Over the past few years, we have seen water sports increase in popularity amongst our youth members. As part of ‘Youth Shaped’ scouting we have responded to this and are eager to carry out more water sports sessions for our young people. We are fortunate enough that many of our leaders have earned various water sport instruction certificates, however we lack a way to transport our equipment in order to deliver sessions.

Funding would allow us work towards our goal of purchasing a new small box trailer to safely transport equipment for use on the water. As it stands, we are unable to transport our equipment without having to hire vans, which has proven to be incredibly costly. The price of the trailer stands at £3,995 + VAT. The group has been actively fundraising for the last 12 months in order to be able to make the purchase, this final grant would allow us to bring the project to life.

This project allows us to continue providing important life skills to our young people. Participating in water sports helps to build confidence and resilience, as well improving physical fitness, balance, and co-ordination. Providing young people with the opportunity to spend time outdoors plays a key role in supporting their mental health and well-being. Time away from social media, screens, and school allows young people the chance to disconnect and recharge, helping to teach them the importance of maintaining a work-life balance – a skill which they will carry through to adulthood.

Additionally, the use of a new trailer will help to reduce the cost of participation in these activities. By avoiding van hire, any cost for these activities will be vastly reduced, helping to make water sports more accessible for the benefit of young people. Furthermore, the new trailer provides a more eco-friendly solution to equipment transportation. When hiring vans, we must drive vehicles to and from collection points to get them back to Troon, being able to avoid this will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint as a group.  

Not only will a new trailer benefit members of the 28th Ayrshire Scout Group, but it will also massively benefit other groups in the local community.  Local groups such as Brownies and Guides will be offered the opportunity to use our paddleboards and safety equipment, meaning more young people can experience the benefits of water sports. As well as this, any Scouting or Guiding groups that stay at our hall will also be offered the opportunity to use the equipment. We are lucky to have groups from across the UK as well as International groups regularly staying at the hall. By providing them with the opportunity to use our equipment, their young people will get to experience more of our local culture and community, as well as building all the associated skills that come with water sports

Not only will the young people benefit from increased accessibility to water sports, but so will our adult volunteers. Being able to transport our own equipment will make it easier for us to provide training for those that wish to improve their skills and build their water confidence. Providing adults with the opportunity to gain qualifications in water sport instruction allows us to continue passing these skills down through generations to our young people and allows for our volunteers to continuously develop themselves outside of work and their other life commitments.

Funding will go directly towards the purchase of a new trailer to allow us to provide our young people and the wider community with the opportunity to participate in water sports. Your support will help us deliver these sessions, helping our young people and adults grow, and to build a community that we are proud of.

Vics In The Community is a registered charity based in North Ayr. The charity was established to create oopportunities for people to particiapte in health and wellbeing activities including football while trying to address key barriers and challenges with the community.

North Ayr is recognised as the most deprived community in South Ayrshire and in the top 5% in Scotland. Outcome in North Ayr including unemployment, crime, addiction, life expectency are alll below the local authorty and naional average. 

Since taking over the lease of New Voluntary Park, Vics have been working over the past two years to redevelop the derelict pavilion to bring it back to community ownership. Approx £675,000 has been invested in capital costs and th hub is ready to open. We are seeking essential equipment and resources such as kitchen utenciles, cutlery, glasses and cleaning equipment (Hoover) to help with the opening and running for the community hub. 

These vital items will allow us to opne the hub and host events, functions and accomodate of group work sessions in the Hub.

Following extensive community consultation, we plan to deliver three evening groups at Dundonald Castle Hub: a Silent Book Club, Dundonald Historical & Archive Group, and a Creative Writing Group. Funding will be used towards staffing and utilities to help our charity open the Hub in the evenings, and to ensure the ongoing sustainability of these groups. This will support us in providing free, accessible activities for people of all ages with daytime commitments (carer, parental and employment amongst others), while tackling loneliness and social isolation over the autumn and winter months in our rural area.

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We are seeking funding to deliver the Broadway Cinema Visitor Experience.  Our foyer space will be re-opened for project information, memberships, and merchandise sales.  There will be a pop-up museum located in our newly revealed 1930s auditorium.  Visitors will be able to soak up the unique atmosphere of an ‘arrested decay’ Grade C listed art-deco cinema.  The experience will be unique in Scotland and will bring significant economic benefits to the area.  It will provide a platform for the Broadway to generate sustained income, serving as a catalyst for future growth and continued project development.  Any money (gratefully received) will be used to purchase: Fire door installation/upgrades Licence fees (PRS/PVS)

Volunteer utility and toilet facility WiFi operating costs Donation terminals and subscriptions Industrial space heater  

These items will 'unlock' our ability to open our doors to the community and visitors, and keep them open.  

The fund would be utilised to purchase equipment

P7 pupils from 9 schools, prioritising those with a catchment area serving the most deprived and poorest areas of Ayr, will be transported to Ayr town Hall where representatives of between 30 and 35 widely different careers have been invited for the day. The reps have been selected as they are known to be enthusiastic about the work they do, are great communicators, and in the majority of cases, have asked to return after previously been involved in the Project over the last 2 years.

The Career stalls are designed to be highly interactive and "Hands-0n"; we are not telling the pupils what grades they need and what college of course they need to aim for (this is done at Secondary school by careers teachers); we want to inspire them, encourage them to think beyond what they think they might end up doing when they leave school. We believe this will motivate them as they start secondary school in a few months after the event.All the Careers reps give up a day, all in their own time, some self employed. Rotarians are on hand to help the teachers supervise the children on the day.

Funding is used for Hire of the Venue (Ayr Town Hall - £250), Hire of the buses to transport the pupils (£850), and a light sandwich lunch and refreshments for the 60 to 70 Careers Reps who will be attending (£300 which Rotary will Fund)