The creation of our company has resulted in the availability of local jobs, local training in relevant skills and projects of lasting community benefit, especially for the disadvantaged and excluded in the community.

We have a long history of helping people who have learning difficulties. An average of 50% of trainees have had special support needs since the company began training. This average is now rising, due to the many Government initiatives introducing funding for the disadvantaged and excluded.

However, in spite of upskilling over a thousand local people, and extending the variety of training offered to meet Ayrshire labour market demands, unemployment in the town is still high. Job creation schemes are urgently needed. For this reason we want to assist in job creation projects and are actively seeking funding to create social firms which will help those unable to get and keep jobs.

The company has identified several areas of community need and started projects to resolve them in the last four years.

Scottish Lottery Charities Board funding was obtained in 1996 to provide better domestic living standards for low income families. Decorating, garden maintenance and domestic safety devices were provided at very low cost to those in receipt of two State benefits. The project was extended to the Girvan area in 1999 and over 300 households have benefited to date. Feedback received is consistently good.

Another successful project was the Signposts Job Access project in partnership with South Ayrshire Council and now mainlined by them. The project started in 1996, and when independently evaluated the report said it was the best value for money and most productive seen.

We encouraged the creation of a voluntary forum to help fund-raising. This project started a local Charity Shop, which groups lease. It is estimated that fund-raising has risen as a result by some 400% and good quality second hand clothing is available locally.

Staff are very happy to contribute to the economy of the High Street where some 50% of the shops are closed.

Currently the company is in partnership with eighteen local groups seeking funding for a community development project to raise local awareness and participation in community development.

A Community Development Officer, an Inclusion Officer and an Admin, Assistant would be employed to widen communication including Internet access and providing basic training.