NORTH Ayrshire Council has approved £96,112 in fresh funding to allow Irvine residents in recovery from drug and alcohol problems to attend a new community-based college course.

Turning Point Scotland, a national charity and local provider of social care services, has received the big funding boost thanks to the council's Irvine Locality Partnership.

The Partnership presented the proposal for Turning Point Scotland’s North Ayrshire Prevention, Early intervention and Recovery (PEAR) Service, at a recent cabinet meeting, where the funding was unanimously approved.

Allocated via their Community Investment Fund, the cash has been used to establish a brand-new community-based college course for Irvine residents in recovery, based at Ayrshire College in Kilwinning, to help the students to become active and successful citizens.

Since 2019, PEAR have worked alongside North Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service (NADARS) to ensure that everyone in need of alcohol and other drug support services across the area are able to access the most appropriate support suited to their needs.

The service promotes a culture of recovery across North Ayrshire and offers support to any individual that is concerned about their alcohol and or drug use.

PEAR service manager Gary Douglas said: “We believe that inclusion and community is key for people to begin those first successful steps towards recovery.

“We engage with all of the individuals who use the service and encourage this course at Ayrshire College that will benefit people in their recovery journey and also help to build the foundations for a promising future.”

The local college course named ‘Pathways to Progress’ has been developed based on an already successful model in South Ayrshire and aims to address a current gap in employment support for Irvine residents in recovery.

PEAR have used the funds to employ a peer lead practitioner with lived experience of alcohol and drug use for two years.

Gary added: “The college course is now up and running with 16 students enrolled. We are delighted that we can now help them and future students to gain an accredited qualification which will then stand the students in good stead for further education or local employment opportunities, while also providing peer support to people using the service.

“North Ayrshire residents are at the heart of this application so the course will be located between Fullarton Community Hub in Irvine and the closest Ayrshire College campus in Kilwinning, to work best for them."

Mental Health Champion, Councillor Jean McClung said: “North Ayrshire Council is proud to support Turning Point Scotland’s PEAR service with our latest instalment of Community Investment Funding for the communities of Irvine.

“Thank you to the Irvine Locality Partnership for supporting the proposal and using their expertise to help this vital charity and support group."