Two youth hub projects in Irvine and Kilwinning have now been approved in the town centre and sports club.

Irvine Youth Forum were given £100,000 to establish a one-stop Youth and Community Skills Hub in Irvine Town Centre.

This will target young people from P7 upwards and include young people in specialised projects through which qualifications may be achieved.

Leisure activities will be provided for young people to enjoy and keep them safe and out of harm by working closely with North Ayrshire Council Connected Communities Team (Youth Work).

Other partners include the Ayrshire Film Company who will deliver employability programmes for young people and adults with disabilities, and the Irvine Marymass Committee.

Kilwinning Rangers Juniors and Kilwinning Rangers Youth Club, with the support of Kilwinning Rangers Football Club, will convert a recently donated 110ft x 40ft portacabin currently at the club’s base at Kilwinning Community Sports Club.

This will form a 433 square metre flexible community space to address the capacity issues for youth and other activities in the main clubhouse building.

A large, fully accessible, multi-functional space will be created through the removal of dividing walls, with works also to include a Youth Zone and the construction of toilets.

Affordable office and rental space for small local businesses will help to provide the sustainability for the organisation and this will help to provide further youth activities. The cabinet previously agreed to award £41,190 from Kilwinning’s allocation of the CIF to this project.

Cllr Joe Cullinane said: “Today our Council Cabinet approved £100,000 from our Community Investment Fund for a new project being led by Irvine Youth Forum.

“The Youth Forum are going to use the funds to create a Youth and Skills Hub in Irvine town centre offering young people leisure activities as well as qualification opportunities offered in partnership with public bodies and local groups.

“I’m pleased to provide further financial support from our Community Investment Fund towards Kilwinning Ranger’s Youth and Community Hub. Yesterday’s award of £15,000 will help fill the funding gap.”