Forman Memorial Hall: A century of community spirit restored
Forman Memorial Hall is delivering a comprehensive restoration project demonstrating how adaptive grant-making can meet evolving community needs.
Introduction
Foundation Scotland's commitment to flexible, adaptive grant-making recognises that community projects rarely unfold exactly as originally planned. Rather than rigidly adhering to initial project parameters, Foundation Scotland works collaboratively with community organisations and its local decision-making Panels to respond to changing circumstances and emerging needs. This responsive approach acknowledges that real-world implementation often reveals unforeseen challenges or opportunities that, when addressed thoughtfully, can lead to more comprehensive and sustainable outcomes for communities. The Forman Memorial Hall restoration project highlights how this adaptive funding philosophy transforms potential obstacles into opportunities, enabling volunteer-led organisations to navigate challenges while maintaining project momentum and ultimately delivering greater community benefit than initially envisioned.
Organisation Summary
Forman Memorial Hall is a SCIO established in 2012, operating from a historic 1923 building in Roberton, Borthwick Valley. The Hall serves as the sole community facility for approximately 150 residents and the broader Valley area, with an annual footfall of 3,094 people. Run by volunteers, the Hall hosts diverse activities including yoga classes, carpet bowls, monthly cinema nights, fundraising events, Community Council meetings, and electoral activities.
The Challenge
The Forman Memorial Hall faced recent maintenance challenges as it approached its centenary in 2023. Despite being structurally sound, the building's interior and exterior required comprehensive redecoration after decades of community use.
This aesthetic decline impacted the Hall's role as the community's focal point, particularly significant given Roberton has no shop, post office, or pub, with the nearest facilities five miles away in Hawick. Without investment, the building's deteriorating appearance would have undermined its function as a welcoming community space and potentially affected its long-term sustainability and ability to generate rental income.
Project Scope
The restoration project aimed to return the Hall to its original 1923 appearance through interior and exterior redecoration. The project was designed with a phased approach to minimise disruption to ongoing community activities, with interior work completed first while groups could still meet in alternative spaces like the conservatory.
Funding Application
The Hall initially requested £20,000 from the Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund toward the total project costs of £29,280. However, the funding landscape shifted positively when the Hall secured £15,000 from the National Lottery in February 2024, enabling the group to reduce its request to £14,280 - the final balance required to complete the original project scope.
The Langhope Rig Fund Panel awarded the full requested amount of £14,280, recognising the project's strong alignment with their community asset priorities and the Hall's role as Roberton's only community facility.
Adaptive Grant Management: Responding to Changing Circumstances
As the work was being carried out, contractors discovered that seemingly minor external render repairs required complete re-rendering of the entire building due to extensive hidden damage and hairline cracks throughout the exterior walls.
Rather than constraining the project to its original parameters, Foundation Scotland offered adaptive grant-making when the grantee asked about the scope change. To ensure the decision was that of the community, Foundation Scotland consulted with the Langhope Rig Fund Panel, who supported the modification.
A subsequent scope change in August 2025 further demonstrated Foundation Scotland and the Panel's adaptive approach to supporting the evolving needs of community projects, when the Hall identified additional improvement requirements, including tree removal, safety radiator covers, and perimeter stone wall replacement. Foundation Scotland once again adopted a flexible grant-making approach and presented the change of scope to the Panel, which approved the reallocation of the remaining £7,000 in awarded funding to address these priorities.
Jannie Arnott, Treasurer, Forman Memorial Hall said:
"The support from the Langhope Rig Sub-fund A has been transformational for Forman Memorial Hall and our entire community. The funding enabled us to carry out essential roof repairs that were desperately needed, as well as internal painting that has refreshed and revitalised our spaces. These improvements have enhanced the hall's appearance and also ensured it remains a safe, welcoming venue for all our community activities. The funding hasn't just maintained our building – it's helped strengthen the heart of our village."
Final Thoughts - Broader Implications
The Forman Memorial Hall case study demonstrates how flexible grant-making principles can benefit projects that change scope during delivery. By working within IVAR principles, Foundation Scotland and the Langhope Rig Community Fund’s willingness to accommodate changing circumstances enabled a small volunteer-led organisation to navigate complex challenges while maintaining project momentum.
The project's outcomes show how experienced funders can guide community organisations through evolving challenges, helping to turn potential setbacks into opportunities for more comprehensive and sustainable results.
The case illustrates effective community-led decision making where local knowledge, professional expertise, and flexible funding combine to deliver community benefit, ensuring Roberton's community hub continues serving residents and the broader Borthwick Valley.
Read more about the Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund here.