Funding boost as 24 groups celebrate windfall

A number of local groups are celebrating a major financial boost after becoming recipients of North-Ayrshire wide fund.

The Council’s Communities and Place Fund is set to contribute £397,000 to 24 local groups. The fund is comprised of a £250,000 allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) and £147,000 from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP). The latest round of the fund was launched in June 2025, with an application deadline of 1 August 2025.

An assessment panel considered each application on its own merits. The successful projects come from all areas of North Ayrshire, from a diverse range of interests and will deliver a broad spectrum of activities.

SPF supports the UK Government’s Mission of pushing power out to communities everywhere with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.

The Scottish Government established the five-year £325m programme in 2021/22. Underpinned by the Place Principle, this aims to support community-led regeneration, town centres and the 20-minute neighbourhood ambitions.

Grants of up to £25,000 are being awarded to projects that deliver on at least one of the themes of the fund:

• improve health and wellbeing;

• reduce crime and the fear of crime;

• bring communities together and tackle homelessness;

• development of the visitor economy

• high streets and town centres improvements.

“We hope the funding will support a series of projects which will help many residents and bring about positive change to our communities.”

The list of successful applicants are:

The Arran Access Trust - Restoration of Goatfell Approach Paths £25,000

Clyde Coast & Cumbrae Men’s Shed - Brisbane Centre internal Alterations £25,000

Hayocks Play Park - Hayocks Playpark Improvements - £25,000

Beith Trust - The Pump Station £25,000

Largs Viking Festival – Longship Project Part 2 £25,000

Dalry Community Sports Club - Dalry Community Allotment Project (Phase 1) £25,000

Choose Kilwinning – Christmas Lights £25,000

Ladeside of Kilbirnie Bowling Club - Ladeside of Kilbirnie Bowling Club Refurbishment £25,000

Largs Community Development Trust - The Largs Art Constellation £24,900

Irvine Burns Club Museum - Wellwood Infrastructure £24,298

The Argyle Community Association - Our Centre Connects Community £22,882

TACT – Kindness Krew & The Community Exchange £19,000

Community Led Action & Support Project - HOPE in the community £17,000

Geilsland Enterprises - Access Control and Smart Security Infrastructure at Geilsland Estate and Beith Astro facilities in North Ayrshire. £15,321

Kilwinning Community Sports Club - Disability Access at Kilwinning Community Sports Club. £15,000

Cumbrae Aspires - Cumbrae College Aspires £10,930

Three Towns Community Shed - Fitting out of Additional Space £7,900

Megan's Space - Supporting Young People Struggling with their Mental Health £7,000

Irvine & Dreghorn Brass - Dunlop Memorial Hall Toilet Upgrade £7,000

West Kilbride Community Initiative - Cafe Outdoor Awning £6,870

North Ayrshire Tandem Cycling – Trailer for Tandem Transport £6,000

Beith Playpark Action Group - Refurbishment of Teenage Shelter £5,100

Harbourside Men's Shed- Workshop Upgrade £5,000

Creative Recycling – Shop Improvements £3,220

Published: 02 October 2025