ANNUAL REPORT 2016

In 2016 the Kelburn Wind Farm Community Fund Initiative awarded £49,400 across 28 different organisations in Largs, Fairlie and Cumbrae. As in previous years the Fund received applications for double the amount available. This is the largest amount distributed since the award started five years ago.

The range of interests represented in this year’s report is an indication of how vibrant, dynamic and different the community groups are in our area.

Since its inception five years ago, the Kelburn Wind Farm fund has made 104 awards to local societies, associations and groups covering a range of different projects, and has awarded in excess of £221,000. 

Kelburn Wind Farm Community Fund Initiative continues its commitment to openness and transparency, accordingly the Board is pleased to present details of the funds awarded during 2016.

 Members of the Kelburn Wind farm Initiative are:Drew Cochrane – Chairman
Joan Rae, Elizabethe Marshall, Alan Hill, Alex Gallagher Alistair Green and David Boyle.

LARGS

Angling Club
Funds were awarded to enable the Largs Angling Club to purchase a secondhand shipping container which doubled the storage available allowing the group to safely store additional equipment and to carry out an extensive programme of environmental improvement works to the area. This work will aid the expansion of the available fishing area to an adjacent reservoir.

CHSS Social Group
Is a voluntary support group for stroke survivors. Funds were sought to reach more stroke survivors and in turn support more families in the community. This will be achieved by meeting more regularly, arranging outings, sharing experiences and discussing what is happening in the world.

Churches Holiday Club
This community based event and service provides a secure environment during the summer holiday period for school children from across the area. It is a week of fun and physical participation, during which time the children are encouraged to understand and accept high moral standings.

Colts
Largs Colts promote and teach football skills across 8 different age groups in the area. Funds were needed to contribute to the ever-increasing annual costs of coaching courses, equipment and rental costs, league fees and registration.

Community Resilience Team
This voluntary group works at local festivals and events and the safety and security of its members is paramount. To this end the application for funds was to provide upgraded Hi-Viz jackets and clothing thereby allowing members to work safely.

Community Sports & Leisure
Affiliated to Largs Academy, the proposal for funds was to offer 40 young people, between the ages of 10 to 14 the opportunity to participate in Cadet Dinghy Training over 4 x 3hr sessions - Stage 1 RYA Beginners Youth Training Scheme. A group of 20 attended the sailing course at Sport Scotland National Sport Centre on the Island of Cumbrae and a further group of 20 attended sailing at Largs Sail Training Association (LSTA), Largs Marina.

Family History Society
The ability to trace one’s own family history has become both easier and more demanding as a result of the use of computers and the internet. To improve its ability to respond to demands on its research services the Family History Society needed to upgrade its computers and database to the benefit of its members and the community at large.

First Responders
First Responders are a group of local residents – all volunteers who as their name states are the first to respond to any emergency in the areas of Largs and Fairlie. The application was to assist the purchase of 5 defibrillators and 10 external cabinets, which would enable the group to provide coverage across the North Coast Area.

Haylie House
To improve the wellbeing of its permanent and elderly residents Haylie House built a new conservatory and therapeutic garden.  Funds were requested to contribute to the cost of furnishing the conservatory in order to offer a bright and sociable area for residents and visiting family members.

Horticultural Society
The Society celebrated its 175th anniversary this year and wished to attract an increased entry from residents of Largs by making the show particularly memorable. To achieve this they increased the winners fund and prizes and promoted the show to a wider audience to attract visitors to the town.

Largs Events
Largs Events is now in its fourth year of operating. The group runs the Family Weekend and Schools Educational Programme, which are a host educational and entertainment based activities requiring participation and learning. Funding was requested to cover the costs of a number of external services and facilities including marquees and temporary toilets. In addition to being a valued event to the town it also attracts visitors and tourist revenues.

Largs Players
This is a well-established and much respected amateur theatrical group, which produces and performs a regular programme of theatrical entertainment for different parts of the community. Members appear in many different types of venues, some of which are theatres others are local halls. To maintain the high standards of performance the group applied for funds to buy radio microphones, which would allow them to deliver high quality sound irrespective of where they played.

Regatta Week
This is Largs sailing’s Flagship event which attracts sailors, of all agaes, from across the UK to participate in quality racing on the Firth of Clyde. Funds were requested to support the management and promotion of the week.  

Routenburn Golf Club
The club recently purchased the Clubhouse from the Largs Common Good Fund. In doing so the clubhouse required substantial upgrading. The application was for support funds to achieve this aim for the benefit of its members and the general public.

Strathspey Reel Society
The Strathspey Reel Society was established 20 years ago and plays for senior citizens and socially challenged groups in Largs and across North Ayrshire. In order to meet all requests to play the society has increased its number of players and consequently needed to update the various sound systems used by its musicians.

Visually Impaired
The application for funds by the community-based group for the visually impaired, namely the registered blind and partially sighted residents of Largs, put into sharp focus the needs of an often forgotten part of our society. Funds were required for three important parts of the society’s existence, its AGM, a High Tea and a Respite Holiday for members.

FAIRLIE

Gala Day
Fairlie Gala Day is an annual event in the town, which the Committee wishes to develop further in order to increase the cohesion amongst local residents and to encourage visitors to the event.

Sports Club
Working with North Ayrshire Council, owners of the Fairlie Tennis Court site, the Sports Club intend to develop the club to include a small toilet and changing facilities. Additionally, there are plans to improve the playing surface of the second court.

Station Adopters
The Fairlie Station Adopters is part of the organic growers of Fairlie. The application was in support of the Scotrail “Adopt a Station” project to improve and maintain the single platform at Fairlie station. The work, which will commence in spring 2017, will see the introduction of flower beds and a herb garden.

CUMBRAE

Art Club
The award to the Cumbrae Art Club was based on the progressive work of the club in support of its education programme. The programme explores the field of digital technology for its members and the development of community and public art projects.

Cumbrae Coastal Rowing
The Cumbrae Coastal Rowing Club applied for funds to purchase a trailer and launching trolley.

Cumbrae Primary School
Cumbrae Primary School applied for funds to help them develop partnerships and relationships with the local community.

The project encouraged local volunteers to work with 5th and 6th year students to gain experience of working with young people between the age of 4 -12 years. This gave the volunteers and pupils the opportunity to gain qualifications, confidence and leadership skills through coaching different sporting activities.

Elderly Forum
The grant was used to build a new website. The forum had already funded the cost of its computer and printer, the support from Kelburn Wind Farm will cover broadband quarterly costs, web hosting and domain purchase for 4 years. This will enable the forum to keep the community, local and worldwide, updated regarding their feasibility study for a Care Hub for the elderly.

Field Study Council
The application for funds were approved to support the work of the Field Study Council and in particular the provision of new equipment and displays to promote the work of the group to attract new visitors.

Millport Golf Club
Junior golfers are the future of every golf club around the world. The Millport Golf Club planned to introduce new facilities for junior members (aged 5-17) with the aim to attract new junior members. The funds were used to upgrade the junior locker room and improve the practice facilities by installing a practice net.

Queen’s Birthday
To mark HM The Queen’s 90^th birthday this group of local volunteers arranged a four-day programme of events across the community, which included a major event in the Garrison marquee, Church Service for all denominations and an afternoon tea for the elderly.

Royal British Legion
The RBLS requested support to upgrade and replace the toilet facilities at the Legion’s premises in Reid Street Millport, which benefited all club members, guests and the wider community.

St Andrew’s Congregation
The restoration of a1936 Bösendorfer Concert Grand piano was one of the unusual applications the Fund received this year. The piano was gifted to the Cathedral in 2009. Being 80 years old, the piano had reached an age where major restoration work was required. It is now fully restored and used for concert performances in the Cathedral.