Strengthening local community with social connection and support

When rising costs threatened to close the doors of this cherished community group, the Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund was able to offer vital funding to ensure the service could continue without passing increased costs on to families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Thornton Under 5's has been at the heart of the village's family support network since 1986, providing a warm, welcoming space where pre-school children can play, learn and build friendships while their parents and carers build vital social connections. Meeting twice weekly on Tuesday and Friday mornings in Thornton Town Hall, the group has become a lifeline for families. Importantly, the town hall location is within walking distance for most village residents, ensuring the service remains accessible to those who might otherwise struggle to access similar services outside the immediate area.

However, when hall rental rates increased substantially alongside governance costs, the group found itself operating at a loss for the first time in years. While existing reserves covered the shortfall temporarily, the committee recognised this would be unsustainable long term. Yet they remained determined not to increase their nominal attendance fees, knowing this could exclude the very families who needed the service most.

The committee chair reflected on the dilemma they faced:

"We were watching our reserves dwindle month by month, but we simply couldn't bring ourselves to raise prices when we knew families were already choosing between heating and eating. The playgroup has always been about supporting everyone in our community, regardless of their circumstances."

Recognising the critical role Thornton Under 5's plays in supporting young families and reducing isolation, the Fund awarded a three-year grant to cover essential running costs including hall hire, insurance, Early Years Scotland membership, and accountancy fees, with a modest 3% annual uplift to account for inflation.

The impact of this investment has been clear even in the first year of the funding period. Attendance has remained consistently strong, averaging 25 children per session with minimal overlap between days – confirming the group serves around 40 separate families each week. The social benefits extend beyond the children, with approximately 35 adults using the sessions to build support networks and combat the social isolation that can accompany early parenthood.

One parent shared their experience:

"Tuesday and Friday mornings are the highlight of our week. My toddler gets to play with other children while I actually get to have adult conversations. It's been a lifeline, especially after moving to the area without any family nearby."

The funding has also created a ripple effect of community benefit. By ensuring Thornton Under 5's can continue paying rent to the town hall, the grant indirectly supports the hall's sustainability and its availability for other community groups. As the group's treasurer noted in their first-year report, this represents "an extended benefit for the whole community... not just our playgroup”.

Looking ahead, the three-year funding commitment provides crucial stability that allows Thornton Under 5's to plan with confidence. The committee can concentrate on what they do best – creating a space where children develop through play, parents find community, and families build the connections that strengthen the fabric of village life.

By ensuring this crucial group can continue its work without financial anxiety, the Fund has secured an essential service that touches multiple generations and strengthens community bonds in ways that extend far beyond the twice-weekly sessions in the town hall.

For the Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund, supporting Thornton Under 5's represents exactly the kind of grassroots investment that creates lasting community benefit.

Read more about the Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund