Communities across East Ayrshire set to benefit from latest round of Place funding
East Ayrshire Cabinet this week approved proposals for a number of community projects eligible for Pride in Place funding.
Councillors received a progress update on the five projects that were previously awarded approximately £750,000 of funding namely Alexander Fleming Memorial in Darvel; Reformers Monument in Kay Park Kilmarnock; Miners’ Statue in Cumnock; gates and fencing for Kilmarnock Community Sports Trust at Rugby Park and upgrades to local war memorials.
Today councillors approved funding for a further 14 projects during this second year of the programme and these include:
- When the Heaven meets the Stars, Kirk of the Covenant, Dalmellington - installation of a second-hand mezzanine floor to house a 30-seat theatre upstairs for observatory
- Refurbishment of Newmilns Townhouse
- Internal renovations at Darvel community hub
- Installation of heating and ventilation system in health and wellbeing centre at the Strength Sanctuary, Kilmarnock
- Refurbishment of Barnardo’s East Ayrshire Families Centre
- Replacement locker room at Sorn Bowling Club
- Refurbishment of dressing rooms and event space at Auchinleck Talbot Football Club
- Refurbished toilets at Bonnyton Community Association
- Resurfaced tennis courts at Kilmarnock Tennis Club
- Memorial stonework at Mauchline Parish Church
- Replacement wiring, electrics and heating at Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club
- Installation of new railway tracks for Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group
- Installation of new roof at the Zone in Dalmellington
- Multi-disciplinary family hub – Integrated Children’s Services
Council Leader, Douglas Reid said:
“The Pride in Place Impact Fund provides a welcome funding boost for communities in East Ayrshire, which will be used to deliver a range of projects over the next ten months.
“Working with our local MPs and other stakeholders, we have identified a broad range of projects across our communities, in accordance with the UK Government’s eligibility criteria and I look forward to hearing how these progress in the months ahead.”
The Pride in Place Impact Fund is a UK Government capital programme which awarded eight Scottish local authorities £1.5 million each over two years (2025/6 and 2026/7), with a requirement that all funds are committed or spent by 31 March 2027.
Funding has been awarded on the basis that these are ‘investment-ready’ projects, as they need to be delivered or have contracts in place by 31 March 2027. To be eligible, these projects had to fulfil at least one of the three core objectives that underpin this funding, which are: public spaces, community spaces or high street and town centre revitalisation.
In the same session at Cabinet, councillors also received a final overview of the completed Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP). This Scottish Government programme ran over five years, from 2021-2026 and its aim was to support community led regeneration. In that time, 102 projects in communities across East Ayrshire benefitted from the fund to the tune of over £5.5m.
East Ayrshire Council has recently been commended by the Improvement Service for the ways in which PBIP Funds have been used over the past five years. The Improvement Service were impressed by the strong collaboration between projects, the passion of the groups and the focus on place and wellbeing outcomes, all of which contribute to long-term sustainability. Two PBIP celebration events will take place in August.