River & Bean, Ayr
The River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund
At least 1% of every transaction, kept for common-good use and handled transparently.
Right now
Dry Bar after six. 25 September–4 October, 6pm–midnight, except Monday 28 September evening. Every Friday and Saturday thereafter, from 9–10 October.
Daytime private hire. By arrangement throughout the grand opening. Online daytime and evening hire booking opens 11 October. Monday daytime available; Monday evenings closed. Events TBC.
Deliveries. Tuesday–Sunday evenings when open.
One small slice of every sale, kept for common-good use.
A minimum of 1% of every River & Bean transaction goes into the River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund, so part of our everyday trading is set aside for useful local work.
It is not currently a charity, trustee fund or independent charitable grant-maker. It is a River & Bean commitment to reserve and disburse part of our trading income for common-good use.
That may sound less shiny than a grand foundation. It is also more honest, and honesty is currently doing most of the heavy lifting.
How It Works
Each quarter, we look at eligible applications and proposals. Active registered members can vote, and we report the decision and what happened next. Disbursements may support for-good organisations, clubs, projects or River & Bean proposals.
Who Can Apply or Be Proposed?
Eligible applicants may include:
- charities
- community groups
- clubs
- support organisations
- social enterprises
- student groups
- common-good projects
- creative or educational projects with a clear public benefit
- River & Bean projects that support the wider mission
River Cottage may be proposed for a Fresh Ayr Fund disbursement, alongside other eligible applicants. It does not receive an automatic entitlement.
What the Fund Might Support
The Fresh Ayr Fund may support:
- access improvements
- venue use for groups who could not otherwise afford it
- partner-led support sessions
- learning and training activity
- community events
- materials for for-good projects
- local fundraising partnerships
- River Cottage-related costs if that route becomes realistic
- practical projects that make Ayr a little more useful, humane or less aggressively beige
Active Registered Member Voting
Active registered members can vote on quarterly disbursement decisions. Who counts as active will reflect recent bookings, purchases, subscriptions, supporter membership, organisation membership or agreed partner involvement.
The voting process should be fair, transparent and proportionate to the size of the fund. We are trying to build trust, not a miniature parliament with worse coffee.
Important Legal Note
The River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund is not currently:
- a registered charity
- a trustee fund
- an independent charitable grant-maker
- a public fund
- a promise that any particular applicant will receive support
It is River & Bean's commitment to set aside part of its trading income for common-good use.
If you have professional experience that could help shape the fund, its governance or a future structure, we would be glad to hear from you. This may include advice on CIC routes, charitable company structure, fund rules, member voting, reporting and legal wording.
Start with a real conversation
What are you planning?
We’re at 13 Old Bridge Street, Ayr, and available by booking and arrangement. Need a room, coffee or a practical partnership? Email us and we’ll be straight with you about what we can do.
Email hello@riverandbean.co.uk