News

With our Business Club Ayrshire X River Garden Charity project officially kicking off, it's a great time to raise awareness of this charity and reflect on why it's so important to us and why our contributions matter.

River Garden Auchincruive's mission is to help people to leave behind their drug and alcohol addiction through a model of recovery that is refreshingly different. Not only are residents given much needed time to reflect on their lives and to grow and flourish, but they are given the means to do so through the communal support of their peers and their participation in on-site social enterprises. Over the 3 years they are resident, they are key partners in a model of social entrepreneurship, of education, of rehabilitation and the opportunity for transformative change. River Garden is exciting and full of hope. River Garden firmly believes that any activity, if carried out with passion combined with training to develop competence, can become a key for reintegration to society. It may be a young charity, but the signs so far are optimistic. Four residents have recently graduated and are living independently and working in their chosen fields. They all maintain close ties with River Garden and give active support to current residents as well in turn as being encouraged and supported by them. In January 2021 the Scottish Government announced a National Mission to reduce Scotland’s unacceptable drug death rates. River Garden is a part of that mission. Everything the charity has achieved so far has depended on donations large and small. residents do not pay River Garden and none of their places are state sponsored.

Business Club Ayrshire members have also been given tours of both River Garden's operations and the wider estate. We feel proud to have such a ground breaking facility in Ayrshire which is paving the way for methods of improvement in their field. The cafe and estate also provide a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere for a bite to eat and to enjoy some of Ayrshire's finest woodland. One of Business Club Ayrshire's core values is to work together to support local charities and support project's in the wider community. The club is looking forward to solving River Garden's drainage and road problems and supporting this incredible charity in the future.

The Bothy Cafe is open 5 days a week (Wed-Sun) 9:30am to 4pm. Serving fresh home-made soups, sandwiches, freshly baked cakes and scones with home grown River Garden produce. With the added bonus of daily specials and a seasonal menu, there will always be something new to try. River Garden, Auchincruive is located 2 mins by car from Whitletts roundabout at the junction of the A77/B743. At the roundabout, take the B743 turning signposted Mossblown and Mauchline. Go past the main Auchincruive estate entrance on the right and continue for ¼ mile and at the bend in the road turn right into the Nellie’s Gate entrance where the car park is located 50m on the left. The gardens and Bothy cafe are a short walk 150m down the hill.

The cafe offers up a tremendous range of training and skills development opportunities for our residents and helps fund the facilities.