An Ochiltree charity has been awarded a funding boost of almost £5,000.

The MaidSafe Foundation received the boost as part of the National Lottery Community Fund.

The charity was established in 2011 and is staffed by two part-time members and 11 volunteers.

The group runs sessions as and when required, within primary schools in East and South Ayrshire.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Pupils undertake STEM activities such as coding, natural dyeing, experiments on wind turbines, papermaking.

Funding support like this will allow the foundation to support its work in developing community members using the knowledge and experiments within the STEM guidelines.

MaidSafe Foundation will use the money to run more activities for local community organisations and to provide further support sessions for any group or individual wanting to learn.

Groups sessions have been greatly appreciated by almost 300 primary school pupils and staff to date.

The sessions introduce pupils to the STEM world while learning new skills and having fun, whilst gaining confidence, self-belief and important collaboration skills.

Cumnock Chronicle:

John Irvine, chair of the trust for the MaidSafe Foundation said: “We are delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.

"Now, thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to develop and implement our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to local community members of all ages”.

The Foundation has also developed a STEM pack which will give the teachers within primary schools, confidence and resources to teach STEM modules.

National Lottery Community Fund has provided the funding to allow the Foundation to develop a 16-foot STEM trailer which will allow them to take STEM directly into communities within Ayrshire.

You can find out more about the MaidSafe Foundation on its website.