Moorfoot projects flourish with £16,000 long-term funding support
Organisations in Moorfoot have received long-term funding from the Carcant Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to support local development initiatives and resources over the next three years.
Funding will support vital community projects within the Moorfoot Community Council area, with a significant focus on enhancing local village halls.
The latest funding round brings the total for the year to £16,000 – the largest since the fund began operation in 2010. The fund is provided by Greencoat UK Wind, owners of the nearby Carcant Wind Farm, and administered by Foundation Scotland.
Of the £16,000, £7,000 is being used to support essential improvements across several historic village halls. Middleton Village Hall will upgrade its facilities with a new kitchen installation, while Carrington Village Hall will implement energy-efficient measures to create a more sustainable future. Temple Village Hall is set to undergo essential external façade repairs, preserving its architectural heritage.
Additionally, the Temple of Old Kirk Friends has secured funding to develop a comprehensive digital presence, including a new website, digital archive, and documentation project for the historic Temple Old Kirk in Midlothian.
The other £9,000 will be used to support the core operational needs of the village halls in Carrington, Middleton, and Temple over the next three years. This strategic approach will help to alleviate the ongoing financial pressures community hubs face, and ensure that the halls can continue serving as vital gathering spaces at the heart of rural Midlothian's village life.
A Village Hall committee member commented on the vital lifeline Middleton Village Hall provides:
Our Village Hall is more than just a building. It's where friendships are formed, skills are learned, and memories are made. This refurbishment will ensure that we can continue to provide a welcoming space for everyone in our community.
All funding decisions are made by a local Panel, made up of community members from the Fund area. Their local experience and familiarity with the places they live are vital to ensure that Fund remains community focused and that each decision is made with local knowledge and insight, which is the purpose of a community benefit Fund.
Niome Lucjan, a Community Funds Advisor at Foundation Scotland, appreciates the impact local funding has on the community:
Moorfoot Community is committed to ensuring their community continues to thrive. Their focus is primarily on community hubs and promoting accessibility and opportunity for everyone. The long-term awards made by the decision-making Panel are a testament to their commitment to ensuring the place they call home continues to thrive and flourish.
Information and the online application forms are available here