It supports the Three Towns’ priorities of tackling food poverty, regenerating community facilities, increasing civic pride and community engagement and improving community wellbeing for all ages.

Part of the Council’s Community Investment Fund, the funding boost will be used to help the local community association to support their community through the Cost-Of-Living crisis over the coming months.

The hugely-popular Whitlees Community Centre is run by ACA’s team of 20 registered volunteers and committee members who are poised to use the additional funding to expand the team and boost their events calendar of vital community activities.

Whitlees Community Centre co-ordinator, Juliana Gray, said: “On behalf of the Ardrossan Community Association and everyone at Whitlees Community Centre, we would like to say a huge thanks for the CIF funding.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been successful in securing funding from the Council’s Community Investment Fund and this will go a long way in helping the centre to recruit more staff, open our community café longer each day and help more families and residents to access low-cost meals as they navigate their way through the challenges of the Cost-Of-Living crisis.

“I would also like to take the chance to extend a special thanks to the Three Towns Locality Partnership who helped us prepare and present our proposal to Cabinet, without their help, we may not have been as fortunate to be sharing this good news.”

With exciting plans now underway, ACA will use the funding to employ a part-time support worker for a period of two years and a team of casual and sessional support staff for the development of the community centre’s food larder and catering provision.

Mr Gray added: “Having the additional team members on-board is going to make such a massive difference as we’re currently run-off our feet supporting a jam-packed rota of activities such as budget-friendly cookery workshops, coffee mornings, employability and volunteer training sessions, themed evening meals and dementia-friendly discos for residents and their carers.

“We’ll also be able to have more hands on deck to help out with other seasonal community events throughout the year such as family fun days and gala days, Christmas pantos and other activities in partnership with our friends at North Ayrshire Council.”

The community association will also team up with North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership and other existing community partners alongside local businesses to develop opportunities to help residents to tackle social isolation, increase their confidence, boost their employability skills and become more financially independent amidst the Cost-Of-Living crisis.

In addition, expanding the team will also ACA to secure more contracts for catering hires and events, and the extra income generated will be used for the expansion of their on-site community food larder.

Part of the council’s Fairer Food network, Quaint Larder provides members with the opportunity to do their weekly basket-food shop, in a grocery shop setting, at a subsidised price. 

Funding will also be used to develop further adult learning opportunities, aimed at tackling food poverty. An example will be cookery classes, giving learners the skills needed to prepare affordable and nutritious meals for themselves and their families on a budget so they can make their weekly food shopping go much further.

North Ayrshire Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for islands and communities, added: “We are delighted to support the recent CIF funding proposal for Ardrossan Community Association.

“North Ayrshire Council is acutely aware of the difficulties currently faced by so many residents as a result of the Cost-Of-Living crisis. Our locality officers are continuing to work closely with residents and other community groups to identify important projects in our six localities who just like ACA are stepping up to do their part to support citizens who may be struggling to make ends meet in a dignified and welcoming way.

“It’s great to see this type of inspiring community empowerment in action as local groups have their chance to make their voices heard and access the resources they need to make a real and lasting difference.”