Arran Bulletin

Multiply Grant Funding – Closes this Sunday!

What is it?

As part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) North Ayrshire Council have secured funding to deliver the Multiply Project. This project aims to boost people’s ability to use maths in their daily life, at home and work and enable adults to achieve formal qualifications that can open doors from them. To drive forward and implement the shared ambitions and actions the Multiply project is seeking proposals, which provide innovative solutions to boost people’s ability to use maths in their daily life, at home and work.

Key Priorities

• Those needing the first steps towards formal qualifications.
• Parents wanting to increase numeracy skills in order to help their children and their own progression.
• Those who can’t apply for certain jobs because of their lack of numeracy skills.
• Interventions delivered together with employers.
• Interventions aimed at prisoners.
• Interventions designed to help people use numeracy to manage their money.
• Interventions aimed at those 19 or over that are leaving or have just left the care system.
• Parents wanting to increase numeracy skills in order to help their children and their own progression.
• Interventions aimed at engaging the harder to reach learners.

Applications are welcomed from a wide range of organisations operating in North Ayrshire. Applications close date: Sunday 3^rd December 2023. Grants must be fully spent by 31^st March 2025. Maximum grant of £20,000 per applicant. Participants must be aged 19+

If you are interested in applying and/or would like more information please get in touch on 01294 443044 or email Susan@tact.scot

Community Ownership Fund

UK Government has recently announced the next round of the Community Ownership Fund (COF). Round 3 Window £ will open on the 6^th December and will close at 11:59am on 31^st January 2024.

Voluntary and community groups can bid for funding to acquire important assets and run them for the benefit of the local community. The fund will run until March 2025. Regular bidding windows will run throughout the year for applicants to submit a full application to the fund. There is an upcoming webinar for Scotland about how to write a strong COF application.

For groups in Scotland (delivered by DTA Scotland), 5^th December 10am till 12pm.

https://locality.tfaforms.net/149?EventID=a2WPB0000004bc5

The above link provides a direct booking form link but if applicants would like to know a bit more then they can visit:

https://mycommunity.org.uk/how-to-write-a-strong-community-ownership-fund-application-webinar

This webinar will include advice about what makes a strong application from the support provider and successful groups.

Music for All’s Fund

Music for All’s funding round 4 is now open to applicants. They offer financial support as well as donations of instruments to community projects and individuals in the following categories:

• Working with children in early years age group 0-4
• For groups working with those facing financial hardship
• Choral Group
• Electric guitars (community projects and individual)
• Ukulele group bundle offer
• Behringer Multipurpose Headphones
• Learn to Play Award (individuals only)
• DecPlay course (individuals only)

For further information and to apply, please visit their website: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/application-process/

Please ensure you read the instructions and eligibility criteria carefully before applying.

Applications for these awards categories should be made by 8am Monday 18^th December 2023.

Sea-Changers Fund

The Sea-Changers Marine Conservation Social Fund is now open. The aim of the Marine Conservation Social Fund is to support socially beneficial marine conservation approaches and solutions. Its unique emphasis is that as well as supporting marine conservation outcomes, projects will support or enhance participants’ health and well-being and / or deliver benefits for disadvantaged communities.

You can read more about the fund and how to apply on the grant application page of their website. Please spread the word about these available funds to anyone you know who might be interested and eligible!

The deadline for applications is 22nd December.

New employability programme for parents launching in Irvine, North Ayrshire – Sign Up Now

Impact Arts is running a 12-week creative employability programme for parent who live in North Ayrshire, starting Monday 8^th January 2024, running in Irvine. North Ayrshire based parents can attend this new programme which will run on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9:30am till 2:30pm; to gain employability skills and SQA qualification, and receive 1-2-1 support towards future employment, plus there will be lots of creative arts activities to enjoy.

Participants can receive up to £30 per week training allowance for attending the programme, plus travel expenses. The programme will be delivered in Impact Arts’ building, 60 Bank Street Irvine. It’s a central location and only a 15 minute walk from the local train station.

Impact Art’s delivery staff will work with participants to ensure everyone reaches their potential and has a great experience. Their dedicated Pastoral Support Worker will help participants to gain an SQA qualification and will offer tailored support to help remove barriers to employment. Our Creative Lead tutor will introduce participants to new artistic techniques and will support them in creating artworks using various artforms.
At the end of the programme, there will be a celebratory showcase of work that will be planned, collated and hosted by the participants. Friends and family members can help the participants to celebrate their achievements.

They aim to help each participant to build confidence and develop employability skills to ensure they go on to a positive destination once they complete the programme. This could be further training, education or employment. If you are a parent living in North Ayrshire or a referral agency, and you’d like to express an interest in joining the Impactful Parents programme, please complete our REFERRAL FORM (https://www.impactarts.co.uk/join-a-project/) A member of staff from Impact Arts will then be in touch.

They are hosting two Open Days in December, at our premises on Bank Street. Come along and meet our staff, who will be available to answer any questions, show you the building and even get you registered if you decide it’s right for you! The dates and time of the Open Days are:

Wed 13th Dec, 11am-2pm
Fri 15th Dec, 11am-2pm

There’s no need to book a place on one of our open days – just turn up!

If you’d like more information about the programme in the meantime, you can visit our website:
https://www.impactarts.co.uk/project/impactful-parents/
or you can contact the Programme Coordinator Antonis Kassiotis on: antonis.kassiotis@impactarts.co.uk

Young Parents Group

North Ayrshire Council Connected Communities and Lifelong Learning Team are setting up a group for young parents in the hopes to create an environment that parents/carers can get together and learn new skills. The group will be developed by and for young parents to increase their confidence and support improvement in their physical , mental, emotional and relational wellbeing for them and their children. If this is something you would be interested in attending please fill out the form here https://forms.office.com/e/p4tWWAasiS

Winter Wellness Days

The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) are holding Winter Wellness Days on the 13^th and the 20^th December. They will have hot beverages, homemade soup and home baking to enjoy while you escape from the cold. See poster for more details.

UHI Course

The UHI has a new course that they have developed and will be running from January 2024. It is available to study from their Lamlash Centre.

This course is part time (under 15hours) so anyone on benefits can remain on them. It’s aimed specifically at the unemployed or those not in work and will provide a range of basic skills and a two-week work placement. It would be a great course to promote to your local networks if you feel it is relevant.

More info on the course page SCQF Level 4 Routes to Education and Employment (uhi.ac.uk)

Potential students in receipt of certain benefits or on a low income, may receive a fee waiver. Please refer to page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide for eligibility ( section on Part -time FE Funding).

This course will run on Tues and Wed 9am-3.30pm, and Thurs 11am - 3.30pm and lasts for 17 weeks.

Community of Arran Network Meeting

Just a reminder that we have the Community of Arran Network meeting coming up on 6th December. This meeting is all about you… what projects are your group working on?... share your ideas & successes… what challenges are you facing?... do you need any support with your projects?

Please feel free to invite anyone else you think may be interested.

To give us an idea of numbers attending, please contact Sheridan Waldon on: 01770 600611 or sheridan.waldon@arrancvs.org.uk 

Heather Lodge Newsletter

Follow the link here to view Heather Lodge's December Newsletter. This months newsletter highlights various topics such as Mindfulness training, a new hearing care service, home remedies and more. If you wish to sign up for the newsletter pop them an email at info@heatherlodge.scot

Stroll With It

Walking is a great way to stay healthy and get fitter as well as being good for our mental health. If you would like to be more active, walk in company and explore Arran, joining a health walk could be the answer. The Stroll with It! programme run by North Ayrshire Council’s The Trinity Active Travel Hub in collaboration with KA Leisure’s Walking for Health Project and Arran Eco Savvy is running regular walks on Arran led by trained volunteer health walk leaders. The next walk will be on Tuesday 12^th December at Lamlash at 11am:  A walk through Cordon and around historic Hamilton Terrace 1.5 miles  The route is flat and includes some footpaths and pavements. Toilets and option of an after walk cuppa should be available at the Discovery Centre . Meet at 11am outside The Discovery Centre, COAST’s (Community of Arran Seabed Trust) base.

Contact Diana or Tim on strollwithit@arranecosavvy.org.uk or 01770 860 427 to book a place or find out more.

Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather!

Stroll with It Arran programme Winter 23-24 Nov -Feb

Nordic Walking

This is a new KA Leisure programme of regular 'Nordic Walking' on Arran led by trained volunteer health walk leaders. Nordic walking uses poles to provide propulsion making you lighter on your feet, it tones the whole body and improves posture. Walks last between 1 to 1.5 hours, are free, go at a gentle pace and are risk assessed. Booking is essential in order to borrow the correct length poles. The next walk will be on Tuesday 5th December, the meeting point will be the Machrie Moor Carpark  at 11am.  For more information follow the link to their website here.

Zero Waste Café

Arran Eco Savvy's next Zero Waste Café will be held over at Lochranza Village Hall on Tuesday 5th December from 12pm till 2pm. As well as a café being held on Wednesday 6th December at Corrie Village Hall from 11pm till 2pm. Everyone is welcome to join!

Arran Well-being Café

The next date for the Wellbeing café will be on Wednesday 16th December at Brodick Village Hall, for their Christmas Special!!!  Everyone is welcome to attend!!

To secure your place contact Jennie on 07983448511 or email info@arranwellbeing.com

In Closing

If you have received this bulletin via another source and would like to be added to our mailing list, please don’t hesitate to contact me at ellie.bonner@arrancvs.org.uk

If you wish to share anything from your group/organisation contact me at ellie.bonner@arrancvs.org.uk by the Thursday before the date you wish for it to be shared.