increasing ambition & aspirations. We are proud to work in partnership with Carrick Rugby Club who are invested in improving the communities across North & South Carrick.”

The money will be used to purchase small equipment in a variety of sizes to provide opportunities for rugby at all levels. The equipment will be used for community based sport including Friday Night Diversionary Rugby, community fun days, tartan touch style rugby during the summer break, holiday camps etc. along with general training and playing.  

The sensory resources will be used to:

• Create a safe space which pupils can access at break and lunch to regulate

• Run a regular ‘Sensory Circuits’ group before and during the school day to help improve pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, and engage them in positive physical activity experiences.

At Ayr Academy we strive to support our young people and evidence has shown that the implementation of Sensory Circuits has a significant positive impact on learning and achievement.

Installing an Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) system will significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of our community shop and café. It will streamline transactions, reduce errors, and make it easier for our volunteers—many of whom have limited retail experience—to operate the till confidently.

The system will also provide real-time stock tracking and detailed sales reporting, helping us manage inventory more effectively, reduce waste, and make informed financial decisions. This transparency is essential for accountability and future planning.

Customers will benefit from quicker service, modern payment options, and the potential for loyalty schemes—enhancing their experience and encouraging return visits.

Overall, an EPOS system will help us operate more professionally, support volunteer development, and ensure the long-term viability of this vital community asset.

We intend to commission a local tradesperson to construct a built-in storage cupboard in the upper room of McCandlish Hall. Funding from this grant will cover the cost of both materials and labour. Like many village halls, McCandlish Hall has faced ongoing challenges with storage, leading to equipment being left out between sessions. This new cupboard will provide a secure space for items belonging to regular community groups such as the craft group, Lego Club, and Badminton Club. It will help keep the area tidy, safe, and more welcoming for all hall users.

By improving organisation and freeing up space, the cupboard will make the hall more attractive for existing and future community groups.

Ultimately, this investment will have a lasting impact—enabling McCandlish Hall to remain a vibrant, multi-use venue that supports local participation and wellbeing across the community.

This funding will allow us to deliver free monthly First Aid courses (adult, youth & family sessions) within Ayr South, led by a qualified instructor that we have secured to significantly reduce costs in comparison to hiring independent training providers. This funding will allow for the purchase of the equipment needed to run the courses. Each session (up to 12 participants) features hands on practice with manikins, AED simulators and realistic scenarios. The funding will allow the supply all consumable training equipment, CPR manikins, first-aid kits, protective PPE and we will invite partner charities to join free of charge, boosting inter-agency referrals and carer resilience.

Demonstrated Need & Local Impact: Our last Carers First Aid course was oversubscribed (16 places, 8-person waitlist),demonstrating strong local demand. Unpaid carers tell us they can lack emergency response confidence: first-aid skills reduce anxiety and prevent crisis escalation.Monthly training makes life saving skills accessible to carers in our area, plus family members. Partner charities (local dementia support, mental-health services) will rotate free places, enhancing referral pathways and shared learning.

The Village Hall in Loans is the heart of our community and a real asset to the village. By purchasing new tables, which will be used by a variety of community groups, we can offer a lovely venue with safe, clean and easy to use resources for let.  The tables are easy to store, easy to clean and light enough for our users to handle.  New tables would enable groups such as adult education activities, birthday parties, village fundaisers etc. to sit around safe tables which are fit for purpose.  By letting the hall out to groups and for events, we can generate an income and ensure this wonderful hall remains a viable asset to our community.  

We would also like to purchase paint and re-paint all the woodwork within the main hall.  This would help to brighten the hall up and make it more attractive when letting out. 

We would like 10 tables at a cost of £144 each = £1440

Purchase paint and labour - £560

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 is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), Scottish Charity number: SC053474.

Troon Men’s Shed was established in April 2024 and has a growing membership of 75 members, and currently meet fortnightly in The Lighthouse Christian Centre with guest speakers attending, as well as occasional visits to places of interest. Our members have volunteered to help out at community events in Troon at Wintertainment, Troon Round Table Fireworks and Santa Float, and we have recently assisted Ayrshire Cancer Support with practical DIY work at 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. It will also allow us to provide practical help to other community groups in Troon. 

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. The Hosiery Park Pavilion building is in poor condition as it has been unused for several years, and once acquired would it will 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. 

We are applying for funding of £2,000 towards our Shed redevelopment capital costs for:     • Ducted Air to Air to Heat Pump     • Heat Recovery Ventilation System     • Solar PV + Battery      • Sunamp Water Heater and Storage 

Information about Troon Men’s Shed is available on our website https://troonmensshed.wordpress.com/ 

We also have a Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/troonmensshed/

Membership is free and is open to any man aged 18 or over who is lives Troon or surrounding areas and who supports our purpose. Apply to join online:https://troonmensshed.wordpress.com/join/

Please support us so the men of Troon can "head to the shed". Thank you!

£2000 will pay for 10 refurbished bikes, to be supplied by our CGX Cycle Works as capital assets costing £200 each to be donated free of charge to individuals.  CGX Cycle Works has recently completed two successive years producing 400 refurbished bikes to issue free of charge to young people across South Ayrshire.  The Cycling Scotland recognised cost of a refurbished bike exceeds £250, with the additional costs of storing and distributing them to recipients exceeding that again, all being regarded as elements of the total capital cost to achieve the transfer of ownership of the capital asset.  During distribution of the bikes to children, many of the parents asked about the availability of free bikes so they could go on rides with their children.  We hope to meet this identified need.