Villagers get budget vote
Sarah Jane McDonald Community groups across South Carrick are celebrating after landing fresh funding.
More than 200 people took part in the South Carrick Decides event in Girvan, which encouraged people to get involved in local decision making.
A fund of up to £ 38,000 was available at the event in Girvan Academy, with 35 groups benefitting from the £ 20,000 made available for projects dealing specifically with children and young people.
A further £ 18,000 was made available for community groups in the South Carrick Area.
Community groups pitching their proposals before the crowd made the deciding votes.
Among the successful projects, costs will now be covered for people with cancer travelling from Girvan to Glasgow for treatment.
Support will be in place to set up a new Fair Monday festival in 2018 and better broadband services will be made available for people using Barr Community Store.
Fourteen young people from Girvan Academy will go on a three- week expedition to Malawi.
A new post has been created for a music therapy specialist at Invergarven School and new sports equipment has been purchased for Ballantrae Youth Club.
South Ayrshire Council and the Girvan and South Carrick Villages locality planning group invited people from Girvan, Dailly, Barr, Colmonell, Lendalfoot, Ballantrae, Barrhill, Pinwherry and Pinmore to get involved, with anyone over the age of eight eligible to take part in the electronic vote.
Council leader Bill McIntosh told the Post: “It’s encouraging to see the decision days being so warmly supported, with more than 300 people having turned out to the South Carrick events in the last year to give their backing to their favourite local projects.
“The range of groups benefiting shows that there’s strong demand for small grants that nonetheless help to make a big difference to the valuable work of community groups across South Ayrshire.
“We’re committed to working with our communities to make life better. I’m confident that the participatory budget approach will continue to deliver real benefits to our towns and villages as the process evolves in future.”