Modernising a community resource
Funding from the Binn Wind Turbine Community Benefit Fund has supported the modernisation of Strathmiglo Public Hall.
Strathmiglo Public Hall has served the Fife village since 1959, when it was established as a registered charity held in trust for the benefit of the local community. Owned by the village and run by a volunteer committee, the Hall hosts activities seven days a week, from pilates and badminton to country dancing and children's storytelling. Around 500 people benefit directly from the programme each year, with the Hall's ongoing availability supporting the wellbeing of Strathmiglo's wider population of some 900 residents.
At the heart of the Hall sits its kitchen — used by every group that meets there. But the kitchen had not been renovated since it was rebuilt following a fire around 1960. Its only update in 65 years had been a second-hand cooker installed roughly 30 years ago. The centrepiece of the old kitchen was a large, inefficient hot-water tank, heating far more water than was ever needed and driving up running costs for the Hall.
The Project
Strathmiglo Public Hall applied to the Binn Wind Turbine Community Fund for support to modernise the kitchen, with the original plan focused on replacing the outdated tank with two efficient under-sink water heaters supplying hot water on demand — a change expected to significantly cut energy use and cost. The scope also included new electrical spurs, updated flooring, replacement of shelving and cupboards, and a full redecoration. The Hall's regular user groups were closely involved throughout, particularly the Community Association and the Busy Bees group, whose regular use of the kitchen meant their input shaped every decision.
From Repair to Renewal
What began as a focused fix for the hot water system grew into something more ambitious. Once work was underway, the committee recognised the opportunity to "future-proof" the kitchen rather than make piecemeal improvements, resulting in a complete refurbishment with new units, sinks, a new cooker, new flooring, and a full redecoration, alongside the planned water heating upgrade.
A key decision was appointing a local joinery contractor as clerk of works to coordinate the different trades. This proved invaluable: the project was completed to a high standard within the committee's target of one month, and the Hall committee has already identified it as a model to follow for future multi-trade projects, rather than attempting to manage complex works themselves.
While the plumbing and electrical costs stayed in line with the original budget, joinery costs rose as the scope expanded to a full kitchen replacement, reflecting the committee's judgement that a thorough, lasting solution offered better long-term value than a partial one.
Outcome
Strathmiglo now has a fully modernised kitchen, ready to serve the Hall's users for years to come. The Hall committee expects a marked reduction in electricity costs from switching to on-demand water heating, while users benefit from a space that is easier to clean, more practical for food preparation and storage, and simply more pleasant to use. As one user group put it, the kitchen has been "future-proofed" — a phrase the committee has been glad to adopt.
Beyond day-to-day use, the committee anticipates the improved facility will make the Hall more attractive to prospective hirers, helping sustain its role as a vibrant hub for the community well into the future.
Fit with the Fund
The Binn Wind Turbine Community Benefit Fund, aiming to benefit the Community Council areas of Glenfarg and Abernethy & District (both in Perth & Kinross) and Auchtermuchty & Strathmiglo (in Fife), made its first awards in June 2023.
Over the last three years, the fund has awarded grants to projects promoting safe, cohesive, resilient communities and encouraging community activity, maintaining and developing community facilities and assets, reducing inequalities faced by residents and communities and supporting healthy lives and well-being for all. Nearly £64,000 of awards have been made to a total of 32 projects, across 25 unique organisations, and awards have benefited people from all ages and stages of the population.
Overall, the awards made show a pattern of a village-focused community benefit prioritising practical local infrastructure, community empowerment, and social and environmental wellbeing. As well as supporting the Strathmiglo Public Hall, the Fund has invested in several other community buildings including the Abernethy Bowling Club, Glenfarg Community Centre, Gateside Hall, and Auchtermuchty Community Centre.
Read more about the Binn Wind Turbine Community Benefit Fund.