We will use the funding to continue our volunteer-led refurbishment of the Ayr Sea Cadets’ hall, carrying out essential repairs and improvements, and to purchase a scaffold tower to safely maintain ceilings, lighting, and fixtures, ensuring the hall remains safe, accessible, and sustainable for cadets, local groups, and the wider community.

Purchase a lining machine 

To keep the park to a high standard 

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.

We seek funding for initial development costs for The South, including community consultation costs and early concept meetings with consultants.

We are currently looking into purchasing the South Parish Church in Girvan to be used as a multi-purpose community venue for performances etc. of up to 450 people, and as a function space for up to 180 people. No such venue has existed in Girvan since the Beach Pavillion was demolished 15 years ago and as such, there is an identifiable need in the community.

We also aim to convert the church hall into a modern bunkhouse for walkers, cyclists, and for people attending functions or events at the venue. Recent Surveys by GoGirvan have highlighted the need for accommodation, and it will also increase the financial viability of the project. In addition, we are exploring the option of incorporating a commercial kitchen into the complex which could be used both by the venue and other community groups in partnership.

We have successfully delivered the first in a series of public engagement exercises to better understand the needs and wants of the community, and to ascertain their support for the project. Our next steps are to engage consultants to help us develop the project to RIBA 0-2, including options appraisal, feasibility study and concept designs.  We are looking for funding to help us do both these things.

Up grade shelving 

Hoover 

Door mats 

And have a gazebo

For use of the groups who use the shop