ANNUAL REPORT 2013

In accordance with the Company’s ongoing commitment to openness and transparency, on behalf of my fellow Board members I am pleased to present details of the funds Kelburn Wind Farm Community Initiative awarded during 2013.

During 2013 Kelburn Wind Farm Community initiative received funds of £45229.41 from Kelburn Wind Farm to distribute.

We received a total of 21 applications, and awarded funds of £43585 to 18 different societies, associations and groups covering a range of different projects.

Below are the names of the groups and the amount each received.

CUMBRAE BEES  - £3000
To provide training and development programme to introduce new Bee stocks to the Island.

CUMBRAE GARDEN CLUB -  £585
The funds were used to hire a marquee for the Annual Garden and Local Craft Show which took place in August 2013.

GARRISON MODEL RAILWAY - £2500
To improve the present model railway layout by replacing existing rolling stock and tracks to illustrate the history of the Scottish railway system.  The project aimed  to encourage both young and older visitors to take an interest in the culture and history of the country’s transport system.

MILLPORT APARTMENTS - £3000
Millport Holiday Apartments is developing a new Visitors Centre on the Island. Funds were used to establish the office, signage, and promotional services for the Isle of Cumbrae with the intention to achieve VisitScotland accreditation.

MILLPORT BOWLING CLUB  - £1500
The main aim of the grant was to promote social sustainability by building a stronger community and providing an excellent recreational facility. Bowling is a healthy team sport for both the younger and older generation, therefore all ages can come together to prevent social isolation. The older and younger generations mix together creating new friendships and breaking social barriers.  The grant was used for repairs to the bowling greens.

SAIL & OAR  - £2000
Sail and Oar Festival Association takes place on Cumbrae and has a number of links with local organisations and works in partnership with partnership with Cumbrae Coastal Rowing Club to deliver a full programme both  on and off the water.  The grant was use to expand the Sail and Oar Festival’s marketing campaign in the run up to August event in order to encourage more visitors not only to the event but to the Island.

FAIRLIE BOWLING CLUB - £3000
Fairlie Bowling club provides an immaculate bowling green during the spring and summer plus historic and decaying changing and social facilities.  The club wished to construct an environmentally sustainable, sports clubhouse that will attract families and in particular young people to club, all year round.   The funds were used to support the project in supplying sports equipment including short mat indoor bowls carpets, table tennis and snooker equipment to help attract families over the winter months. 

FAIRLIE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION  - £3000
Fairlie Community Association applied for funds to to renovate and upgrade the fittings and furnishings in Fairlie Village Hall for the benefit of current and future users. This included the replacement of old curtains with blackout vertical blinds and the  replacement of plastic school style seating with upholstered conference style chairs for meetings and functions.

OPPORTUNITIES IN RETIREMENT - £1500
Opportunities in Retirement is a volunteer organisation which provides minor social and recreational opportunities for members of Largs retirement community. The funds were used to purchase three 30 foot carpet indoor bowl mats and associated equipment to replace existing mats.

LARGS EVENTS  - £3000
Funding contributed to a spectacular two day event on 5th & 6th July as part of year long celebrations commemorating the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Largs 1263. The two day event comprised of professional Highland Games on the Friday and a Family Fun Day on the Saturday, both of which promoted the  history of the town and  brought a mixed community together along with visitors from around the globe.

LARGS COMMUNITY SPORTS - £2000
The funding enabled Largs Community Sports the opportunity to offer 24 young people the chance to participate in a sailing expedition onboard the 70 foot sailing boat Alba owned by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland (OYT), setting sail from Oban -   on an adventure that they will never forget! They will set sail for five days and nights, being split into two teams onboard and will take turns to look after sailing and navigation duties.  

LARGS VIKING FESTIVAL - £5000
The Largs Viking Festival is an annual event, which in 2013 celebrated the 750^th anniversary of the 1263 Battle of Largs. The festival runs in conjunction with North Ayrshire Council. Funding was used in 2013 to support the festival which included the two living historic villages - one Scots with King Alexander and the other Viking with King Hakon.

ST COLUMBA’S WAY  - £3000
In 2007 St Columba’s Church opened a visitors centre which is manned by volunteers and is open daily during the season between March and October. It attracts around 10,000 visitors annually.  The funds will be used to expand the visitors exhibition and provide additional facilities which will include, a larger gift shop, presentation equipment for educational purposed and arrange a major art exhibition.

LARGS GOLF CLUB - £2000
The application from Largs Golf Club set out the case to re-instate an area of environmental importance within the public area of the course.

LARGS SWIMMING CLUB - £1000
Largs Swimming Club teaches the young people of Largs, Cumbrae & Fairlie (from age 5 years to 16 years) to swim.  The club also teaches basic water survival skills, holds in-house competitions and two Splash Galas per year, the children also take part in the annual SWIMATHON event raising funds for charity. With the grant, the club  will be able to part fund 10 members / volunteers from our Club to attain the *ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Swimming. 

LARGS ACCORDION CLUB  - £1500
Largs Accordion Club performs throughout North Ayrshire, entertaining many different Community groups in the region. The funds were used to replace an old PA system and an iPad music storage system. The club used its own funds alongside the wind farm funding also to purchase five iPad music systems.

LARGS SAIL TRAINING - £2000
Largs Sail Training is a division with in Largs Yacht Club whose primary function is to provide training and core education for the local community who wish to learn how to sail in a secure and safe environment.  The funds will be used to allow the trainers to improve their own knowledge and proficiency and pass their improved skills onto our members and trainee sailors.

ST MARY’S FOR ALL - £4000
St Mary’s Church is an iconic modern building on the sea front at Largs.Sadly the church hall is no longer safe or fit for purpose and the hall doors has had to closed. St Mary’s For All is a  project is to build a new and better hall, which will have better use of space, be more sustainable and energy efficient.  The grant has supported the Solar Panels for electricity.  The subsequent savings on energy bills will be substantial, enabling costs to be kept to a minimum.

On behalf of the members of the Kelburn Windfarm Community Fund Initiative I extend an open invitation to all properly constituted Groups, Societies and Associations in Largs, Fairlie and Millport to submit applications for the 2014 funds.

Application Process...

Yours sincerely

Drew Cochrane
Chairman