Social Investment boosts Bothwell’s thriving future
£150,000 from Foundation Scotland helped convert disused local library into much-needed social hub.
Bothwell Futures is a pioneering local organisation. Established pre-pandemic by a group of residents in 2019, the community has truly come together to tackle the challenges facing the commuter town head-on. Determined to make the village a better place to live, work and visit, now and for years to come, over 120 volunteers dedicate their time to ensure Bothwell has the vision and resources required to embrace the years ahead.
In just five years, and despite navigating the challenges of a global crisis, the organisation has already transformed the local area in the present, and laid the foundations for years to come.
Integral to the group’s vision was the development of a much-needed space for the community to safely come together.
Historically, groups had made do with meeting in small disparate spaces with no accessible or central facility available.
This limited options for activities, events and social occasions. Leaders at the group understood the value that such a resource could bring to the area.
They envisioned a positive and inspiring space where the community could gather to discuss local issues, hold events and host activities for everyone in the village to attend and to attract visitors to the area to boost footfall for Bothwell’s businesses.
Plans formed quickly, and in 2022 they announced the fastest ever community ownership of a local building, quickly transforming the local disused library into a busy, vibrant social hub – a safe space for everyone.
Bothwell Futures now delivers a busy calendar of popular events created for locals and tourists alike, such as the farmers market, the scarecrow festival and the now infamous monthly Afternoon Tea, hosting hundreds of local people since they launched it in early 2022.
They supported the launch of the local men’s shed – vital for offering wellbeing support for the male population in the town – and they are continuing to expand their multi-generational community engagement programme, recently adding baby and toddler book bug clubs, daytime yoga classes and activities for teenagers after school – all hosted within their new thriving community hub.
Foundation Scotland played a key part in this journey. Their Social Investment programme provides a unique blend of grant and loan funding to enable social enterprises, community organisations and charities to grow and deliver positive social impact.
Offering a total of £150,000 in blended finance, the support enabled Bothwell Futures to carry out the essential works required to fully open the new facility. This included repairs to the roof and windows, the creation of accessible facilities, a new staircase and office development. The support allowed the organisation to fully open the doors to the new space that will offer local people positive opportunities for years to come.
Cally Mckeirnan, Community Engagement Manager at Bothwell Futures has witnessed how things have been changing: “The support we’ve received from Foundation Scotland has been incredibly important. As a new charity, we approached them without much experience of funding applications; we just had our plans and our passion for the future of the local area.
“Through our initial meetings, we built a relationship which would help us secure the support we needed and we are so grateful. The pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have exacerbated many issues for many local people in Bothwell, and there’s never been a time when we’ve needed an uplifting, positive space more. We’ve reopened the library facilities, updated office spaces for meetings and local businesses to trade and created social spaces for all. We are already running free book bug sessions for young families, a youth chess club for teenagers, and several activities for all ages to come together including the recently added camera club, book club and we launched the Bothwell Afternoon Tea served in the facility’s community cafe.”
The Foundation Scotland team prides itself on working together with organisations to offer more than just traditional funding, and the team supported Bothwell Futures with unique insight, planning support and advice to help attract further investment.
Ali Kennedy, Social Investment Executive at Foundation Scotland, has been on the journey with Bothwell.
“Bothwell Futures has created a brilliant space for everyone in the local community and we are extremely proud of our involvement in its development. These new facilities will support significant numbers of people in the area for years to come. Families have an affordable, safe and welcoming place to come to and enjoy, young people are provided with opportunities to positively get together to enjoy activities, and older people continue to feel part of a connected community.
“These new premises will help pave the way for the future of Bothwell residents. We know there are other groups that urgently need support to get started or grow, and this is even more challenging in the current climate. We are encouraging all interested groups to visit our website or contact the Foundation Scotland team directly to discuss eligibility.”