Miller Homes spreads support across Beith this Christmas with £3,000 community donation

This December, Miller Homes Scotland West is supporting local communities in Beith, North Ayrshire, through its Community Fund initiative, awarding two local groups with grants. Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums has been awarded £2,000 and Beith Theatre Group has received £1,000. 

Photography (L-R) (© Jeff Holmes): Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums has been awarded £2,000 as part of Miller Homes’ Community Fund initiative; Beith Theatre Group has received £1,000 as part of Miller Homes’ Community Fund initiative.

Miller Homes' Community Fund, in its third year and fifth round of funding, welcomes applications for funding from charities and community groups across the country. To date, Miller Homes Scotland has supported over 116 local groups near its developments in Scotland through the Community Fund, with £89,500 awarded to worthy causes.

Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums gives children the opportunity to learn new skills by playing the pipes and drums. The group provides free tuition and instruments to be inclusive to all, and no experience is necessary to take part.

The band gives children a place to develop teamwork, improve their self-esteem, mental wellbeing and gives them a sense of belonging. Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums will use Miller Homes' support to provide free tuition where children from the community can participate together to learn to play the pipes and drums

Beith Theatre Group is a volunteer-run community organisation that has supported the Garnock Valley for 35 years. The group is accessible and open to anyone aged 11 and above, providing a safe, creative space, with over 65 members aged 11 to 70.

Delivering high-quality entertainment for Beith and the surrounding areas, the group produces up to three shows a year, from plays and musicals to pantomimes. They also commit to a relaxed performance once annually where audience are invited to attend free of charge. 

Beith Theatre Group is looking to use Miller Homes' support to acquire portable LED lighting equipment to improve the flexibility of the group's set up and allow them to perform in a variety of community venues.

Mark Thomson of Beith Theatre Group said: “We are so grateful to Miller Homes to be awarded this grant. Being flexible with our lighting and sound equipment allows us to be more present out with our venue and support other great community groups.”

Ian Broughton of Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums was delighted with the funding. He said: “Garnock Valley Pipe and Drums was established to give young people throughout the Garnock Valley the opportunity to learn pipes and drums, at no cost to them, ensuring inclusion of all. Being part of a band improves self-esteem, a sense of belonging, teamwork, improved mental health, improved confidence and an awareness of what can be achieved by commitment and practice with the correct resources to support them. 

“Thanks to funding from Miller Homes will enable our tutors to teach children from P5 to P7 at Beith Primary School giving them the opportunity to learn pipes and drums.”

Andrew McArthur, Regional Operations Director for Miller Homes Scotland West, commented on the initiative: "Community Fund is such an important part of the work we do at Miller Homes, and we’re delighted to be supporting Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums and Beith Theatre Group - two organisations that make a real difference within the local community.

“Community Fund directly supports people and organisations closest to our developments, and we’re continually encouraged by the high quality of applications we receive. It’s inspiring to see the positive impact our grants have on local projects, and we’re excited to launch our sixth round of funding next year.”

The homebuilder, alongside its timber frame business, Walker Timber in Bo’ness, has supported a selection of groups across the East and West of Scotland during this round of funding, including: Riverview Community SCIO, Bloomin Bo’ness, Firefly Gallery, Bo’ness Children’s Fair, Park Planters, Storehouse Foodbank, Bo’ness Cluster Active School, Lothian Children’s Deaf Club, Whitecraig Christmas Lights, Broxburn Colts 2013, Lothian Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club, Edinburgh United Football Club 2013, Beith Theatre Group, Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums SCIO, April’s Street Feet and Clydebank Ladies Choir.

For more information on Miller Homes’ Community Fund, and to find out when the next round of funding opens in 2026, visit www.millerhomes.co.uk/communityfund