A Kilwinning parent council planning to create a new play park has received a £50,000 funding boost.

Corsehill Primary Parent Council recieved the cash via North Ayrshire Council’s Community Investment Fund (CIF) after the proposal was presented by the Kilwinning Locality Partnership following consultation with local people.

The CIF received a £3m top-up in 2021 bringing the total funding available to £5.6million for groups to help support the recovery and renewal of vital community-led projects following the challenges of the pandemic. To date, over £1.2million CIF funding has been awarded across North Ayrshire.

Wendy Crighton, co-chairperson of the parent council, said: “We are delighted to have received funding from the Community Investment Fund to allow us to progress with our ambitious plans for Corsehill play park, none of which would have been possible without the help and support of the Kilwinning Locality Partnership.

“Outdoor play is so important and the benefits are widely recognised. Our goal is to use the funding to create an interactive and accessible play area to help teach children social skills including how to share fairly, play kindly and cooperatively and be part of a social group.

“After the challenges of the last two years, as we now start to recover from the effects of the pandemic, our communities are depending on local outdoor facilities more than ever and play parks provide a great opportunity for local residents to bond with their children in a physically engaging way.

“We hope that our inclusive playground design can create a space that intentionally provides opportunities for every visitor to have a successful experience, regardless of age and abilities so we are working in partnership with Aberlour Childcare Trust, Scotland’s children’s charity, to ensure play resources are in place for parents or carers who need support to make the best use of the play park with their children.”

The total estimated cost for the project is £100,000 and will see the creation of a new play park for the community of Corsehill, which will bring back a currently vacant and derelict site into community use and will include both toddler and junior adventure climbing frames, a swing unit with basket and cradle swings.

The play park will be accessible to all and will have play equipment that complies with both The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as the more recent Equality Act 2010 to ensure every child has the chance to play. The proposal supports the delivery of the Locality Partnership’s priorities for Kilwinning to tackle isolation and enhance community wellbeing, improve our local environment and ensure children and young people can enjoy equal access to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

Councillor Louise McPhater, cabinet member for participatory democracy, said: “We are delighted to approve the most recent CIF funding proposal for Corsehill Primary Parent Council.

“The Parent Council does a fantastic job of promoting and providing community opportunities for people that help to enhance wellbeing, encourage connection, nurture confidence and give children and young people the chance to play, socialise and learn in a safe environment.

“This is another excellent example of how the Community Investment Fund can help to transform communities and offer meaningful power and resources to local groups that are making real differences to the lives of local residents, and particularly local children – who I’m sure will greatly enjoy their new play park once the project is complete.”