Proposals for Community Investment Funding (CIF) Expenditure
North Ayrshire Council · 18 February 2025
Back to Cabinet — 18 February 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 18 February 2025 Cabinet Title: Proposals for Community Investment Fund (CIF) Expenditure Purpose: To determine applications by Locality Partnerships to allocate CIF funding to proposed projects. Recommendation: That Cabinet: a) Reviews the application from Kilwinning Locality Partnership in line with CIF criteria; and b) Approves the CIF application in relation to Corsehill Community Association (see Appendix 1). 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Within its budget for 2017-18, North Ayrshire Council provided a funding allocation for the creation of an innovative fund to enable communities to address the priorities they have identified through Local Planning Partnerships and within the context of North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership’s Fair for All Strategy and the Council’s Community Wealth Building Strategy. In June 2021, Cabinet approved a further £1m top-up for the funding, with a further £2m added in November 2021. 1.2 Locality Partnerships have subsequently continued to work on their local action plans and refining proposals for expenditure in line with their locally identified needs. It is a testament to the dedication of the Locality Partnerships and their community partners that proposals are continuing to emerge to provide creative approaches to addressing local challenges. 1.3 This report brings forward proposals which respond to the specific needs of the local community, and which have been developed based on local circumstances and opportunities. 2. Background 2.1 Within its budget for 2017-18, North Ayrshire Council provided an allocation for the creation of an innovative fund to enable communities to address the priorities they have identified through Locality Planning Partnerships and within the context of North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership’s Fair for All Strategy and the Council’s
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Community Wealth Building Strategy. A further £3m was added to the funding in 2021, to be distributed among localities as follows: 2.2 It was agreed that the CIF awards would range between £5,000 and £100,000 for community organisations, as defined in the CIF guidance, in order to support proposals and projects that connect with: • The North Ayrshire Fair for All Strategy, with consideration for how applications contribute to community support for the cost-of-living crisis; • The Community Planning Partnership and locality priorities; • North Ayrshire Council’s values, priorities, and business objectives; and • The Community Wealth Building and Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Strategies And will also: • Fulfil a compelling need and not duplicate existing services or facilities. • Provide long-term, sustainable, positive results for the greatest number of people possible; • Exhibit project and/or organisational innovation in their approaches to their work in their way of addressing community challenges and in their request to Locality Partnerships and the Council; • Come from (an) organisation(s) that is financially viable (can provide financial statements upon requests) and efficiently and effectively managed. This can include an organisation to be created to deliver the project; • Include options or potential for NAC and CPP employee engagement and volunteering where possible; and • Include measurable outcomes and can report to NAC on outcomes on a regular basis. Locality Value of CIF from first funding allocation (2017-18) Expenditure to date Value of CIF from second funding allocation (June 2021) Value of CIF from third funding allocation (Nov 2021) Total balance available Irvine £754,000 £958,358 £290,000 £580,000 £665,642 Kilwinning £286,000 £322,190 £120,000 £240,000 £323,810 Three Towns £598,000 £1,194,411 £240,000 £480,000 £123,589 Garnock Valley £390,000 £456,103.04 £150,000 £300,000 £383,896.96 North Coast £468,000 £688,717 £170,000 £340,000 £289,283 Arran £104,000 £125,079 £30,000 £60,000 £68,921 TOTAL £2,600,000 £3,744,858.04 £1,000 000 £2,000,000 £1,855,142.96
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2.3 The proposal development and application process has been agreed as follows: • Locality Partnerships should continue to engage with their communities and stimulate interest in the CIF. Each Locality Partnership will then strategically access the applications, make links, and look at the funding ‘in the round’. • If the partnership supports a bid then the group will be encouraged to submit a full application form, which they will decide upon before making a proposal to Cabinet for final approval. • The proposal will go to the next suitable Cabinet for final approval. 2.4 The enclosed application at Appendix 1 has been developed by community partners and North Ayrshire Council officers and is now recommended for approval by Cabinet. 2.5 The Kilwinning Locality Partnership The allocation and funds committed to date are outlined in the table below. The Kilwinning Locality Partnership CIF allocation to date: £646,000 Kilwinning McGavin Park £35,000 Multi-Purpose Youth and Community Hub £41,190 Multi-Purpose Youth and Community Hub – Phase 2 £15,000 Kilwinning McGavin Park – Phase 3 £45,000 Almswell Park Pitch replacement £45,000 Corsehill Playpark £50,000 Kilwinning Tennis Club £55,000 Corra Foundation £33,000 Balance £323,810 2.6 Proposal: Corsehill Community Association (£25,000) (see Appendix 1) 2.6.1.Corsehill Community Association is an unincorporated charity and have the aims of promoting the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Kilwinning, promoting social activities, and fostering community spirit to advance education. They also have responsibility for maintaining and managing the Corsehill Community Centre (Love Hall). The current committee are active in delivering a range of new programmes within the area. 2.6.2. The project that is proposed is for the development of a play park. Access to play facilities will improve children’s wellbeing and social interaction and respect their right to engage in play. The £25,000 funding sought is in addition to a previous CIF grant of £50,000 which is detailed above. This previous award was made some time ago and was expected to be enough to deliver the project at the time. The original application was made by the Corsehill Primary School Parent Council; the lead on the project has now moved to the Community Association. Costs have now risen; the further funding will allow the project to be delivered by the group who will adjust their designs to the funding available if needed. 2.6.3. The group are working with a range of partners and Council services to plan the play park. It will be accessible for all children and will have an inclusive design to ensure that this is the case. North Ayrshire Council’s Neighbourhood Services have agreed to the
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upkeep and maintenance of the playpark once the project is concluded. 2.6.4. The project supports the locality priorities of Improving our Local Environment, Alleviation Poverty and Promoting Equality of Access to Opportunities and Improving Community Wellbeing, as well as the Community Planning Partnership priority of Wellbeing. 3. Proposals That Cabinet: a) Reviews the enclosed applications from Kilwinning Locality Partnership in line with CIF criteria; and b) Approves the CIF application in relation to Corsehill Community Association. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 CIF funding is allocated within existing resources. Human Resources 4.2 None. Legal 4.3 None. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The purpose of Locality Planning is to reduce inequalities, increase community cohesion and advance community empowerment. Each of the CIF proposals is tested against that purpose before being presented to Cabinet. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 Environmental and sustainability along with climate change and carbon reduction opportunities are considered in relation to each CIF application. This proposal supports recycle and re- use principles.
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Key Priorities 4.6 The proposals contained within the report support the North Ayrshire Council Plan strategic aims: • To transition to a wellbeing economy, delivering prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for local people. • We will have active, inclusive, and resilient communities. • A Community Wealth Building Council that is efficient and accessible, maximising investment and focusing resources towards our priorities. Community Wealth Building 4.7 The application supports the following pillars of community wealth building: • Financial Power: Listening to communities and local enterprises to maximise the impact of financial investment and grow local business, enhance innovation and empower communities. • Land and Assets: Maximising the function and ownership of local physical assets for the benefit of communities and enterprises. 5. Consultation 5.1 The proposals contained within this report have been developed by the Locality Partnerships, through consultation with local people, including young people. David W. Hammond Executive Director (Communities and Housing) For further information please contact Rhonda Leith, Head of Service (Connected Communities), on 01294 324415. Background Papers Appendix 1: CIF Application Corsehill Community Association
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Community Investment Fund Application Form: Kilwinning Locality The CIF will support proposals and projects that: • Connect with: o The North Ayrshire Fair for All Inequalities Strategy; o the Community Planning Partnership and Locality priorities; and o North Ayrshire Council’s values, priorities and business objectives. • Fulfil a compelling need and do not duplicate existing services or facilities; • Provide long-term, sustainable, positive results for the greatest number of people possible; • Exhibit project and/or organisational innovation in their approaches to their work in their way of addressing community challenges and in their request to Locality Partnerships and the Council; • Come from (an) organisation(s) that is financially viable (can provide financial statements upon request) and efficiently and effectively managed. This can include an organisation to be created to deliver the project; • Include options or potential for NAC and CPP employee engagement and volunteering where possible; and • Include measurable outcomes and can report to NAC on outcomes on a regular basis. When to apply and how? • LPs should continue to engage with their communities, and stimulate interest in the CIF. The Locality Partnership will then strategically assess the applications, make links and look at the funding ‘in the round’. • If the partnership supports a bid then the group will be encouraged to submit a full application form, which they will decide upon before making a proposal to Cabinet for final approval. • The finalised proposal will go to the next suitable Cabinet for final approval. • Forms should be returned to your Locality Co-ordinator, by email if possible: Louise Riddex Locality Coordinator (Kilwinning & North Coast) Economy and Communities Community Development Team St John's Primary School Morrison Avenue Stevenston KA20 4HH Email: lriddex@north-ayrshire.gov.uk Tel: 01294475910 Mob: 07980964858 Support and information will be available for groups who are not successful. For more information see the guidance form here: http://www.northayrshire.community/wp- content/uploads/sites/60/2018/06/community-investment-fund-guidance-notes-17-12-17.pdf Appendix 1
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APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Community Investment Fun 1. Details of your organisation Name of Organisation: Corsehll Community Association Postal Address for Correspondence: Name of Contact Person: Mrs Tracy Wilson Position in Organisation: Chair Contact Telephone Number: E mail address 2. Brief description of your organisation Please include - [a] Legal status, e.g. voluntary organisation, public/private limited by shares or guarantee; [b] How long has organisation been in existence? [c] Aims & objectives; [d] General activities or services provided Corsehill Community Association is a unincorporated charity and has been running for a number of years. The community associations aim/objective, as per the constitution is to promote the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Kilwinning, promote social activities, and foster community spirit to advance education and to achieve other such aims as may be determined by the association. They also have responsibility for maintaining and managing the Corsehill Community Centre (Love Hall), and to carry out any extension of the premises or facilities that are provided which may at the time seem necessary or desirable. The present committee are a fairly new committee who have already made a huge difference to the centre in terms of the range of programmes that are being delivered from it. These range from youth groups, to retirement groups, to bingo, to fundraising events. The committee this year have also brought back the Corsehill Gala, which hadn’t happened since before COVID. The association were also instrumental in the provision of free holiday meals this year, and its something they want to continue being involved in moving forward.
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3. Title and summary of proposal Tell us a bit about your idea. Please describe in as much detail as possible, what the funding will be used for. Please include where it will be held / delivered, who is your target audience, who will benefit from it and how and indicate any partners that are involved. Please include - [a] What outcomes your organisation wishes to achieve; [b] Is this a new service / project? [c] Does a new organisation need to be set up? Please ensure that all of the above information is supplied. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected. The idea is to use the funding to build a play park within the community of corsehill. At present corsehill is the only area within Kilwinning that does not have its own play park making the children and young people in the community feel socially excluded from the right to play out doors in a safe area. The United Nation Conventions on the Rights of the Child state in article 31 states “Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” It also states “Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.” This funding would allow work to be started as a new project but with existing organisations working in partnership to achieve positive outcomes for the whole of the corsehill community. The target audience who will benefit from this are children and young people although adults will also feel the benefits from either also using it on their own or with their children. Play parks provide great opportunities for parents to bond with children in a physically engaging way that shared digital or TV time can’t. The resources are already there for parents or carers who struggle with knowing how to play with their children. As you can see there are many different age groups who will be able to benefit from having this area available. Conversations with relevant council departments are still ongoing with regards to the site we will use for the swing park. After putting in a Town Charitable Trust Application, the Locality Partnership advised, as there wasn’t enough money in the Trust fund, that they would like this proposal to come for CIF therefore this is our second application to CIF.
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4. What difference will this project make within the locality and to local services and programmes? Please include - [a] How you will approach reducing inequality [b] How this proposal fits with Kilwinning’s priorities The play park will have access and resources for play equipment that comply with both The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as the more recent Equality Act 2010 from initial build to ensure inequality is reduced. Play helps to teach children social skills including how to share fairly, play cooperatively, and be part of a group. Inclusive playground design can create a space that intentionally provides opportunities for every visitor to have a successful experience, regardless of age and abilities. Having these play environments may help kids learn to accept and tolerate differences while valuing diversity and demonstrating compassion. Again, the inequality of not having a play park in corsehill or relatively close will be reduced if this project goes ahead. There will be opportunities for work to be created including North Ayrshire Council. Komplan (the company who build the play park). Where the area is situated it is easily accessible by walking to it so this would reduce traffic or the need for parking. There is on street parking that could be used if needed. This area would also benefit the local environment by bringing in charities or organisations that could use it.
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5. Please give an overview of the engagement that has taken place in relation to the project Please include the number of people that have been engaged with/ consulted Data was collected via survey monkey (online) and a paper petition was within the premises of the local grocery store in Corsehill. 431 people responded through both of these; the original copy can be viewed if needed. Of these respondents only 3 said no from the online one and 1 via the paper petition. Engagement with Aberlour, corsehill primary parent and pupil councils as well as the local community has taken place about the project. As previously mentioned, the Locality partnership have been engaged with as we initially put in a Town Charitable Trust application, and they asked us to come back for CIF.
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6. Please tell us how the project will be managed Please include - [a] How the finances will be managed [b] Does the proposed project contribute to volunteering or employment opportunities in Kilwinning? Please include the number of volunteering opportunities and employment opportunities [c] If there are any staff requirements, please outline your HR plans [d] Is there evidence of partnership working in relation to the project within Kilwinning locality? If successful, once the money is released, it will be ringfenced in Corsehill Community Centre bank account until it is ready to spend. The accounts are monitored monthly through Community Association meetings, as well as externally verified at the end of the financial year. This is a partnership working project with Corsehill Community Association, NAC and the local community. Aberlour who were previously involved, are no longer working in Kilwinning. The parent council supported/completed the first application but it has been decided to be transferred over to the Community Association.
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7. Amount of funding being requested Please supply details of the amount of funding being requested and any other funding you have had over the past 5 years, both financially and ‘in kind’. Amount of funding requested: £25,000 Please include detail on - [a] Breakdown of costs if available; [b] Recent quotations where appropriate The total cost estimated for this project is £75,000. Currently there is a quote for some of the work from the company Kompan which has a total of £72, 161.84 which includes preliminaries, fence, groundworks, surfacing, equipment and the delivery charge. However, this quote is out of date and we think it will have increased. This quote could be viewed if needed. If the planned project costs is now more than £75k, we will tailor it to fit the budget. 8. Monitoring and evaluation process Please include detail on – [a] What monitoring and evaluation processes are planned/ in place Coreshill Community Association will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating this project. Corsehill Community Association will maintain contact with North Ayrshire council partners throughout the duration of the project, including neighbourhood services who have agreed to the upkeep and maintenance of the swingpark once the project is concluded, as arranged by Cllr Donald Reid. Data has already been collected in relation to community interest and need for this project. Corsehill Community Association will capture views and data of residents, school, parents/carers throughout the process and once the project is completed. This will ensure that the success of the project can be measured against it’s intended outcomes. This may be done via survey, survey monkey – shared with the community and via the local primary school. All data will be captured and can be shared as and when required.