Seven villages in the Carrick area of South Ayrshire are set to benefit from £200,000 of funding to be spent on improving access to a range of services and activities.

Support for home care, advice and encouragement for the elderly, swimming and sport sessions, increased learning opportunities and computer-linked training … these are just some of the areas of activity which are to be funded, thanks to the cash being obtained from the Scottish Government through the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership.

The villages which will benefit: Ballantrae, Barr, Barrhill, Colmonell, Lendalfoot, Pinmore and Pinwherry.

The Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald, said: “I am delighted that our bid for funding has been successful for this ambitious initiative. There are many ways in which the villages should be able to benefit.”

An outline briefing on the scheme has been given to the Rural Communities Committee of South Ayrshire Council, and a Project Steering Group has been set up to put into action the wide range of activities which are being planned.

The scheme, which is formally titled “Rural Services Priority Areas Initiative”, is intended to bring about significant improvements – with the Scottish Government seeking confirmation of this by 2008.

Councillor Hywel Davies, Convener of the Rural Communities Committee said: “There is undoubtedly quite a bit of preparatory work to be undertaken, however once the initiative is up and running, the communities in the seven villages that have been specified should reap considerable benefit.”

Included in the range of improvement categories is a plan to increase the availability of carers who are available locally – particularly in relation to older people.

Ayr College is being asked to run care courses at the Girvan Learning Centre, in the hope of attracting trainees from the seven villages which have been pin-pointed. Once they are suitably qualified, it is hoped that the carers will be able to provide a service in their own village communities.

Encouragement is also to be given to developing the Class Diamonds initiative, initially set up by South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Partnership to encourage people approaching or in retirement to remain active in their homes and in their community.

Classes are usually held once a week for consecutive weeks with the aim of providing an opportunity for people to get out in a safe environment, find out how they can maintain and improve their physical and mental well-being, and to make new friends.

Participants in the classes receive information on a wide variety of subjects including, healthy eating with cooking demonstrations, warnings about bogus callers, best practice for eye and dental care and hints and tips on how to keep homes warm.

Stepping up access to sports and leisure facilities is also planned in the scheme of action, offering residents of the seven villages free sessions at Girvan Swimming Pool.

There are also plans to encourage greater use of local sports facilities, encouraging local people to become involved in running activities. In some cases small grants may be available to help set up new local sporting clubs.

Learning opportunities are to be boosted with facilities being provided both at the Learning Centre at Girvan and on the Rural IT Training Bus, with the support of Ayr College and the Council’s own Community Education Service.

It is also hoped, with the support of the Scottish Agricultural College, to set up learning opportunities within village facilities, to remove the need for villagers to travel to an existing learning centre.

Funding for transport is also being considered for when travel is necessary to allow would-be participants to make use of learning facilities.

Said Councillor Paul Torrance, local elected member for South Carrick: “I sincerely welcome the initiative, and hope that it can be set in motion as quickly as possible.

“Any way in which rural communities can gain improved access to services and facilities is likely to be appreciated by the communities. There is a real need for additional support for home care, and of course there is always a demand for increased learning facilities.”

July 2006