Girvan's Story

About the Project

Girvan's Story is a community-led regeneration project which aims to secure funding to deliver improvements to several of Girvan's landmark buildings, alongside a programme of traditional skills training and heritage activities.

To date the project has secured £3.5m in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and South Ayrshire Council. Subject to the success of additional funding bids, the project will deliver up to £5m of investment over a 5-year period.

The project has been developed over two years and is led by a Partnership Board bringing together representatives from local organisations.  The development phase has included a review of the conservation area, research into local building materials and a programme of building surveys and design work.

Extensive engagement has also taken place with local groups and individuals to identify the heritage and traditional skills activities the community would like to see delivered in Girvan.  Taster sessions delivered to date include stonemasonry, roofing and blacksmithing sessions.

A traditional skills audit was also completed to understand the skills gaps in the area and identify opportunities to partner with local organisations to provide training for young people.

For further information contact the Project Officer by e-mailing [email protected] 

Girvan Academy Media Project

Last year we approached Girvan Academy and asked them to support the Girvan's Story project by producing a short documentary that would capture Girvan's built heritage as well as people's perceptions of the town and their hopes for its future.

With support from The Iris, the pupils took on a variety of roles in the production and worked hard to involve lots of people from the local community. 

This documentary will support Girvan's Story by giving us a greater understanding of the improvements people would like to see and has also given us a benchmark for delivering those improvements (subject to funding).

Thank you to SURF, The William Grant Foundation & The Girvan Town Team for supporting this project and to The Iris and staff and pupils of Girvan Academy for its production.