Take A Bow Development Trust in Kilmarnock is delighted to announce they have finalised their funding package to redevelop the former New Farm Loch Community Centre.

An astounding £2,503,335.00 has been raised to support the completion of the full asset transfer and development of the centre. This is a huge achievement for the charity that will not only develop the centre but the local community.

The former New Farm Loch Community Centre was opened in 1974 and has served the community well for the last 50 years. Take A Bow Development Trust took over the running of the centre in 2019 as a community asset transfer from East Ayrshire Council

Martyn Hay & Natalie Boyce, Chief Executive Officers at Take A Bow explain:

“We have been working hard since that time to develop the use of the centre and also to secure the funding for the full asset transfer and redevelopment. With a focus on maximising the use of the facility around three priority areas; youth development, community development and enterprise and employment, we believe that our project will contribute to creating opportunities for local people, by addressing social inclusion; supporting people back into work and addressing issues of poverty and deprivation.
“Over the last three years, Take A Bow Development Trust has evolved as the main “Community Anchor Organisation” operating in the New Farm Loch area of Kilmarnock. We are committed to supporting the long-term development of New Farm Loch as part of the wider regeneration of Kilmarnock and this project will support us to fulfil this commitment.
“This funding will allow us to create a dynamic community facility that will operate as a Community Hub and Opportunities Centre, providing an operational base for all our activities as well as supporting other community-based organisations and agencies to deliver services in response to local needs and help to make New Farm Loch a vibrant and thriving place in which to live and work.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with the project. We are especially grateful to our key funding partners: Scottish Government, UK Government and East Ayrshire Council – thanks to them we have now secured the funding package for the asset transfer and re-development work. This funding is vital to the ambitions of this project, and we are committed to creating a facility that will continue to meet the needs of the New Farm Loch Community for the next 50 years at least.”

The project also seeks to address how to improve the energy efficiency of a 1970’s building and ensure that it maximises its contribution to Net Zero Emissions. A detailed energy efficiency study has been undertaken and proposals have been developed to improve the building by way of heating, insulation and energy efficiency. These proposals will make a significant impact in reducing the carbon footprint of the building and make a positive contribution to the climate challenge.