7-492: Muirkirk Enterprise Group (MEG) was set up in 1999 with the aim of regenerating the rural village of Muirkirk which was, at one time, labelled the most socially deprived village in Scotland. The ongoing aim of MEG is to regenerate the whole village community to provide sustainability, respect and hope for the village for future generations. Muirkirk is a rural village set in the border of East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire with
14-417: A number of local issues in consultation with the local community. These included: 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: Muirkirk Enterprise Group
21-519: A population of around 1800. At one time Muirkirk was a hive of industry with coal mining , rail connections and ironworks . The demise of the mines brought widespread unemployment and the village suffered from relatively high levels of poverty . Muirkirk was rated as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2003. At that time the village experienced an unemployment rate of 30 per cent. MEG identified
28-583: 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. The group is fully involved in partnership working with many public and private organisations including East Ayrshire Council , Scottish Natural Heritage , Scottish Coal , East Ayrshire Woodlands and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire . Muirkirk Muirkirk ( Scottish Gaelic : Eaglais an t-Slèibh )
35-613: Is a small village in East Ayrshire , southwest Scotland . It is located on the north bank of the River Ayr , between Cumnock and Glenbuck on the A70 . The Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area was set up to protect the populations of breeding hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), merlin (Falco columbarius), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and short-eared owl (Asio flammeus). As of 2019,
42-472: The estimated population of Muirkirk is 1,386. The village developed around its church, which was built in 1631, and was a fertile recruiting ground for the Covenanter movement. The village partook in curling since at least 1750, and has one of the earliest written accounts of this, by the minister, Rev John Sheppard. In recent times, the village has fallen into decline due to its geographic isolation and
49-489: 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
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