FIFTEEN North Ayrshire community groups have been supported via a council planning 'Wish List'.

Hosted on the Community Planning Partnership website, the Community Benefits Wish List has been set up by North Ayrshire Council to provide groups with community benefits supported by local public sector contractors.

The initiative is all part of the council’s Community Wealth Building strategy – a bold economic model with a focus on wellbeing and inclusion where local action is taken to reduce poverty and inequality across the region.

The idea is that third sector groups, such as community organisations, associations, charities, and social enterprises, can come together to use the portal to register their own set of community benefit ‘wishes’. The wishes are then granted by council contractors who can donate their time, products or expertise.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member (economy and climate change) said: “We are delighted to announce that 15 community groups have benefitted so far from the council’s innovative Wish List portal with a further 16 groups currently in discussion with contractors to have their much-needed community wishes fulfilled.

“This exciting online resource is already proving to be a great success as it is providing a unique opportunity for third sector community groups to come together and share their needs with our vast network of approved council contractors and suppliers.”

Wishes fulfilled so far include donations of garden equipment to West Kilbride Community Support Group, food donations to Cranberry’s Community Larder in Kilwinning, a refresh of the car park and Easter trail at Fullarton Connexions, Irvine, and a donation towards new sports equipment at Millport Town Hall.

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