Projects in Scottish Borders celebrate bumper year of support from Drone Hill Community Fund
The Drone Hill Community Fund in the Scottish Borders has announced its final round of community grants for the year, awarding just over £41,000 to twelve local projects. This brings the annual total of grants awarded to a record £62,000, the most ever awarded in a single year since the fund opened in 2012.
The Greencoat Wind UK Drone Hill Community Fund, which is administered by Foundation Scotland, supports projects that benefit residents across the areas of Grantshouse, Reston and Auchencrow, Cockburnspath and Cove, Coldingham as well as the surrounding Berwickshire communities.
The twelve awards made in November primarily focused on young people and bolstering quality education and resources, which will make a significant impact on their future and the future of the local communities.
All local Fund area primary schools including Cockburnspath & Cove, Coldingham, and Reston & Auchencrow will benefit from a range of funded projects including science, arts, and environmental projects which will be delivered directly within the schools. Organisations that were funded to deliver these in-school projects include The Edinburgh Science Foundation which will provide science workshops to the three Fund area schools, and Borders Youth Theatre, which will deliver a range of an intergenerational projects that use drama to connect younger and older residents and create cultural and social opportunities to make connections.
Meeting of the Minds also receiving funding to purchase resources to support its Autism Outreach program for young people and those with additional support needs.
Berwickshire Marine Reserve also received a grant to deliver a Junior Citizen Science programme in partnership with local primary schools, educating young people on nature and taking care of the environment.
Local primary schools Parent Councils also received funding, including Reston & Auchencrow who received an award to purchase a new Clevertouch smart board for the assembly halls to enhance the learning experience for pupils and offer opportunities for community groups to use the space. Coldingham received support for the whole school to attend the local Christmas Pantomime to provide children with a special Christmas experience. And finally, two projects that actually sit outwith the fund area received support - Parents and Friends of Ayton Primary received funding to build a playground within the school, and Seashells Day Care Nursery in Eyemouth, was awarded a grant to support upgrading a changing facility. With both projects, residents from the Fund area attend the school and nursery.
An award was also made to Happy Swimmers to subsidise swimming lessons for primary school children whose families are unable to meet the cost themselves. This will provide opportunities to learn a life skill which is especially vital for people living within coastal communities.
Other non-education related awards included £10,000 to Borders Pottery, to support the cost of a new Community Crafts Project and the continuation of its pottery mental health support classes for local people experiencing poor mental health or addiction, to reduce isolation and support recovery.
This latest round of funding was once again decided by a Panel, made up of local 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, underscoring the values of a community benefit Fund.
Logan Inglis, who is a Panel member and Community Councillor for Reston & Auchencrow said:
It is great to see so many worthy local projects getting the support they need to deliver for our communities, and we look forward to seeing the impact of these projects longer term.
Niome Lucjan, Community Funds Advisor at Foundation Scotland, said:
It has been an exciting year for the Drone Hill Fund, especially in the most recent funding round earlier this month. Fund distribution has been broad and impactful, and the focus on young people to ensure quality education and experiences aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education as well as the priorities of the fund itself. Investment in our young people is an investment in the success of the Scottish Borders and the local Community Council areas.
The next application deadline is 3rd March 2025.
Read more about fund deadlines and how to apply here.