Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage Trust was formed in 2014 to bring a number of redundant railway offices into community use and create The Kilmarnock Station Community Village
The first phase of the refurbishment project was completed in August 2015, creating bright modern facilities, which offer office space and meeting rooms used by a range of local groups, as well as a coffee shop and book shop. Other renovated rooms house the Glasgow & South Western Railway Association archives and the Active Travel Hub.
The charity offers volunteering and training opportunities for people affected by addiction, mental health issues, loneliness and isolation, as well as providing rehabilitation opportunities for ex-offenders.
We secured funding from the Robertson Trust to run a project called Breaking Bread. This project will help individuals suffering from anxiety to integrate into their community by increasing their skills and widening their social group. Individuals will learn how to make bakery products and even sell the products through our deli located on platform 1 at the station. Counselling and Health and wellbeing activity will also be available to support the participants
The Trust aims to support the local community by encouraging groups and individuals to utilise the renovated spaces at the station for the benefit of the whole community. The KSRHT facilities host everything from art exhibitions and creative classes, to tai-chi, meditation, yoga and even charity comedy nights. In 2015, the Trust won the SURF Awards for Regeneration and was shortlisted for the EPIC Awards for Creative Arts.