The River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund

A minimum of 1% of every River & Bean transaction will be allocated to the River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund.

The fund exists to help River & Bean support useful local, social, creative, charitable, community and for-good activity in a transparent way.

It is not currently a charity, trustee fund or independent charitable grant-maker. It is a River & Bean commitment to reserve and disburse part of our trading income for common-good use.

That may sound less shiny than a grand foundation. It is also more honest, and honesty is currently doing most of the heavy lifting.

How It Works

• At least 1% of every River & Bean transaction goes into the Fresh Ayr Fund.
• The fund is reviewed quarterly.
• Eligible applications and proposals are considered quarterly.
• Active registered members are invited to vote fairly and transparently.
• Disbursements may support for-good organisations, clubs, projects or River & Bean proposals.
• Decisions and outcomes should be reported clearly.

Who Can Apply or Be Proposed?

Eligible applicants may include:

• charities
• community groups
• clubs
• support organisations
• social enterprises
• student groups
• common-good projects
• creative or educational projects with a clear public benefit
• River & Bean projects that support the wider mission

River Cottage may be proposed for a Fresh Ayr Fund disbursement, alongside other eligible applicants. It does not receive an automatic entitlement.

What the Fund Might Support

The Fresh Ayr Fund may support:

• access improvements
• venue use for groups who could not otherwise afford it
• partner-led support sessions
• learning and training activity
• community events
• materials for for-good projects
• local fundraising partnerships
• River Cottage-related costs if that route becomes realistic
• practical projects that make Ayr a little more useful, humane or less aggressively beige

Active Registered Member Voting

Active registered members may be invited to vote on quarterly disbursement decisions.

Active status may be linked to recent bookings, purchases, subscriptions, supporter membership, organisation membership or agreed partner participation.

The voting process should be fair, transparent and proportionate to the size of the fund. We are trying to build trust, not a miniature parliament with worse coffee.

Important Legal Note

The River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund is not currently:

• a registered charity
• a trustee fund
• an independent charitable grant-maker
• a public fund
• a promise that any particular applicant will receive support

It is a transparent commitment by River & Bean to reserve and disburse part of its trading income for common-good use.

We welcome donated professional expertise from people and organisations willing to help us shape the fund, governance and future structure properly. This may include advice on CIC routes, charitable company structure, fund rules, member voting, reporting and legal wording.

Apply / Propose a Project

Become an Active Member

Offer Professional Support