ANNUAL REPORT 2014

During 2014 Kelburn Windfarm Community Fund Initiative continued its commitment to openness and transparency. Accordingly the Board is pleased to present details of the funds awarded during 2014.

In 2014 the company received £46,360 to distribute in support of Community Projects in Largs, Fairlie and Cumbrae. A total of 32 applications were received and the Board awarded funds to 24 different societies, associations and groups covering a range of different projects to the total of  £44,350.

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

LARGS

Largs Amateur Operatic Society

The application was for funds to purchase a new portable keyboard to enable the Society’s travelling concert party to perform, without charge, at numerous events across North Ayrshire. The members entertain audiences at nursing / residential homes, Age Concern, OIR, different church groups and guilds.

Barrfields Users Group

The Barrfield Users Group applied for funds to install a new digital based sound system in the theatre which would allow different entertainment presentations to benefit Largs residents and visitors. The amount applied for would be an important contributition to the cost and supprt the fund raising campaign across the community. Once installed it would allow the Group to present different forms of events including cinema performances, seasonal live entertainment shows and attract a broader range of professional artists.

Largs Boys Brigade

The Largs Boys Brigade Pipe Band is one of the most recognisable and enjoyable youth music groups in the town. The Brigade’s aim is to encourage new members to join the band. To do so they need to purchase new piper training chanters. Through this training programme the Band will establish new pipers and continue to provide the much appreciated service to the community.

Brisbane Observatory Trust

The Brisbane Observatory is the oldest astronomical observatory in Scotland. The application for funds were in support of the current building restoration project. Once completed the observatory, which is located in the grounds of Brisbane House will become a visitors centre and an important attraction to the town in that it recognises one of Largs most famous sons.

Largs Players

Largs Players have been part of the town’s social fabric for more than 70 years. The group required funding to allow them to acquire a new LED lighting system, which would allow them to present new productions. In addition to improving the quality of their productions, the environmental benefits of the new system are; it uses less than half the energy of the previous lighting and significantly cuts the heat output, thereby enabling the company to play in smaller venues.

Largs Churches Holiday Club

The Largs Churches Holiday Club is an annual event in the town, which provides parents with the re-assurance of a safe and professionally run event in which they can feel confident in leaving their children for the week. The group supports children in the community by providing facilities through the Holiday Club. In its 25year history it has assisted more than 2000 children and the funds were used to purchase craft materials for children.

Largs Community Council

Largs Community Council applied for support funding to buy “High-Vis” Jackets to be used by Community Council Members in the event of emergencies. The recent storms and flooding in 2013 and 2014 recognised the need for Members to be identified by the Emergency Services.

Douglas Park Bowling Club

Improving the environment of the club for both members and the public was the main focus of this application. The club wished to improve and upgrade the heating system and refurbish the furniture. The last upgrade was 10 years ago, during which time systems and technology have improved the quality of heating and lowered the operating costs, providing environmental and financial benefits to the club.

Douglas Park Nursery

The nursery wished to extend the opportunities for the nursery children to play outdoors in order to enhance the health and wellbeing of the children. A new decking area was built and the original decking was repaired. In addition waterproof clothing was purchased to enable both children and staff to go outside in all weather. The balance of the grant was used to provide additional outdoor resources.

Haylie House

Established in 1955, Haylie House is a residential care home for the elderly. The upkeep of the property is an ongoing project and each year identifies a new set of priorities. In 2014 the Management Board identified a number of external repairs, which required attention. The funds were used to start the process of repairing woodwork, gutters and roof areas.

Largs Museum

Largs Museum houses many important local artifacts and historical documents, such as paintings, maps relating to the past 150 years of Largs and surrounding area. Like many museums it has more items for display than the space allowed for exhibits. As part of a review in 2013 the museum decided it wished to install new display cases and refurbish its signage. During this period it received accreditation by Visit Scotland. The grant awarded enabled the museum to complete this project and thereby improve the access to, and value of, the historic information available to residents and visitors alike.

Largs Round Table

The funds awarded contributed to the overall cost of the staging the Annual Largs Fireworks display at the Pencil. This is an established community event which is organized by Largs Roundtable to encourage community friendship and exchange.

Largs Bowling Club

Established in 1860 the Largs Bowling Club has a long history as an important social and sporting centre within the town. Like its neighbours, Douglas Park Bowling Club, it too recognised it was time to review its central heating system and replace it with a more efficient and cost effective system. The benefits were quickly identified in improvement in air quality, the increased heating to both the clubhouse and extension, and financial benefits due to the improved and reduced operating costs.

St John’s Church

In addition to being one of the major churches in Largs, at different times during the week many different social groups in Largs use St John’s Church. The 1st Largs Brownies, Girls and Boys Brigade, North Ayrshire Dementia Group, North Ayrshire lunch club, Scripture Union and Christian Aid. As an essential social point, costs to provide a secure environment with heating and lighting are constantly under review. To help reduce the costs the church decided to install solar panels, which would eliminate energy costs and provide an income from surplus energy sold to the national grid.

Tideline Book Fest

The Tideline Book Fest is a voluntary community group, which encourages involvement in literary activity and is a book festival for everyone. The educational values encourage reading and writing in an unconventional programme of personal discovery.

Largs Youth Theatre

The grant application was to improve the theatre’s ability to develop its capacity and resources to deliver high quality student productions and community based drama initiatives, both this year and into the future. Specifically, they wished to purchase a large, high quality portable front projector screen for showcasing students' filmed work, enhancing productions with graphics and animations, and projecting in-show filmed images e.g. the roving cameras at Largs Has Got Talent. In addition they needed assistance for the construction of scenery for forthcoming community productions. Hiring in scenery is expensive and the stage management team built various items that are flexible enough to be used for future productions.

FAIRLIE

Fairlie Parents Group

The aim of the parents group is to support the local primary school in the development of its curriculum for excellence and the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle across the community. The application for funds is based on the ability to develop the playground for educational and social games and to encourage the wider Fairlie Community to use the facility and organise a range of events for pupils, their families and the community.

Fairlie Yacht Club

The club provides jetty facilities for yacht tenders, canoeists, wind surfers, rowers, and members of the public at Fairlie Bay. In recent times the jetty has weathered strong storms. The increase use and storm damage require the club to repair and upgrade the jetty. The funds allowed the club to undertake the upgrading thereby improving public safety and becoming a benefit to the community and visitors to Fairlie Bay.

Fairlie Sports Club

The primary aims of the club are to provide sports facilities and to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for the residents of Fairlie and surrounding area. The application seeks financial support to allow the club to complete phase two of the project to overhaul one of the tennis courts within the club’s area, thereby providing members, residents and visitors with modern sports facilities.

Fairlie Gala Day

The Fairlie Gala Day is the Annual summertime event to which the whole of the Fairlie community contributes and attends. Similar to other events it offers entertainment and fundraising opportunities for the whole community. The funds will be used to support the event, which is an important element of the towns annual social calendar.

CUMBRAE

Girls Guides

Guiding Millport provides community led recreational, educational and social services for children on the island across the established guiding age groups; Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Cumbrae Guides wished to arrange short training / holiday visits appropriate for each age group to Guide Holiday Camps.

Cumbrae Parents Council

In 2013 the Cumbrae Parents Council introduced the Cumbrae Cook School for the Primary 5 class as an after school club. The aim of the Cook School is to teach valuable life skills lifetime choices, finance and cooking. In the first year the children cooked for parents, and outside elderly groups. All this takes place in term time. It is the intention to broaden the participation of the next Primary 5 class to include issues relating to Healthy Eating, Healthy Habits, Foods from around the world through links with local restaurants and businesses and the Scottish Cook School.

Millport Curling Club

Established 175 years ago, the club’s curling pond sits at the top of the island. It is the intention of the club to cut down and remove the “brush and scrub” which has grown around the pond, chip the waste materials and use an environmentally suitable protection to prevent future growth.

Cumbrae Initiative

Is a not for profit company responsible for introducing improvements to all of the island’s communities to the provide benefit for both residents and visitors. The application is for funds to purchase a wood-chipper, which will provide mulch and fuel to the community. The grant will allow us to develop a sustainable social enterprise, which will provide income for use on other social/community led projects.

Yours faithfully

Drew Cochrane
Chairman