£100k funding boost for local children’s charity

The latest community initiative by the Micah Project for Irvine is now full steam ahead thanks to the support of the Irvine Locality Partnership.

Centred around building projects to eradicate poverty and strengthen communities, The Micah Project has been successful in securing £100,000 from North Ayrshire Council’s Community Investment Fund (CIF).

Based in Troon and now with a premises in Stevenston, the decision was made for the local charity at the 28 April meeting of Cabinet when the bid was presented by Irvine Locality team to Elected Members who voted unanimously for The Micah Project’s latest impactful project.

The Micah Project is responsible for creating a host of initiatives via early years and school settings to support families, restore dignity and overcome stigma.

The CIF funds granted are going to be used for a P1 Starter Pack Project, commencing in the new academic year of August 2027.

Funding will provide welcome packs for every P1 pupil starting primary school in Irvine and inside each lovingly made box, a host of items will be included to boost wellbeing, signpost to further help available and make children and families feel welcome and supported in their school transition.

All Irvine primary schools are also set to be provided with school badge heat-press equipment as part of the two-year p1 starter pack pilot alongside free school badges to allow families to personalise their own school polos and jumpers in their school.

Receiving £50,000 CIF previously in 2024, to deliver a similar wellbeing package for families with early-years children, the charity are delighted to have secured the latest funds for the P1 project.

Charity lead Helen Hogg shares: “Thank you to the Irvine Locality team who have supported us to have our Community Investment Fund application approved.

“After seeing how well-received our early years initiative was, we applied for the additional funding because we are passionate about providing a new P1 Starter Pack and School Badge kit for every child starting school in Irvine’s primary schools.

“This is all about giving every child the same start in life and reducing the financial pressure for families at a key transition point in their children’s lives.

“The packs we create will have a keepsake photo keyring to strengthen family engagement, a knitted teddy bear created by local volunteers, a gym bag with gym shorts and two polo shirts and school jumpers with badges ready to be applied via the school’s heat-press.

“We’re delighted to be moving forward ahead of the next academic year and are looking forward to getting preparations underway to purchase the school uniforms and source the equipment ahead of August 2027.”

Children will benefit from the starter packs as they will arrive for school prepared and confident, feeling equal to their peers.

Schools will benefit through stronger relationships with families, and enhanced preloved uniform engagement and intergenerational partnerships will provide more connected communities with the addition of local knitting groups creating the teddy bears.

Find out more about funding opportunities online on the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership website.

Published: 26 May 2026