Issues MEG had to address
Muirkirk is a rural village set in the border ofMEG's approach to the issues
Muirkirk Enterprise Group designed and developed a large number of projects to improve the physical appearance of the village, encourage tourists and visitors, increase employment opportunities, improve community safety and create a community where people want to live. Projects and developments include: * Two community plantations complemented by a large number of paths and walkways. * Two heritage parks with murals depicting the history of Muirkirk. * Three totem poles depicting different aspects of community life. * An audio tour guide of the village, the first of its kind in Scotland * Two walks brochures promoting the series of walks prepared within the village. * An Environmental Plastic Greenhouse cared for by local school children. * Two bothys and aEvidence of success
* Muirkirk is now a place where people want to live. While a few years ago it was almost impossible to sell houses in the area, now all houses that are on the market are sold almost immediately. * A great improvement in the unemployment rate. In 2003, 30 per cent of the population was unemployed, by 2005 this figure had fallen to 10 per cent. * The localSetting up the project
Muirkirk Enterprise Group was started as an offshoot from Muirkirk Community Council in an effort to regenerate Muirkirk. Most of the Community Councillors are members of the group, which was formed after a public meeting, and the group is composed of all sections of the community and all meetings are advertised and open to any members of the public to attend. In the first instance, the group leased an empty East Ayrshire Council building for £1 a year inviting the East Ayrshire Action Team to come into the building and form a learning group to train people in computer skills. In 2014 current assets have risen from 2013's £19,710 to £25,926.Miurkirk financial report for 2014 http://www.companyannualreport.co.uk/detail/SC238445-muirkirk-enterprise-groupPartnerships
The group is fully involved in partnership working with many public and private organisations includingReferences