A Maybole project has won £8,000 in a competition run by ITV’s This Morning programme.

The competition was part of This Morning’s Christmas campaign to “Help the Elderly” and Maybole One Stop Shop, MOSS, submitted an application to renovate premises to form a brand new Age Concern in Maybole that would serve the town and the seven surrounding villages.

The new centre will be created in the building in School Vennel formerly used by Over the Rainbow and will be supported by MOSS. Its users will be able to access the support and advice currently available at the project, which has now generated almost £250,000 in unclaimed benefit income for residents of the area since it opened in May 2007.

After the application had been submitted there were a number of additional questions, and staff were told that the proposal had been short-listed as one of ten possible winners.

Presenter Steve Wilson, accompanied by producer Janice Rowe and film crew, visited MOSS last week to speak to those involved, have a look round the town and get a feel for the area before a decision being made at a later date.

On Monday, November 17, they arrived, and spoke to some of the senior citizens who would use the centre; Peter Mason as Chair of the Community Council; Fr Stephen McGrattan, Chair of the One Stop Shop Steering Committee; and Councillor Mairi Low.

At the end of the filming, after being asked to sum up what winning would mean to the community, Project Manager Gillian Anderson was delighted to hear that they had not in fact been on a short list, but had won £8,000, and were presented with the cheque there and then!

The only catch – the team is coming back on December 10th to broadcast live on This Morning from the new, completed, Age Concern Centre.

The cameras were back on Monday November 24 to record the start of the work and the initial piece that was filmed is going to be broadcast next Monday, December 1 on the This Morning show. Steve Wilson is coming back to do a live broadcast on the same day showing how the work is progressing.

The culmination will be a live broadcast from the premises, hopefully completed, on December 10, with a reveal of the new centre to the senior citizens, and a bit of a party to celebrate.

After last week’s filming, Janice Rowe said, “This Morning is delighted to be able to support this project as part of our Help the Elderly Christmas Appeal.

“We had many fantastic applications for the £8,000, however we picked Maybole as we felt it was a great project involving all the community that will hopefully be of benefit for years to come

We are looking forward to seeing the finished project.”

Gillian Anderson responded, “We are absolutely over the moon at the news and look forward to achieving the transformation, and if anyone would like to volunteer to help please get in touch.

“MOSS is overseeing the work and we are using local businesses for specialist work; volunteers and senior citizens will be doing painting and decorating.

“The whole project is fantastic for the area, the senior citizens and Maybole One Stop Shop.”

Fr Stephen McGrattan added, “I think it is marvellous that the senior citizens of Maybole are to benefit from This Morning’s “Help the Elderly” campaign.

“They are already a very active group in the Carrick community, and very willing to support each other.

“Having a well-furnished and resourced Age Concern centre in Maybole will provide a warm and friendly meeting place they can call their own. It will encourage them to continue to meet and support one another, as well as seek other help to improve the quality of their lives.

“This Morning has given the senior citizens of Maybole a Christmas present that will last for a long time.”

Peter Mason said, “I was delighted to be part of the group that thought they were talking up the bid to get this money brought to Maybole, and was delighted, as everyone present was, at the announcement of £8.000 for this project. Another Maybole winner.”

Councillor Mairi Low, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Maybole and surrounding areas, what a wonderful Christmas present.”

Ann Stephenson, Age Concern Scotland, “We are delighted that MOSS has been successful in This Morning’s Christmas Help the Elderly Appeal and that a new Age Concern Group is to be developed in Maybole to benefit older people in this rural area.”

Maybole One Stop Shop is a project of May-Tag Ltd, and is a partnership with Over the Rainbow and Maybole and District Seniors Forum.  It is funded by the Fair Share Lottery Trust administered by the Scottish Community Foundation.