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The Irvine Locality Partnership has successfully teamed up with Irvine Tennis Community to secure £100k Community Investment Funding from North Ayrshire Council.

The community sports club’s recent proposal asked for the funding to develop the sporting centre – approved by North Ayrshire Council as part of a community asset transfer.

The transfer of ownership to the tennis club supports Irvine Locality Partnership’s priorities of improving community facilities, challenging poverty and encouraging residents to lead healthier, happier and active lives.

And since NAC pledged their support, the local tennis club have now applied for funding from sportsscotland to the sum of an additional £100,000 to help them with their ambitious plans for the club.

Anticipated to cost around £250,000, with an estimated completion date of summer 2023, improvements will include high intensity surface finishings and the erection of 8-metre-high floodlighting to extend playability all year round.

Plans for a small clubhouse to provide necessary toilet facilities and a place for players to meet up and refresh after games are also now underway. Irvine Tennis Community spokesperson, Chris McKenna commented: “Our facility on Thornhouse Avenue currently has three full-sized courts and a one junior-sized, however these do not currently meet the Lawn Tennis Association requirements. 

“Once the improvements are made, we’ll be able to secure the accreditation of a modernised sports club and we’ll be able to start hosting competitions with other tennis clubs once again. The boost really is going to go a long way in helping the club to achieve our ambitious plans and we will find out in December if we have been successful with the additional boost from sportscotland.

“On behalf of our volunteers and committee members, I would like to extend our gratitude and sincere thanks to the Irvine Locality Partnership who were an integral part of helping us to secure the CIF funding from North Ayrshire Council.

“Currently we can only offer daytime play so we’re hoping to install floodlights to offer evening sessions too, subject to planning approval. Replacing the current blaes surface and courts with state-of-the-art artificial grass will also make the site far easier to maintain while enhancing playability.

“Our aim is to create a truly sustainable sporting model. A meeting place where communities can come together in an inspiring, inclusive and most-importantly safe setting to experience the true joy of tennis.”

By creating an outstanding facility for Irvine residents, the local community group hope to lay the foundation for more residents to become active in sport and enjoy the benefits of socialising and exercising outdoors.

Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Islands and Communities commented:

“Congratulations to Irvine Tennis Community on their recent funding boost. Irvine Locality Partnership should be proud of the support they have given to this important community group. Their proposal is an excellent example of community empowerment in action – the driving force behind the Community Investment Fund.

“Through working closely with our Locality Partnerships, the Council is committed to continuing to ensure that the voices of local people and community groups are heard and provide them with the resources needed to make a real and lasting difference in their communities.

“With the group’s planning application now lodged, Irvine Tennis Community can now begin their exciting regeneration journey. I look forward to seeing how the modernisation of this much-loved local tennis club unfolds over the coming months.”

If you would like to find out about how to apply for Community Investment Funding, find out more information on the website: https://tinyurl.com/NorthAyrshireCommunityFunding

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine, Scotland, KA12 8EE

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