31 community groups share of £340,000 cash bonanza
Thirty-one community groups from across South Ayrshire have landed a share of a £340,000 funding pot.
The successful applicants for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund were announced last week at a celebration event in Ayr’s Horizon Hotel.
The fund from the Scottish Government aims to help local projects address the impact of distress and mental ill health caused by social isolation and loneliness.
South Ayrshire was allocated £340,656 and Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) were entrusted to distribute the cash locally.
Marie Oliver, VASA’s Chief Executive Officer, said:“The projects that all these groups have set out in their funding bids will make a real difference to the lives of so many people in their local communities.”
After weeks of deliberation, a decision panel made up of representatives from the voluntary sector, South Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, the Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as people with experience of living with mental health issues, selected 31 organisations to receive a grant. The money will fund a wide range of different initiatives in towns and villages throughout South Ayrshire, including bereavement support, craft sessions, complementary therapies, the creation of new community spaces, a remembrance garden, music therapy, accessible yoga, a lunch club, community gardening and a new meeting centre for people with dementia and their families.
The successful organisations are: Annbank Parish Church, Ayr Gaiety Partnership, Ayr United Football Academy, Broken Chains, Carrick Rugby Football Club, Clean Up Tarbolton Woods Campaign, Colmonell Community Association, Coylton Community Association, CRAG Community Arts, Dailly Community Activity Centre, Dailly Community Hall Association, Dementia Friendly Prestwick, Girvan and District Men’s Shed, Girvan Community Garden, Glendoune Community Association, Community Wellbeing Hub CIC, Maidens Community Association, MindfullyPresent Ayr CIC, Vics in the Community, HOPE Wellbeing Centre, Kirkmichael Village Renaissance (KVR), L&M Well Being Consultancy CIC, LEAP Sports, Lochside Neighbourhood Group, New Life Trust, North Ayr TheGither!, Scottish Huntingtons Association, S.I.S.G Enterprises Ltd, Symington Community Council, The Iris Arts Ayr CIC and Yogable.