Happy Connections Space is now open!
We're open:
Mon 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Interview
In Scotland we have a long relationship with drinking. We drink to celebrate, we drown our sorrows, we wet the baby’s head and we raise a glass at a wake. But when drinking starts to cause more than just a sore head, a change might be in order and friends have an important part to play in shaping our lifestyles, either supporting or deterring us from making healthy choices.
Interview
Mindfulness, being more aware of yourself and your surroundings, can have a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Jamie, born and bred in Ayr, is an advocate for taking more time to be in the present. He shares his positive experiences of mindfulness and meditation.
Interview
In an increasingly global society, we are all more likely to make new towns and cities home than ever before. Whether it’s for work, to study, to raise a family or for a different pace of life moving to a new place provides an opportunity to make new friends and networks.
Interview
Building better communities, a group at a time. Jen and Toni Ann tell us that listening, encouragement and optimism can increase social connections and make our communities more welcoming places to live
Blog
Creating welcoming places together
Interview
Ayr’s resident and easy-going dog-enthusiast, John Wyllie, owns and runs Café Kawiarnia alongside his wife, Magdalena. He talks about what it is like to run a business in Ayr and shares their journey to creating a safe space where everyone’s welcome.
Launch Day
16th of October
Our event will be an opportunity to meet people who are interested in using the space in creative ways to help people to become more connected. If you are interested in showcasing your activity or organisation at the event, let us know!
Our event will be an opportunity to meet people who are interested in using the space in creative ways to help people to become more connected. If you are interested in showcasing your activity or organisation at the event, let us know!
Newsletter
In our latest newsletter, we talk about our co-design workshop, the launch of a new space in the Kyle Centre, make a call out for participants and share new happy connections.
Interview
Experiencing unemployment or considering a change of career can be a daunting task for anyone at any stage of life. Anne Mill, a Disability Employment Adviser, knows how challenging this can be. She is incredibly passionate about her work with a striking enthusiasm and commitment to do things differently.
Interview
Sometimes it can be hard to find your tribe, people you feel you belong with, who share the same interests and values. It was a problem Jack McPhail faced growing up as the only openly gay person in his school in Ayr. Since then, Jack, also known as Miss Sasha Blaze, the brazen and boisterous drag queen, has been keen to find fun ways to bring the local LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community together.
Interview
Read Vicky’s story to find out more about the difference a hello can make.
Interview
Des James will charm you with his quiet comforting presence and inspire you with his story. He is a world traveller and retired physiotherapist who decided to make a huge life change after his wife passed away.
Newsletter
The first Happy Connections Newsletter
Blog
All people need is new connections and good things happen
Interview
Meet Alan Moore, a founder of contemporary tailoring brand, Hunter Kingsley.
Gallery
Happy Connections Supper
Video
Let's make Happy Connections together!
Gallery
Communities Fun Day
Blog
Older Means Other
External link
Rachel Goldie: Town centres could help older people get up to speed with the digital age together
Blog
Personalising your map of Ayr
Blog
Making Happy Connections Workshop
Gallery
Picnic in the Park
{"items":["840934a1-3acf-4d8f-8f99-9ba5e6507ae2","a3f850f6-4cbd-4949-8160-c72311df6ead","de48d295-95a2-4f9d-a15b-075b8297e12a","72d96782-1e1f-4166-9311-d7a18f151e9e","65e2fa73-155c-4822-8648-e2795019a928","3c409a5b-6a18-4401-ae64-781ac2e4a8cf","633a0a6a-08d3-46a5-9c1b-c976f8abc499","225f4e6c-0eea-470a-b452-4924e139fa96","b62056ed-7e3f-442f-9f57-3cce76271bda","759cdc1d-d7b8-406a-af0d-6f7e7b595792","e12bdd9a-7f45-4e0e-a4b1-c481924ad349","edb48ff8-719b-4132-a125-5ebe6508205e","45ec8297-110e-41ed-a25a-45b867d5fd59","78e3dd03-a9c5-452e-af26-b5c47631187f","c4efa0ff-42d9-44f0-a113-d0ae6a02917d","440ce45c-64c1-4147-873a-9a5c2c62b89f","bf8cd5e3-9eac-40eb-afa0-adf0717cd92b","67fa6b8f-68ee-43af-829f-bddce9562662","e04a1ee0-cb91-4ca0-901c-92f0d406e83a","a55ce7f6-9ee6-42f8-8ae3-6a886aea67ee","945804fe-ee86-4521-bf6b-1edc4c5ae0ea","30b25c04-5b3f-4037-a0f7-747e96522902","6c40b661-d014-4b72-8c17-c4c89c9300ae"],"styles":{"groupSize":1,"showArrows":false,"cubeImages":false,"cubeType":"fit","cubeRatio":1,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":624,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":7.5,"galleryMargin":0,"floatingImages":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":false,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":3,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":120,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCubeRatio":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":1,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":0,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":true,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"useCustomButton":false,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_HOVER","galleryHorizontalAlign":"flex-start","galleryTextAlign":"left","galleryVerticalAlign":"flex-start","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"link","fullscreen":true,"allowSocial":true,"allowDownload":false,"allowTitle":true,"allowDescription":true,"loveButton":false,"loveCounter":true,"videoPlay":"onClick","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","scrollDirection":0,"overlayAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowTitleExpand":true,"allowDescriptionExpand":true,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"APPEARS","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"AUTOMATIC","textBoxHeight":0,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"textsVerticalPadding":0,"textsHorizontalPadding":0,"titleDescriptionSpace":6,"customButtonText":"","customButtonBorderWidth":1,"customButtonBorderRadius":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":6,"imageInfoType":"NO_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":10,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":true,"videoSpeed":1,"videoLoop":false,"gotStyleParams":true,"selectedLayout":"1|bottom|1|fit|true|0|true","showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryImageRatio":2,"sharpParams":{"quality":90,"usm":{},"allowUsm":false},"imageLoadingWithColorMode":"PICKED_COLOR","imageRatioType":"FIXED","numberOfDisplayedItems":3,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"itemShadowOpacityAndColor":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,0.2)"},"textBoxBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"textBoxFillColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(167,162,163,1)"},"alwaysShowHover":false,"isStoreGallery":false,"previewHover":false,"galleryLayout":1,"itemOpacity":{"value":"rgba(63,169,245,0.95)"},"itemFont":{"family":"wfont_13c001_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c4683e54,wf_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c,orig_avenirltstdblack","style":{"bold":false,"italic":false,"underline":false},"size":26,"preset":"Custom","editorKey":"font_5","fontStyleParam":true,"value":"font:normal normal normal 26px/32px wfont_13c001_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c4683e54,wf_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c,orig_avenirltstdblack;"},"itemFontSlideshow":{"family":"arial black","style":{"bold":false,"italic":false,"underline":false},"size":22,"preset":"Custom","editorKey":"font_5","fontStyleParam":true,"value":"font:normal normal normal 22px/27px \"arial black\",arial-w01-black,arial-w02-black,\"arial-w10 black\",sans-serif;"},"itemDescriptionFontSlideshow":{"family":"avenir-lt-w01_35-light1475496","displayName":"Paragraph 2","style":{"bold":false,"italic":false,"underline":false},"size":15,"preset":"Custom","editorKey":"font_8","fontStyleParam":true,"value":"font:normal normal normal 15px/18px avenir-lt-w01_35-light1475496,sans-serif;"},"itemDescriptionFont":{"family":"wfont_13c001_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c4683e54,wf_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c,orig_avenirltstdblack","style":{"bold":false,"italic":false,"underline":false},"size":30,"preset":"Custom","editorKey":"font_2","fontStyleParam":true,"value":"font:normal normal normal 30px/37px wfont_13c001_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c4683e54,wf_4c4b8b80c1264442b0d88e00c,orig_avenirltstdblack;"},"itemFontColor":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"itemFontColorSlideshow":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"itemDescriptionFontColor":{"value":"rgba(255,255,255,1)"},"itemDescriptionFontColorSlideshow":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"loadMoreButtonFont":{"family":"avenir-lt-w01_85-heavy1475544","style":{"bold":false,"italic":false,"underline":false},"size":20,"preset":"Custom","editorKey":"font_2","fontStyleParam":true,"value":"font:normal normal normal 20px/25px avenir-lt-w01_85-heavy1475544,sans-serif;"},"loadMoreButtonFontColor":{"value":"rgba(255,255,255,1)"},"loadMoreButtonColor":{"themeName":"color_28","value":"rgba(0,174,239,1)"},"loadMoreButtonBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_15","value":"rgba(35,31,32,1)"},"arrowsColor":{"themeName":"color_11","value":"rgba(211,206,207,1)"},"oneColorAnimationColor":{"themeName":"color_11","value":"rgba(211,206,207,1)"},"isAccessible":false,"allowLeanGallery":false,"layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":1,"isSlideshowFont":false,"externalInfoHeight":0},"container":{"top":"","bottom":"","left":"","right":"","width":0,"height":3990,"position":"","avoidGallerySelfMeasure":true,"galleryWidth":2575,"galleryHeight":3990,"scrollBase":0}}