NAVT funding for West Kilbride group
The group who set up Scotland’s only designated Craft and Design town has received a welcome funding boost.
West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited (WKCIL) will receive just over £25,000 over the next two years from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust (NAVT) to cover staffing costs for a part-time finance manager who will help the group become more sustainable.
The group provides nine subsidised craft studios which provide facilities and income for businesses. They also operate the Barony Centre which hosts a thriving award-winning cafe as well as being a popular event space for artists.
WKCIL also provide insurance and practical support for the West Kilbride Environmental Group and also a media studio offering audio visual training.
They are now looking to secure their future and work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
A new finance manager is seen as critical to the group becoming financially sustainable as they continue regenerating the village of West Kilbride. The finance manager will monitor and analyse their income, expenditure and deficits across their expanding business and provide training and updates to new and existing volunteers.
NAVT is grant programme which was developed to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities to help them grow in size and improve long-term sustainability.
Quote: West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited has done a fantastic job for more than two decades now and have contributed so much to their community. They are clearly looking to the future and how they can become a more sustainable and efficient organisation and the NAVT funding will help them employ a Finance Manager who can help them move forward. This is the sort of organisation we are looking to support and we hope the NAVT funding will make a real difference to West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited.”
Quote from: Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands
Billy Dunn, Chair of the West Kilbride Community Initiative, said: “Many thanks to the board of the NAVT for awarding this funding. We are delighted to have secured this funding to help us pay for the costs of employing a finance manager.
“We really appreciate the support and look forward to making a difference in West Kilbride.
If you would like to apply for NAVT funding, please email our team at infonavt@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Published: 13 February 2025