North Coast Locality Partnership helps charity to set their sights on inclusive, multi-use sports facilities
Posted on 4 Mar 2024
West Kilbride Community Sports Club (WKCSC) is now three months into its lease of the derelict blaes area in Kirktonhall Glen.
North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet considered and approved the charity’s request for a 25-year lease of the local sports facility in September 2023.
Since then, the facility has gained further attention of local residents and businesses interested in supporting local outdoor sports.
Part of a 20-year redevelopment project, the lease of the blaes pitch at Kirktonhall Glen is just one way the Council has helped this local sports charity.
In early 2023, a proposal put forward by the North Coast Locality Partnership saw funding ringfenced for WKCSC from the Council’s Community Investment Fund.
The £6,750 CIF allocation has since been used to bring on board a development consultant who is now coordinating the next stage of the complex re-development.
Kay Hall, club secretary said: “The lease to take over the community facilities at Kirktonhall Glen marks the latest milestone in our ambitious plans.
“As we set our sights on 2024, on behalf of our members and trustees, I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank the North Coast Locality Partnership and NAC for the support and expertise they have provided us over the past year.
“It’s been a really busy last few months. Since employing our development consultant, thanks to the Council’s Community Investment Fund, we have been able to start writing our development plan.
“We are also scoping the area for suitability, environmental considerations and plans for the construction. This has been a steep learning curve for some of us, but, we are fortunate to have a wealth of experience on our development group committee and are positive that we will continue to make good progress in 2024.”
As a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation), the club’s main aim is to put West Kilbride’s sports facilities on the map and provide a wealth of multi-sports activities to meet the demands of those interested in participating locally.
And over the past five years, the club has undertaken two successful projects so far in Kirktonhall Glen – upgrading the formerly redundant tennis courts and the successful refurbishment of the previously dilapidated sports pavilion, adjoining the popular 11-aside football pitch.
Kay added: “The nearby tennis courts – managed by West Kilbride Tennis Club – are now thriving and the club is one of the most successful in Ayrshire with a membership of around 200 people and an extensive coaching programme for young people.
“Our refurbished sports pavilion is shared between the tennis club and West Kilbride Amateur Football Club and is providing excellent facilities for both, but we are a long way off fully realising our vision for the site which will in total will be an estimated £500k to fully re-develop the grounds, floodlighting, access, changing facilities and a sports pitch."
The charity hopes to make significant steps forward in their investigatory groundworks in the coming months and then, will work on more detailed plans to support bids that the club hope will attract external funders who have a shared vision of enhancing sports opportunities for children, young people and adults with the creation of the new multi-amenity sports facilities in the heart of West Kilbride.
Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands, said: “We are delighted to help West Kilbride Community Sports Club to get one step closer towards their ambitious and much-needed proposal for an inclusive, multisport provision to service the needs of West Kilbride and especially for the young people who are currently travelling out of town in order to practise their sport.
“The proposal aligns well with the Locality Partnership’s priorities of Increasing Social Inclusion and Improving Mental Wellbeing and we will continue to work closely with them and the community to help them progress this important local re-development project.”
To find out more about how to apply for a community asset transfer, the Community Investment Fund and other #communityempowerment opportunities in North Ayrshire, visit: https://northayrshire.community/community-empowerment/