Grassroots community groups, voluntary organisations, and charities in the town are being called upon to help shape the future of their neighbourhoods by submitting a bid for funding.

Backed by the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme - a 10-year, £20 million initiative - the grant scheme aims to place local decision-making directly into the hands of the community.

Phase 1 delivery funding was released to North Ayrshire Council earlier this year to kickstart the Regeneration Plan, guided by the local community-led Our Irvine Neighbourhood Board. Irvine is one of 24 Scottish towns awarded £20m under Pride in Place. Over the next decade, Our Irvine will work with residents, businesses and partners to deliver real improvements across the town.

The new grant funding is dedicated exclusively to revenue support for new projects that deliver upon the priorities identified in the 10-year Irvine Regeneration Plan.

Priority will be given to local not-for-profit grassroots organisations, voluntary bodies, third sector groups, community interest companies (CICs), and registered charities working within areas of greatest need.

A spokesperson for the Board’s Community Fund Working Group, who developed the fund and its application process, said: “The Irvine Grant is designed to give our communities the chance to bring their ideas into reality, a fund designed for the community, by members of the community. It has been designed to put local communities, groups and projects at its heart and we are excited to see the applications come in.”

Application forms are available online at the Our Irvine website.

Irvine is one of a number of areas to receive Pride in Place funding, including the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston.