Bruce 750 Development Work

/in , /by

Thanks to continued funding from NCCBC, as well as support from ARIA and Destination South Ayrshire we have been busy delivering an exciting series of events to start off the year of celebrations in 2024. 

During 2022 our “Foundations for Recovery” programme developed proposals that will regenerate our area. With ARIA support we have started new activities to implement the findings of that programme. Our project will increase tourism which is an overarching theme. By using a Community Wealth Building approach, we will create economic opportunities and so help to improve Health, Income and Employment indicators.

King Robert the Bruce was born in Turnberry and 2024 is the 750th anniversary of his birth. We are celebrating this through a series of major events and activities that we are marketing locally, nationally, and internationally. The hope is that these create rural business opportunities directly during our events and activities, and longer term by increasing tourist numbers in Ayrshire.

Our ARIA project has lain the groundwork for our Bruce 750 programme; and allowed us to keep our developments staff on board, as well as putting on a fantastic series of quiz events across North Carrick. The Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme.  It is led by the ARIA Local Action Group (LAG), a group of representatives from the local area so its decision making is bottom up. It is administered by South Ayrshire Council.

Please see photos of our events below! 

Destination South Ayrshire Funding has helped us to deliver our first big event – the Brucie Burns Supper which was a great success!

 

Home | Destination South Ayrshire

Visit to Midsteeple Quarter

/in , /by
On Tuesday Stuart and Claire enjoyed a study visit to the team at Dumfries’ Midsteeple Quarter. We were shown round some of their properties and talked through their very exciting plans for Dumfries Town Centre. 😊
Thank you for our very warm welcome! 🙏
#Dumfries #MidsteepleQuarter #DumfriesAndGalloway #ImprovingNorthCarrick #TownCentreRegeneration

Landscaping complete at The Gatherings

/in , /by
What an amazing difference to the rear access of The Gatherings! 🥳
Landscaping works are now complete at the rear of the shop, ensuring safe parking and access for users!
Thank you to the guys from W Kennedy Ltd who worked through all weathers.
 
Book your slot in the refurbished shop now by emailing gatherings@nccbc.org.uk 😀📧
 

Landscaping complete at the rear of the shop!

Landscaping complete at the rear of the shop!

Landscaping complete at the rear of the shop!

 CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION 

/in /by

⭐️ CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION ⭐️

Write a short story themed on castles, kings and queens for your chance to win a goodie bag & gift vouchers!
Maximum 500 words. There will be a fantastic prize for the judge’s favourite story from 6-10 year olds, and another for the favourite story from 11-16 year olds!
 
📍 Terms and Conditions 📍
Stories must be no longer than 500 words.
Stories must be typed and sent as a PDF or Word Document via email to simon@bruce750.scot by Noon on Wednesday 21st February 2024. Any entries submitted after this date sadly cannot be considered.
Entries must include, name, age, village/town, and a contact number. Please note; only pre-agreed details of winner will be published in the newsletter.
Winners’ stories will be published in the North Carrick Community Newsletter!
There will be a prize for the judge’s favourite story from entrants age 6-10, and another for entrants aged 11-16. The judges will be a local author and member of the NCCBC Board.
Stories must be themed on castles, kings and queens.
Entrants must live in North Carrick; including Maybole, Minishant, Kirkoswald, Maidens, Turnberry, Crosshill Straiton, Kirkmichael, Dunure and Fisherton.
 

Tree-planting grants are available now!

/in /by
🌳 Tree-planting grants are available now! 🌳
 
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Unesco Biosphere in partnership with South Ayrshire Council Live has grant funding available for small scale tree-planting projects in the Biosphere region. Applications are open now for planting on less than 0.25ha of land, which can include field boundaries, orchards, small copses, and more. This is an exciting initiative to increase the amount of native woodland cover in South Ayrshire, benefiting communities and wildlife.
To express interest or for more information email antoine@gsabiosphere.org.uk or visit the GSA Biosphere website at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk. (Applications close on 01/03/24.)
 
 

Brucie Burns Supper

/in /by

Brucie Burns Supper!

Join us for Burns supper with a Brucie twist!

Join us for a unique event with a special spin on the traditional Burns supper. Enjoy a delicious three course meal, live entertainment (including a specially commissioned playlet) followed by a ceilidh with The Reel Stramash Ceilidh band. This Robert the Bruce-themed Burns Supper offers a unique and enriching experience, merging the captivating tales of Scotland’s iconic king with the poetic brilliance of Robert Burns. Tickets are £40 per person and include a three course Scottish inspired meal, accompanied with live music and traditional Burns poetry readings, your ticket will also include free entry to our Brucie Burns Ceilidh which starts at 9pm after the Brucie Burns Supper.

If you are interested in booking tickets please email hello@bruce750.scot 

–

Brucie Quiz Tournament

/in /by

📢Attention Brainiacs! 📢

To kick off our 2024 Bruce celebrations we will be holding 4 local quizzes in North Carrick throughout January and February, with a 5th final quiz to determine our Bruce 750 Quiz Champions.
🧐 Dunure & Fisherton Quiz
Friday 12th Jan 7pm
Kennedy Hall, Dunure
🧐 Kirkoswald, Maidens & Turnberry Quiz
Friday 19th Jan 7pm
Maidens Bowling Club
🧐 Maybole & Minishant Quiz
Friday 2nd Feb 7pm
Maybole Memorial Park Bowling Club
🧐 Crosshill, Straiton & Kirkmichael Quiz
Friday 9th Feb 7pm
McCosh Hall, Kirkmichael
👑 The Bruce 750 Final Quiz
Friday 16th Feb From 7pm
Maybole Town Hall
 
More details on the posters below 👇
To book your team email 📧 hello@bruce750.scot or text 📱07730 748 896
–

King’s Foundation installations at The Gatherings!

/in , /by
Some of the photos as part of the King’s Foundation’s press release about their work in our shop! 👇
We are so pleased to have these amazing pieces as the cherry on top of the full refurbishment of the shop. 😀
 
Email us to book your week in the shop – availability from February!
Email: gatherings@nccbc.org.uk 📧
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

David Kiltie M.B.E JP

/in , /by
It was with great sadness that NCCBC learned of the passing of David Kiltie M.B.E JP on the 14th of November 2023. David was a founder member of NCCBC and a director of the company since its inception. David was also the founder and editor of the North Carrick Community Newsletter which he was rightly, extremely proud of.
David will be missed by all of us at NCCBC and our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go to his wife Margaret and the family.
In the next edition of the newsletter we will follow on with a tribute to David and his lifelong commitment to the town, and his achievements as a true ambassador and friend, not only of Maybole but also of North Carrick and wider South Ayrshire.
 

Introducing… The Gatherings!

/in , /by

📌 THE STORY SO FAR 📌

For many years, this building – then known as ‘Maybole Charity Shop’ – operated as an essential resource for local community groups to fundraise, with a different group taking the shop each week. Gradually, the building fell further and further into disrepair with flood damage from the flat above, and was at risk of collapse. After structural assessments the shop was forced to close until essential repairs were made. NCCBC saw an opportunity, and purchased the charity shop in 2021, securing funding to match the NCCBC contribution via the Scottish Land Fund and the Regenerational Capital Grants Fund, through the Scottish Government. Thanks go to all of the subsequent funders, and Maybole Regeneration Project, who helped facilitate the complete refurbishment of the shop and the flat above, making it all safe for use again.
After a very long and slow start to the refurbishment of the building, NCCBC are pleased to say that the shop is now fully renovated and ready to come back into community use!
The former committee, now operating the shop in School Vennel, have decided to stay where they are, so NCCBC are establishing a new group to operate this shop in a complementary way!
Our survey told us that this should not operate solely as another charity shop, but as a flexible community space that’s useful for things like exhibitions and workshops as well as retail. Groups will be able to book the shop for a variety of purposes, including fundraising!
We are keen to hear from those who would be interested in joining the new committee and helping this exciting new property develop! The new name, ‘the Gatherings’ is a nod to the buildings history as a haberdashery, and our aspirations that it will return to being a place where both people and things gather together.
The shop will be available to book from Feb 2024 at the rate of £115 per week, including a small subsidy to ensure affordability for community groups; a condition of the shop’s funding.
Please contact gatherings@nccbc.org.uk with any enquiries or to get involved.
 
 

The shop before works began:

And the shop now! Just waiting for traditional signwriter to add the new name!