A total of £50,000 in funding has been awarded to the Training Station project in North Ayrshire.

Shibumi Karate Club in Saltcoats received the funding through North Ayrshire Council's Community Investment Fund.

More than £400,000 has already been secured for the project from a range of partners including ScotRail, the Railway Heritage Trust, Sport Scotland and the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

The Training Station project involves the conversion and refurbishment of part of Saltcoats railway station to form an 81 square metre flexible community space. A large, fully accessible, multi-functional space will be created through the removal of a dividing wall, with works also set to include the construction of a toilet and wet/changing room.


The main hall will offer a wi-fi network and multi-media screen and projector for training/local meetings and presentations.

It is hoped that the project will promote community regeneration and civic pride through the re-purposing of a Category B listed building, developing community facilities which will contribute to the community's health and well-being.

Councillor Louise McPhater, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "This is a fantastic project which will not only help to address the need for quality local facilities, but also brings a previously unused area of a historical local building back into use.

"We are thrilled to be able to contribute to the funding of this venture through our Community Investment Fund and look forward to seeing this part of the building brought back to life and being enjoyed by the local community."