Community Connections - the role of Village Halls.

In a world increasingly defined by digital connectivity, genuine human connection can be challenging, particularly within rural communities where social hubs and meeting spaces can be limited. 

Community benefit funding can play an important role in keeping people connected, and the Carcant Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund in Moorfoot is one such example, supporting three village halls nestled in the Moorfoot Community Council areas of Middleton, Temple, and Carrington. 

While these halls share a Community Council, they each serve their individual community as a social hub and community connector.

Carcant Moorfoot support 

Greencoat UK Wind is the owner of the Carcant Windfarm, which straddles Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, and which supports projects benefiting those living in the Moorfoot Community Council area through the linked community benefit fund.  Each year, the fund receives an annual amount of around £4,200 index-linked, for the operating lifespan of the windfarm.  Decisions on funding applications are made by a local group of residents from the area who come together as a panel, using their experience and insight help to distribute local grants. 

The power of small local groups

Due to the rural and somewhat isolated nature of Moorfoot, there are only a handful of community groups. However, these groups play an important role in ensuring sustainability and connectivity across the villages. Each group has a representative on the decision-making panel to ensure fair representation from across the three villages. 

These dedicated volunteers give up their spare time and resources to ensure their respective village halls continue to operate and sustain, while providing a lifeline to their communities. They enable the halls to keep their doors and spaces open and welcoming. 

Communities connecting through shared space

As village halls across Scotland face mounting pressures from increased running costs and maintenance requirements, many are turning to grant funding to sustain their community services. The Carcant Moorfoot fund is an example, with grants supporting these essential community hubs.

Recognising the value that village halls bring to local communities, the Panel awarded multi-year, unrestricted funding to each of the three halls within the Fund area. This flexible approach allows each hall to address its running costs in whatever form is most needed, whether for utilities, maintenance, programming, or other operational expenses.

As the funding term is now in its second year, the response from the Village Hall Associations has been overwhelmingly positive. Their feedback consistently expresses gratitude and appreciation for this continued support, particularly noting how the removal of some financial pressures has enabled them to focus more effectively on serving their communities.

Community programmes are varied and include nursery and childcare provision in Temple Village Hall, yoga and badminton at Carrington Village Hall, and community takeaways and pub evenings as well as after-school club provision at Middleton Village Hall.  These vibrant social hubs have thrived and connected communities.

Not just multi-year funding

In addition to the multi-year awards, the Panel has awarded Middleton Village Hall funding to support upgrade works to its kitchen. They have also awarded funding to Temple Village Hall to support a stonemason to conduct repointing stone repair, and to Carrington Village Hall to install a new window and lag pipework to ensure the energy efficiency of the building is improved.  

These awards have created warm welcoming spaces, and increased footfall and user activity, which in turn has increased revenue to allow further improvements to be made - and so the positive cycle continues. 

Community Benefit at its Best

Carcant Morfoot's small but mighty grants have played a significant role in ensuring that the community of Moorfoot’s village halls remains open and accessible, and helping to remove some of the financial pressures for volunteers who are the cornerstones of their community. 

Read more about the Carcant Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund in Moorfoot.