A group from Largs who are striving to bring the arts to as many people as possible has received a welcome funding boost.

Barrfields Theatre Group will receive £30,000 over three years from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust.

The money will allow the group to employ an arts co-ordinator who will work with the board to explore ways of reaching even more people while developing partnerships and links with the wider community.

The volunteer-run organisation – centred at the historic Barrfields Theatre - has been in existence for more than 10 years and has a host of shows and performances booked in for the coming weeks and months.

Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands, said: “We are delighted to be awarding this funding to a fantastic local group.

“Being from the area myself, I know just what an excellent job they do and how passionate they are about bringing the arts to as many people as possible.

“A new Arts Coordinator will help them further their reach and, hopefully, generate even greater opportunities.

“The group deserve enormous credit and North Ayrshire Ventures Trust is there to help groups like them develop and support even more people.

“We look forward to hearing from the group and what they have been up to over the coming weeks and months.”

Former Largs editor Drew Cochrane, who submitted the successful application, said: "Our volunteer group has revived Barrfields Pavilion Theatre since the end of lockdown. We have been staging sell-out shows and the post of co-ordinator will develop further North Ayrshire's only theatre."

This grant programme was developed to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities to help them grow in size and improve long-term sustainability.

If you would like to apply for NAVT funding, please email infonavt@north-ayrshire.gov.uk