Langhope Rig community support hits half a million mark
The Langhope Rig Community Benefit Fund has awarded more than £500,000 through its open grantmaking and education and training programmes, marking a major milestone in its support for communities across the Scottish Borders.
The Langhope Rig Community Benefit Fund has now awarded more than £500,000 through its open grantmaking and education and training programmes, marking a major milestone in its support for communities across the Scottish Borders.
A significant award in the latest funding round has been made to Currie Memorial Hall in Lilliesleaf, a cherished 19th-century landmark that has been at the heart of village life since opening in October 1881.
The hall has received two grants totalling £26,603 to tackle a serious dry rot problem threatening the fabric of the building and for repairs to the toilet wall and roof. Together, these awards represent the most significant investment in the hall’s maintenance in living memory, helping to ensure this irreplaceable community asset is protected for decades to come.
At a recent ceremonial handing over of the cheque, Colin Hope, Chair of the Hall committee accepted the funding on behalf of the committee and villagers. He expressed his gratitude and noted:
“We are incredibly grateful for this award. It allows us to address major issues facing the hall, and we are delighted to be working with the Langhope Wind Farm Fund and Foundation Scotland. These repairs will help protect and sustain this cherished building for future generations. It has been at the heart of community life for well over a century, and we are committed to keeping it that way.”
Funding decisions are made by a local panel of community members, whose knowledge and experience of the area ensure the Fund remains firmly community-focused. The fund is provided by Greencoat UK Wind and administered by Foundation Scotland.
The Fund is highly competitive and attracts many applications from local groups. In this case, the panel recognised the urgent need to address both structural and rot-related issues at Currie Memorial Hall before they escalated further. The repairs will help safeguard the hall’s long-term safety and operational continuity.
In addition to the grant for Currie Memorial Hall, the panel awarded funding to four further projects across the region.
- Borthwick Water Community Development Trust received £10,000 towards the purchase of Policy Wood, securing it as a community asset that will protect biodiversity while supporting education, health, volunteering, and conservation activities centred on red squirrels and woodland ecology.
- Teviothead Village Hall was awarded £1,770 towards the installation of a new free-standing external noticeboard. The project will improve local communication, promote community activities, and enhance the visibility of the hall as a village hub.
- Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team received £2,000 towards the purchase of a DJI M4T drone, equipped with advanced safety features, enhanced connectivity and real-time video streaming. The drone will help improve search and rescue efficiency and reduce response times across the Fund area and the wider region.
- Finally, Yarrow Feus Hall was awarded £2,500 towards architect’s drawings to support a future retrofit programme. Planned improvements include insulation, double glazing, a new heating system, and upgraded kitchen and toilet facilities.
Jim Arnott, a member of the local funding panel, said:
“This funding round highlights the diverse needs across our communities and how local groups are stepping up to address them. From supporting a historic community hall for future generations to acquiring woodland for conservation and community benefit, these are exactly the kinds of projects that make a lasting difference. As panel members, we understand the challenges rural communities face, and it is incredibly rewarding to support projects that tackle everything from critical building repairs to community infrastructure with such thoughtful and targeted approaches.”
Since opening in 2017, the Langhope Rig Community Fund has now distributed more than £510,000 through its open grantmaking, as well as education and training support, continuing to invest in projects that strengthen and sustain communities across the Fund area.
Funding awards of between £1,000 and £3,000 are available, with the next application deadline on the 25th of June 2026.
For more information please visit the Fund Page.