A year in East Ayrshire

A YEAR IN EAST AYRSHIRE

January Mike Russell Knockroon Visit iewfpiwfpiwff poqjepo qjepo qoj pqojepjqepj sudhoqh iqdhwd iewfpiwfpiwff poqjepo qjepo qoj pqojepjqepj sudhoqh iqdhwd

Compliments of the Season from East Ayrshire Council Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a successful 2014

January Enterprising future Pupils from Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies work alongside tradesmen at Hope Homes’ housing development at Knockroon. As part of the schools’ enterprise programmes youngsters learned skills to prepare for the world of work, building a house in the process.

February Celebrity judges BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark and Scots sculptor Andy Scott were among luminaries who came to Kilmarnock to judge local pupils in the Interaction Challenge. The project - brainchild of David Ross of Keppie Design - called for students to create and build structures to use to sell enterprise products.

March Creative Place Kilmarnock, Creative Place award winner in 2013, welcomed Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP. A dedicated partnership involving East Ayrshire Council’s Cultural and Countryside Services, Centrestage and the Town Centre Regeneration Initiative made the town a worthy winner of the Creative Scotland Award.

April Olympian visit Former Jamaican Olympian Anthony Davis delighted some of the younger members of Kilmarnock Harriers when he visited the Ayrshire Athletics Arena.

Anthony inspired the youngsters by describing his experiences competing as an international athlete as well as sharing some invaluable training tips and advice.

May Historic Kilmarnock The launch of a new education pack helped young history explorers to take to the Kilmarnock town trail, uncovering the rich past of their town centre.

Working with Kilmarnock and District History Group, Grange Academy teacher Graham Boyd, and primary colleagues put together the Kilmarnock Town Trail education pack. The guide is packed with photos and illustrations of 12 key sites and features many of the town’s Robert Burns connections.

June Enterprise challenge Loudoun Academy emerged victorious from the Dragons’ Den, scooping first prize of £3,000 in the Sir Tom Hunter Challenge.

The Loudoun team’s invention was a revolutionary School Tech app, containing all school information– meaning no more heavy schoolbags filled with letters, handbooks or timetables.

The Challenge formed part of the Council’s business enterprise programme, designed to develop entrepreneurial skills and help make young people ready for the world of work.

July Boxing Day Following a ÂŁ250,000 rebuild, North West Amateur Boxing Club opened its new Jim Watt facility.

The specially designed, fully equipped rebuild was funded by the Scottish Government Cashback/Payback Link-Up Scheme, East Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Partnership and Awards for All.

August Golden talent Vibrant Communities’ Golden Talent Show was the summer’s hottest ticket. Performers from supported accommodation in East Ayrshire wowed the audience with their highly professional variety show.

The team from Afton Court, New Cumnock were worthy winners with an original performance of storytelling, poetry and song.

September Working Digital Social networks were buzzing during a week of innovative live and online events, organised by the Council’s Economic Development Team, aimed at encouraging and supporting local businesses to embrace the opportunities presented by digital communications.

October Cumnock Tryst World-famous violinist Nicola Benedetti accompanied children of Greenmill PS at the launch of composer James MacMillan’s new music festival, the Cumnock Tryst, in his home town of Cumnock.

The children performed specially written pieces with Nicola on her 1717 Stradivarius and James on piano. Around 160 P7 pupils have been learning to play stringed instruments, using a unique whole-class teaching method which has proved highly successful.

The annual Cumnock Tryst will bring star performers from all over the world, as well as featuring local talent.

November Welcome, Willowbank Pupils and staff celebrated the official opening of Kilmarnock’s Willowbank School, which provides education for up to 50 pupils with complex additional support needs.

The new, state-of-the-art school, was specificaly designed around the needs of the young people, true to its motto - ‘Be the best you can be’.

December Scotland win Team Scotland announced that Kilmarnock’s Ayrshire Athletics Arena will be a pre-Games base camp for athletes competing in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Premium facilities, with easy access to Glasgow, made the arena the perfect choice.

The athletes will work with local young people, helping to secure a positive legacy for 2014 and beyond.