Dalry Community Sports Club Completed Application

Name of Organisation

Dalry Community Sports Club

Name of Asset

Dalry Public Park (Sports Pavilion (Brick) and Pitches)

Asset Number

G229325X

Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

Redacted

This form is to initiate an asset transfer request made under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Information is available at Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Section 1: Information about the request

To help you along we have filled in the details given in your initial enquiry form. If any information has changed, please amend accordingly.

1.1 Please provide details of the organisation making the request

1.1.1 Main Contact for all correspondence

1.2 Structure and purpose of the organisation

1.2.1 What type of organisation are you?

We are a voluntary organisation which is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

1.2.2 Do you have a written formal constitution, governance document or set of rules?

Yes

1.2.3 How many people are members of your organisation?

We have 35 volunteers in total, of which 5 are Trustees.

1.2.4 When was the organisation established?

2007

1.2.5 What is the purpose and main activities of your organisation?

The organisation’s purposes are to benefit the community of Dalry and surrounding areas (incorporating the postcode area KA24).

To advance public participation in sport in Dalry and the surrounding area by promoting and providing opportunities for a wide range of sporting and leisure activities in an accessible manner to all groups of people and to improve the fitness and health of the persons for whom the activities are intended.

The promotion for the benefit of the public of urban or rural regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation in Dalry and in the surrounding area by all or any of the following means:

1.2.6 Does your organisation have previous experience of managing an asset?

Yes. Since gaining the temporary occupation licence, we have used the pavilion to host numerous community events, including platinum jubilee, King’s coronation, puppy training classes, Schools Cross Country Running, Skirt the Skieth (Dalry Run), GV Youth Arts & Crafts, employability provision and Velotech bike maintenance training. This summer will also see us re-launch our Parklives events in partnership with KA Leisure in the park, which we have been doing on a Friday night at KA over the winter period. Furthermore, we have worked in partnership with Garnock Valley Men’s Shed to launch the new Men’s Shed Dalry. During this period, we have managed the building effectively, ensuring regular cleaning, key-holding, budgeting and maintenance.

1.3 Please specify the asset (building or land) you are interested in

1.3.1 Asset

1.3.2 Type of transfer you are interested in

Lease of asset

1.3.3 If leasing, what length of lease?

In order to secure large funding, Funders look for at least a 25 year lease agreement to be in place, therefore this is what we would be looking for, and ideally at a zero /minimum cost to ourselves.

1.3.4 Are there any other organisations potentially affected by the ownership of this asset?

See also 1.6.3, there have been no football teams using Dalry Public Park since before COVID, primarily due to the condition of the pavilion changing facility before it was renovated by us, and the state of the football pitch areas within the park. Youth teams have had very limited use previously but currently play their games at The Putyan pitches in Dalry, although this is for pitch only, as again the changing facilities here are not fit for purpose. This year has seen us start a Menshed at the pavilion, which will continue to be resident there on 2 days per week (11am to 3pm), and will remain sponsored by yourself, as is a key part of our overall vision.

1.4. Funding

1.4.1 Briefly outline how you propose to fund the transfer of ownership/lease

See attached for your info as requested, Business Plan with 3 Year financial projections of various LET opportunities/events to generate income requirements

1.4.2 A Business Plan with a 3 year cash flow statement is beneficial for information purposes

A Business Plan will be required before a final decision is made. Two main sources of support for a business plan are:

Just Enterprise: Third sector organisations, enterprising charities and community organisations that are trading can get support by self-referring.

Community Enterprise: Support for smaller third sector organisations and community groups that are non-trading. This service can be accessed by self-referring.

Business plan attached.

3 year cash flow attached.

1.4.3 Previous 3 years financial statement is required

Previous 3 year financial statement attached.

1.5 You previously shared with us the following. Is there anything you would like to add to this to enhance your application?

Why are you interested in this asset and what do you want to use the asset for?

We need a base from which to consolidate and expand the Parklives initiative, provide modern, fit for purpose sports changing facilities, and to develop Dalry Public Park as a vital outdoor recreational space for the entire community. Parklives has demonstrated the importance of providing opportunities to build community cohesion, tackle childhood obesity and address food poverty. During the Summer months, over 150 people attend weekly to participate in sports and enjoy free food in a friendly and welcoming environment that is safe for children and young people. Since the regeneration of the pavilion through Town Centre Regeneration funding, we now have a place to safely store equipment, provide toilets and become a base/hub for our outdoor barbeque, which provides free food for all in a dignified manner. This base / hub is now key to our vision to increase the opportunity to have additional activities within the park and look to enhance the opportunities to bring our community together. Furthermore, we have entered into an agreement with our neighbours DSM, a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, to lease an area of land between our building and the DSM factory or the development of an allotments site. We envisage the Pavilion as playing a key role in facilitating a gathering place for allotment plot holder, both as a social space and as meeting space. This area of land and the land directly in front of the pavilion will also help provide us with areas for both football pitches and multi-sport / leisure activities to help accommodate our vision of helping to bring people together within our community, and within the public park.

What benefits will this bring to local community?

To address loneliness and social isolation, improving quality of life for residents of Dalry. To tackle food poverty, particularly through the Parklives initiative, but also through involvement in the development of food cooperatives locally, in partnership with community groups across Garnock Valley.

To facilitate community engagement and social cohesion.

To improve and enhance both physical and mental health and well-being.

To provide additional and much-needed meeting space for community groups and organisations.

To enhance changing facilities for local grassroots sports organisations.

To provide space for employability-related provision for local people.

We have seen the benefits that the various initiatives that we have organised within our community have, in helping to bring people together, and in so doing so, build towards stronger communities. We now want to build on and widen the opportunities that this platform has given us. There are various activities which we would be able to operate from the use of this facility, helping to complement existing established activities, and promote new ones.

1.6 Please tell us below

1.6.1 Describe the level and nature of support for the request from the local community?

Dalry has a population of cc 5,657. Due to support for a number of community initiatives, DCSC is held in high esteem by a range of local community groups and individuals who have received support from the group. We recently worked in partnership with Dalry Community Development Hub to undertake a community survey during Parklives events, and via our facebook page. The output of this survey can be shared as required, however, in summary, the participants recognised the need for various park based activities, including, Family activities, sports for kids, outdoor gym / exercise equipment, crazy golf, putting, archery, football, tennis, more playpark equipment, athletics and cycling. Dalry Community Sports Club also held an Open Weekend at the Pavilion where people were encouraged to come in, see the facility and capture on flipcharts what they would like to see in the pavilion and park, where their output included – some of the comments from the survey, and in addition, Kids Birthday Parties, Role Playing Games, Community Events, Café, Menshed ( which we have started ), photography Club, Mothers & Toddles group and running group. DCSC was also involved in the ”Ayrshire 21 Survey” administer by NAC and reached out to the community of Dalry, which recognised the need for more facilities within the park, and although this was within the last 10 years, it has been a key driver for DCSC to help realise the benefits it highlighted.

1.6.2 Are you aware of any restrictions on the use or development of the asset?

Dalry Community Sports Club, currently has a Temporary Occupational Licence for the pavilion, where over the last 2 years we have worked with NAC Planning and NAC Estates teams, where we have renovated the facility through our successful application to the Town Centre Regeneration fund for Redacted, and we have also through additional funding, sited a storage container at the location, and provided a large patio area at the front of the building to help host a variety of activities. To the best of our knowledge and through our engagement with NAC Planning, there are no restrictions that we are aware of, in relation to our intentions for the facility.

1.6.3 Impact on existing use – what negative consequences (if any) may occur if your request is agreed to? How would you propose to minimise these?

Although Youth football teams have previously used this facility, and adult teams for training, it has not been used over recent years as much, due to the condition of the football pitches, and the previous condition of the pavilion. We have already had the building renovated, and will look to work with Streetscene to improve the pitches, and along with the recently renovated changing facilities within the pavilion, look to engage with the local teams and encourage the football back to Dalry Public Park. This year also seen us successfully gain funding from The Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing fund, which allowed us to start Dalry Menshed in the pavilion. This has been a great success and we will continue to support this as it has now progressed to become a constituted group and registered charity in its own right.

1.6.4 Describe how the proposal will benefit the wider Community

Please consider:

Accessibility for all members of the community

The building will be available to the entire community of Dalry as a multi-use facility that can be utilised for a variety of sports, leisure and social activities. It has an excellent location within Dalry Public Park, where the variety of activities will help enhance the feeling of community that was enjoyed by previous generations within the park, and will be an excellent building block to assist in expanding this.

Wider community benefits

Recently completed renovation work has created a flexible multi-purpose community space within the pavilion, which includes a kitchen and disabled toilet, to help facilitate a variety of events and opportunities. We recognise the many health and wellbeing benefits that come with encouraging activities back into the public park, and in wide open spaces, and has been particularly encouraged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by the UK and Scottish Governments. DCSC also recently secured funding and have installed a Defibrillator on the outside wall of the Pavilion, and we have also secured funding to install solar lighting which will help light the way from the bowling club to the pavilion, and help utilise the pavilion’s usage over the darker nights.

Create opportunities for local organisations to work together

We have already began to work with local organisation through our temporary occupation licence where we have had a variety of successes, including, set up a Menshed, working in partnership with Garnock Valley Menshed, being hoist of the towns Jubilee event with multiple local groups involved, worked with local schools to hoist their Cross Country run, working with NAC to support their Craft Fair, and also hoisting the towns Gala Day with a number of local groups. We are also very keen to work with the local football teams, now that the changing room facilities have been renovated, and bring football back into the park.

Financial investment into the area (for example, through grants unavailable to the Council)

DCSC has a proven track record in attracting external funding. This building will give us a foundation to build exciting new community initiatives to benefit the entire community of Dalry. (see historic accounts for detail)

Opportunities for developing local enterprise in particular ones which contribute to the community wealth building strategy

Information is available at Community Wealth Building.

We propose to work in partnership with local employability organisations to support the development of new ideas to get young people work-ready.

We are working in partnership with a range of community groups, organisations and local businesses to develop and implement a plan for Dalry Public Park that is transformational and makes a major contribution to the wellbeing of the people of Dalry.

Volunteers with DCSC are supported to become more resilient and work ready, because of the roles they perform within the group, ranging from front-facing positions at our community food larder, serving food at Parklives events, to initiating local sporting initiatives that enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of local people.

We pro-actively tackle social challenges like social isolation and loneliness through the provision of events that promote social cohesion.

We tackle environmental challenges, such as the provision of green space and activity therein that facilitates wellbeing, meaning participants build their confidence and gain opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to the local economy.

We are at the forefront of tackling poverty and inequality, using a dignified approach to food provision and ensuring fairness and equity.

We ensure that we buy everything locally, supporting local businesses, groups and community organisations. This is mutually beneficial for them and us.

Through the bike recycling project at Men’s Shed Dalry, local people and those in need are supported with a method of transport that is free, sustainable and improves physical health and mental wellbeing. Furthermore, it can provide a method of transport to travel to and from their place of employment.

Create new employment/volunteering opportunities

We have seen from the success of our Community Larder, that once people see and feel the potential of an exciting new opportunity, that they step forward and want to be involved. We have already had a variety of interest to help us, through the surveys and open days that we held at the pavilion. With the potential to have multiply activities, there will be various opportunities for volunteering, with the added potential of employment in the future.

Section 2: What skills, knowledge and experience does the organisation have

Please provide information on the following points and refer to guidance pack and Doc. BP-1 Business Proposal Template available on the website at Community Asset Transfer.

Section 3: How will the proposal contribute to the local priorities set out by the NAC Community Planning Partnership Local Outcomes Improvement Plan

Please provide details in the sections relevant to you. Information is available at Local Outcomes Improvement Plan – North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership.

3.1 Wellbeing:

• We will address health inequalities.
• We will promote children and young people’s wellbeing.
• We will enable community wellbeing.

We have seen the benefits that our community has embraced through our Community Larder, Warm Space and our Menshed initiative, in respect to Mental Health & Wellbeing, where we worked closely with partners, including NAC, where we did align ourselves to their current priorities at the time, which included, Aspiring and Inspiring Communities, including, active and strong communities, people enjoy a good life-long health and wellbeing, people and communities are safe, effective infrastructure, vibrant welcoming and attractive places, and a sustainable environment. We would look to build on this success and learning and transfer those benefits to our proposed activities within the pavilion / public park, which would include, providing an environment which a safe meeting place, help address the social isolation issues within our community, helping to build life skills in relation to self-isolation, loneliness, build self-confidence, physical activity, and help creativity. All these things help towards building a stronger sense of community where people want to be involved.

3.2 Work:

• We will increase employment.
• We will develop volunteering.
• We will better support our young people.

Through the activities mentioned in 3.1, and all the activities that Dalry Community Sports Club have been involved in, since its creation in 2007, we have always attracted a lot of volunteers. It is sometimes difficult to retain volunteers as a lot of them have an investment when their children are involved but drop out when they move to something else. Our volunteers have included various young adults over the period, and this has been through our partnership with the Active Schools Coordinators – where this has helped them with future employment opportunities, as it has given them excellent preparation scenarios for capability-based job interviews. KA Leisure has been a particular benefactor of these volunteers

3.3 World:

• We will work together to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• We will increase active travel.
• We will increase carbon literacy within our organisations and communities.

Within our Purpose, we look at opportunities to improve the fitness and health of the persons for whom the activities are intended. Through these initiatives we look to encourage people to be conscious of their environment and how the road to a fitter, healthier person can be part of that. One initiative where we have been working with our partners across the Garnock Valley, is in the introduction of an “electric bike” hire scheme, which has been very successful, reflected by the long waiting list from the bike hire. Although initially involved in the creation of this projects, logistically it made sense to operate from one hub, and therefore this operates from Beith Trust. There is a thirst out there to be part of the generation that helps reduce our carbon footprint, where we will continue to look at opportunities to help drive this within our community.

Section 4: Business & Development Plan

Please refer to Finance and Business documents: BP-I&E 3 Year Income & Expenditure and Doc. BP-1 Business Proposal Template available on the website at Community Asset Transfer.

4.1 Briefly describe how you propose to fund:

• the price or rent you are prepared to pay
• any revenue or capital costs
• any overheads
• any redevelopment or ongoing maintenance
• the costs of your activities

Details are contained within our Business Plan and Financial reports that are provided with this application.

4.2 Please identify all proposed income and investment, for example:

• all proposed grants or loan applications
• any donations you expect to receive

Details are contained within our Business Plan and Financial reports that are provided with this application.

4.3 Contingency Planning

For example, future pandemic, energy cost increases etc: Please describe any plans that you have should there be any major changes to your forecast plans eg financial, staffing, volunteering (we are looking for information on your resilience as an organisation). Dalry Community Sports Club has always maintained a ringfenced fund within our accounts to cover any eventualities that might arise unexpectedly, which sits at cc Redacted. DCSC has also demonstrated with the recent pandemic, that we were able to rise to the challenge and diversify from the activities that we were undertaking at the time, and work with North Ayrshire Council to open, initially our Community Food Bank, and then move to our current Community Larder model. This initiative attracted additional volunteers to step forward, where we always ensured that we followed the guidelines laid out by the Government.

Section 5: Supporting documentation must be included (if applicable)

For us to properly assess your application we require a range of supporting documents as specified below. If these are currently not available and you are working on them, we will be back in touch soon and your SPOC will be on hand to help.

This information will be used as part of the assessment by NAC Community Asset Transfer team:

• Copy of constitution/governance document or set of rules (see Section 1.2)
• Any maps, drawings or description of the asset/land requested
• Note of any terms and conditions that are to apply to the request
• Copy of Community Consultation/Engagement activities
• Evidence of community support
• Evidence of Funding Secured
• Business Plan with 3 years projected cash flow statement (see Section 1.4 and Section 4)
• Last 3 years independently verified reports/accounts
• 12 months bank statements
• Equalities Policy/Statement
• Child Protection/Protecting Vulnerable Groups Policy
• Health and Safety Policy/Health and Safety at Work Act Policy
• Letters of Support or References
• Other policies for example, Training policy, Volunteer policy, proper Employment practices, wages and conditions of service of employees and purchasing policies, if relevant to your organisation
• Insurance – Public Liability Insurance/Buildings/Contents/Employers, etc.

We require 2 signatures at this stage.

Signatures of the organisation making the request

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By signing below you are agreeing to your information being gathered and processed as above.

By ticking this box you are agreeing to your information in relation to this asset transfer request being shared with a third party, who may have involvement in your application process.

We will keep your information for 5 years to monitor your asset transfer. If you wish this information to be removed, please contact us and we will remove within 30 days.