Council Awarded Vital Funding to Support Two Community-Led Projects in South Carrick

South Ayrshire Council has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) to support two community-led projects in South Carrick.

The Council submitted applications on behalf of the Barr Community SCIO and Adventure Centre for Education in order to provide funding for the Barr Village Hall and Girvan Bandstand regeneration projects. The successful applications resulted in £500k being awarded to Barr Community Hub and £700k being awarded to the Girvan Bandstand project. Both projects will be delivered by the respective communities, working in partnership with the Council.

South Ayrshire Council's Policy Lead for Leisure and Community Services, Councillor Chris Cullen, said: "Both projects will be a great benefit to the Barr and Girvan communities once delivered, providing spaces where people can come together to enjoy a host of activities and events. I'm delighted that we were able to support these groups in order to secure this vital funding."

Adventure Centre for Education's Chief Executive, Chris Saunders, said: "Adventure Centre for Education are delighted to receive this grant from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund of £700,000 towards the Bandstand Project in Girvan. This grant will enable us to progress the project and transform what is a derelict and dilapidated building into a community cafe and events space, safeguarding the future of the Bandstand for decades to come, benefitting our local economy, and providing new employment and training opportunities for the local community". 

Chair of Barr Community SCIO, Neil Gillon, said: "The community of Barr has been working on this project for a number of years. The recent Regeneration Capital Grant Fund award means we can finally move forward and transform Barr Village Hall into a welcoming and sustainable hub for generations to come. For a small, rural village like Barr, this kind of support makes all the difference and the Barr community is incredibly grateful to the Scottish Government and South Ayrshire Council."