Ardrossan Community Development Trust (ACDT) will receive £30,000 over three years from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust (NAVT).

This grant programme was developed to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities to help them grow in size and improve long-term sustainability.

The money will ensure that a community link worker role remains employed by the group.

The link worker - who gives direct community contact and is also vital in the delivery and organisation of the Trust’s operation – has been in place since November 2021 and ACDT used Kickstart and the Young Person Guarantee employability scheme to fund this position. This funding expired in May 2023.

The employee will have a remit to increase poverty awareness by linking community members to appropriate groups, while working directly with individuals to provide food, fuel and clothing vouchers.

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “Ardrossan Community Development Trust are doing some fantastic work and are passionate about their communities and how they can make a difference.

“The link worker is a really important role so we are delighted to be supporting this position by awarding the group funding. We are sure they will continue to thrive in their role. The group deserve enormous credit and North Ayrshire Ventures Trust is there to help groups like them develop and support even more people.

“The funding will help them help others. We look forward to hearing from the group and what they have been up to over the coming weeks and months.”

Scott Mould, ACDT chairperson, added: “Many thanks to the board of the NAVT for awarding this funding. The link worker plays a vital role and we are delighted that we have the funding in place to support this position for a further three years.”