Community Benefits Wishlist Submission

There are still those special kinds of people – Volunteers, who although they themselves are struggling, realise there are still people who are worse off and they can do so much in their communities to help out. We would like to highlight how pivotal volunteers are by celebrating their contribution to their communities. We will do this by holding an in-person award ceremony, with guest presenters from the local authority and other public services and of course the volunteers and organisations themselves. As in previous years we are continuing to offer goody bags and hampers that we have provided for the last few years as we know how welcomed they are. They will include such things as coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, crisps things that people most likely won’t be buying for themselves at this time) and lots more but we also understand the importance of socialising and the importance of interacting with other people. Using local community facilities also helps us support them and gives them the recognition they so clearly deserve. Volunteer Week has been celebrated for over 40 years, and each year we aim to make it as special as possible for both our volunteers and the organisations. This year, our “Oscars” event will take place at the Civic Centre in Ardrossan, where TACT will be providing hot drinks and a buffet for all attendees. All funding raised will be spent on making the volunteers feel special and appreciated, just our small way of saying a big Thank You. Any help will be greatly appreciated and as a thank you an invite to the ceremony will be given to everyone who supports us with this event. We will also highlight your organisation by using your logo in all our promotional material, this will also be placed into each of the individual bags.

We are continually needing the things that we cannot give out second hand, this includes but is not limited to: nappies, bottles and weaning equipment, baby toiletries (bath wash, shampoo, lotion, nappy rash cream) wipes and underwear for the children out of nappies. These are things that are regularly requested in the bundles that go out, so we are asking for as much that can be donated.

Baby Bundles is a project run from the registered charity organisation Beith Community Development Trust and as such we rely on different funding and donations when there are things that we need to be able to supply in our bundles that we cannot get donated to us. We are looking for any kind of financial donations to be able to have a pot of money that we are able to use in the instance that a family are requesting something that we cannot source through the kind donations of the community around them.

We are looking for £500 to help us bring in speakers or holistic practitioners.

We are looking for a laptop to provide our group members with zoom as some are unable to attend the group. Also to do research into Long Covid and admin for the group.

The HUB on the PROM, has established as part of Ardrossan Connections project a 20 place bike shed (10 manual and 10 electric places). ACDT is seeking support for the provision of manual and/or electric bikes that will be used by ACDT and Ardrossan's communities to deliver activities within the active travel sector including walking and cycling. These activities will enable members of Ardrossan's communities to improve their physical and mental health and well-being.

ACDT has developed an initial Masterplan for the ongoing development of Ardrossan's South Beach. ACDT is seeking contractor support for the following activities: 1. Creation of new and refurbishment of existing paths to increase accessibility to the promenade. 2. Creation of new disabled care parking at the HUB on the PROM to increase the accessibility to the HUB and Promenade. 3. Creation of foundations and concrete areas, enabling the siting of a mobile sauna that will be made available to our community for physical and mental health and wellbeing activities.

ACDT is seeking to increase the level and effectiveness of its community communication and is seeking support for the installation of digital notice boards within Ardrossan including: 1. The HUB on the PROM. 2. Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

The Highland Games costs a considerable amount of money to put on every year and although we receive entry money for competitions and advertising etc we have to put out outlays each year in order for the games to be a success. Each competition has prize money and one such competition is the heavies event with the prize money being around £1000 between the sections.

Sponsorship, like above, would considerably help us with the planning of the event. Our programmes which are free each year cost us between £500 and £800 depending on the quantity we decide to get printed. These programmes contain a wide variety of local business who advertise through them as well as all the information that people need for the day.

We have had the privilege of being supported by the Cunninghame Housing Association fund throughout th years however this year we have been advised that it is currently under review and therefore no applications are being accepted for 2025/2026 which has set us back financially already. Any support is greatly appreciated by the committee and helps us make the games the success it always is.

We require Tarmac or similar surfaces to allow us to level ground within our facilities making them more accessible to the recreational grounds users. We also require some cement pathways to allow unhindered wheelchair access to some afreas of the ground.

The entrance to our recreational ground is uneven and presents hazards to most users we require it to be lit up and the surface to be made even through the use of tarmac or other material. This would then allow the local authority to adopt the pathways and maintain in the future.

We wish to build a covered area to allow spectators to shelter from wind and rain weather whilst watching recreational ground activities. We would require a metal frame and sheeting along with posts.

We require (12) chairs for our groups, that are comfortable and have arms, so people with poor mobility feel secure using them, as current ones we have are not suitable for some people

We have recently developed a small outdoor space that is wheelchair accessible, but in order to make it an all season asset, we require an awning that can be put across to provide shelter when required

Financial support to obtain and pay for: Road Closure and insurance cost: £1200

Event entertainment/music Stage and Entertainment: £1400

Working with a local group who make and serve food on the night voluntary to cover the cost of the ingredients for them to do so. This is given out for free to families. Food & Drink: £500

We would like to enhance the environment of the medieval church and graveyard at Ardrossan Castle. The aim of the project is to improve visitor accessibility and maintenance of the important heritage site. We would be looking for materials, such as aggregate and floor matting, as well as any volunteer labour time from the contractors to complete the project at the Castle site. There is no time limit, however work would preferably be undertaken in Spring/reasonable weather.

We would like to enhance the surrounding environment of Ardrossan Castle Hill by making it more secure. The aim of this project is to replace broken and damaged boundary fences around the Castle Hill site. We would be looking for materials, such as fence railing, as well as any volunteer labour time from the contractors to complete the project at the Castle site. There is no time limit for this project idea.

We would like to enhance the environment of the heritage site at Ardrossan Castle and Castle Hill by making it more visitor friendly. The aim of the project is to improve visitor experience. We would be looking for materials, such as picnic tables, benches, viewpoint signage, viewfinders, as well as any volunteer labour time from the contractors to litter pick and garden at the Castle Hill site. There is no time limit, however work such as a litter pick would preferably be undertaken in Autumn/once vegetation has died back for winter.

Our switch-on event this year will be held on 29 November, with parade, carols, entertainers and stalls. Last year, the event was very popular with the community - it was well attended and the atmosphere was buoyant. We believe this really benefits the whole of Ardrossan inclusively. We are bidding for £2000 toward event costs, including the closure of Glasgow Street. Our Facebook page is 'Ardrossan Christmas Decorations Committee'.

We would also like to be able to provide hot food (such as hot dogs, soup, tea and coffee) for free to the community. Ideally, this donation would include serving the food.

We would like to be able to fund a small gift each for the children and to purchase a festive snow globe. The total cost of these items is in the region of £1400.