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 £325 million 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.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy at North Ayrshire Council, said: “A huge congratulations to all the successful applicants. We hope the funding will be a huge support to not only the organisations but the communities they represent.

“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