Vicky has her own personal experience of the challenges there are to make new connections. 20 years ago, she and her two daughters moved from one country to another. They arrived in a new and unfamiliar place where they knew no one. They had to make new friends in new schools, new businesses, new communities and it was really tough.

"After a few weeks, while the girls were at school, I found myself crying in the supermarket. I was feeling so lonely and not one person approached me. I always remember those times and that everyone can feel lonely. I am just going to treat everyone as I wish someone had treated me"

"It all starts with a “hello”, and what can come from that can be phenomenal. You can change lives. Anyone can do this; you just have to have the courage. The rewards you get back from sharing people’s lives are beyond anything you could imagine."

"You need to be open to talk, to share and to listen. You may experience negativity, but you keep going anyway. Work with those who are willing to work with you and others will come along when they’re ready. We can all make a difference to people’s lives and now is the time for action."

Working in the mall, Vicky hears the stories, celebrations and concerns of the town. One of the issues she hears about most often is people feeling negatively about the high street. Vicky says, "You have to look through that. Exciting things are happening, but it will take time. In the meantime, if we as a community can roll out the ‘Hello welcome to Ayr’ feel-good factor, we can take our minds off what’s wrong and make the most of what we’ve got."

Let’s start today. Let’s say hello.

You can find Vicky brightening up Ayr Central.