At Narture, we use food and art to shape a brighter future. This project will enable us to upgrade a critical piece of bakery equipment—a brand-new, energy-efficient deck oven—which is central to everything we do.

Our current oven is second-hand, very old, and inconsistent, which slows production and makes it hard to deliver high-quality bread reliably. A new 3-tray, 2-deck oven with integrated steam will transform our bakery:

• Increase production and quality: Consistent heat and steam means our sourdough bread will be reliably excellent.

• Support learning and skills development: Our bakery is a training ground for marginalised groups—school leavers, people in recovery, and others seeking work opportunities. Here, they gain artisan skills that are hard to find elsewhere, building confidence and opening doors to local employment.

• Strengthen local jobs and apprenticeships: The new oven allows us to scale up our bakery operation, creating more roles for young people and local residents.

• Fuel arts, culture, and wellbeing projects: Income from bread sales directly supports workshops, music events, and wellbeing initiatives, making the bakery a hub for creativity and social connection.

This project sits at the heart of our core pillars:  food, arts, wellbeing and sustainability. By investing in this equipment, we can expand our community reach, delivering high-quality artisan bread, and continue providing a space where people can learn, create, and thrive.

By upgrading our bakery, we can also grow our wholesale customer base, increasing income that makes the organisation both financially and environmentally sustainable. This enables us to run more creative projects, provide employment, and operate as a community-owned, structured social enterprise. Our work supports experiential retail and cultural tourism, giving people a reason to visit the town and encouraging them to buy local.

This proposal aligns with the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) objectives by:

• Linking and aligning place-based initiatives, helping to establish a coherent local framework and implement the Place Principle.

• Supporting town centre revitalisation, community-led regeneration, and local wealth-building through meaningful jobs and opportunities.

• Ensuring our cultural programming reflects and shapes investments according to local community needs and aspirations.

• Supporting a healthier planet and people, building inclusive local economies, reducing inequality, and giving communities a real stake in their town.

In short, this oven upgrade isn’t just about baking better bread—it’s about nurturing creativity, building skills, supporting wellbeing and strengthening our town’s social, cultural, and economic life.

We plan to develop a new, community-owned facility that will provide a welcoming space for activities, services, and social connection for residents of all ages. Funding will be used to secure and prepare the site, purchase essential equipment and furnishings (tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, IT and audio-visual resources), and cover professional costs such as design, surveys, and project management. It will also support accessibility improvements, utilities setup, and initial operating costs to ensure the space is safe, inclusive, and ready for immediate community use.

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The village hall is in desperate need of some modernisation, in relation to its current insulation and excessive heating costs. The expense of heating the hall for lets is such that the hall barely breaks even over the winter months, and heat disappears from the roof very quikly due to a complete lack of insulation. In the past we have been told that it would be near-impossible to insulate the roof, but the contractor of choice has found a way to do this and create a walkway down the middle for future access. This would make a massive difference to not only the costs accrued, but the carbon footprint caused by continually heating the large main hall. There are some cracks to the masonry of the building, leading to dampness, and the felt section of the roof is in need of replacement. The money would be used to cover the cost of all materials and labour for the above works. The village hall is at the heart of our community and is run entirely by volunteers. By achieving this much-needed upgrade, the hall will attract more lets due to being warmer and not smelling of damp, and it's structural integrity will be preserved for the future. The hall is used by both young and elderly groups on a regular basis and obviously keeping the hall warm and free of damp is a priority. 

We plan to upgrade the Carrick Centre’s audio-visual and digital facilities to create modern, hybrid-capable event spaces. Funding will be used to:

• Replace the ageing sound desk, microphones, and stage audio system in the Crossraguel Auditorium.

• Install high-quality streaming and hybrid event equipment to enable online participation.

• Integrate sound and visual systems for seamless event delivery.

• Equip Cargill Hall with a sound system, projector, and screen to create a second digitally capable space.

• Ensure all systems are accessible, reliable, and future-proofed.

This investment will allow the Centre to host inclusive community, cultural, educational, and business events, support hybrid participation, and increase revenue opportunities while reducing rural isolation.