Ayrshire must prove Ready to embrace chance of growth deal
A powerful new partnership aimed at building stronger communities across Ayrshire has launched.
Ready4Ayrshire was officially unveiled at the first Pan Ayrshire Third Sector Conference in Kilmarnock’s Park Hotel.
The event attracted a full house of representatives from Ayrshire’s diverse range of Third Sector groups - from the small community groups to the larger national organisations.
And they heard keynote speaker, Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, praise Ayrshire as leading the way in partnership working.
She told delegates: “Today’s theme of building relationships and making connections captures the opportunity that this gathering provides.
“It shows that Ayrshire is at the vanguard of collaboration, seeing the value in working in partnership and drawing the collective wisdom and expertise found right across Ayrshire.”
Ready4Ayrshire brings together Voluntary Action South Ayrshire ( VASA), the Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire, The Ayrshire Community Trust ( TACT) from North Ayrshire, and Arran Community and Voluntary Service ( Arran CVS).
The main focus for Ready4Ayrshire is working together to ensure every community in Ayrshire and Arran benefits from the Ayrshire Growth Deal – the £ 250 million investment in the local economy by the UK and Scottish Government.
Norah Williamson, Depute Chief Executive Officer of VASA, said the event had underlined the real enthusiasm for joint working across Ayrshire.
She said: “The conference strapline was Building Relationships, Making Connections, and from the initial feedback that was exactly what the delegates took from the event.
“When asked what they wanted to happen next, the almost unanimous response was more pan- Ayrshire networking opportunities.
“The theme also seemed to strike a chord with Aileen Campbell MSP.”
The conference is being seen as the start of an initiative that will be driven by the Third Sector and supported by Ready4Ayrshire.
Norah added: “These are exciting times as we come together to seize the opportunities the
Ayrshire Growth Deal and Ready4Ayrshire can bring to the Third Sector.”
Other key speakers on the day were Sharon Hodgson, Lead for the Ayrshire Growth Deal, and Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, as well as two large private sector contractors who have recently won contracts in Ayrshire.