An unused space at Saltcoats Station in Ayrshire, Scotland, has been transformed into a ‘training station’ for the local karate club thanks to a series of community grants.

The near £500,000 project has received funding from ScotRail’s Station Community Regeneration Funding (SCRF), the Railway Heritage Trust, North Ayrshire Council’s Community Investment Fund, and Sport Scotland.

As well as providing a base for the Shibumi Karate Club, the new, fully accessible and multi-functional space will also be available for community use. It has changing room and toilet facilities, Wi-Fi, and a multimedia screen and projector for training, local meetings, and presentations.

John Wilson, ScotRail community liaison executive, said: “The Shibumi Karate Club have a fantastic state of the art facility which will be a great asset for the people of Saltcoats and the Three Towns.

“We know how important the railway is to the communities we serve, and we want to do all we can to strengthen and support that link.”

Hilary Cameron, head of rail franchise unit at Transport Scotland, added: “The Stations Community Regeneration Fund is a prime example of how targeted investment to regenerate empty station buildings can help stimulate economic growth while bringing local benefits.”