Nurturing Community Connections Through Early Years Support
A volunteer-led playgroup in Stow has become an important part of community life, showing how modest community benefit funding can support essential services that strengthen rural communities.
Stow Baby and Toddler Group volunteers have set up twice-weekly play sessions in Stow Town Hall, providing a welcoming space where pre-school children and their parents can socialise, form friendships, and build the support networks that help young families thrive in rural areas. With over 30 families registered and regular attendance from Stow, Fountainhall, Lauder and Heriot, the group serves an important role in bringing together parents and carers who might otherwise feel isolated.
The group was established in 2004 but, like many community initiatives, faced closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. When the previous committee members' children aged out of the service during lockdown, continuity seemed uncertain. However, following a summer programme (provided by Live Borders, Scottish Borders Council’s arm’s length leisure and culture charity) which highlighted continuing demand, a new committee of resident volunteers formed in 2021 to relaunch the club. This fresh start came with significant challenges as the were essentially starting from scratch, with a completely new management group and limited financial reserves.
The Challenge
Operating a regular community service requires reliable, ongoing funding, yet the group's income streams were modest in the face of annual running costs exceeding £3,500. While a small fee of £2-3 was charged per family per session, the committee felt strongly that fees must remain affordable, particularly given the cost-of-living pressures facing many families. The group's unrestricted reserves of £962 represented just three to four months' running costs, demonstrating clear financial need. Without sustainable funding, the risk of halting the sessions again seemed very real.
Community Benefit Funding Makes the Difference
The Stow Baby and Toddler Group approached the EDF Power Solutions Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund, which is administered by Foundation Scotland, for support. Their application in late 2023 requested £5,600 over two years to cover 75% of hall hire and insurance costs, with the remaining costs to be met through participant contributions and community fundraising.
The Longpark Community Fund's decision-making Panel, which is made up of local residents, recognised the group's importance to a key demographic within the parish and that the group’s activity clearly met the Fund objectives - to enhance quality of life for local residents and contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.
Supporting parents of early-years children had also been clearly identified as a priority in Stow's 2023 Community Action Plan.
The Panel unanimously awarded the full amount requested in November 2023, giving the group financial security for two years. This award has subsequently been extended through to December 2026 following successful fundraising efforts that have allowed the group to draw down grant funding more slowly than anticipated.
Building on Success
With funding secured, the group has flourished. The committee has worked diligently to enhance its financial sustainability through creative fundraising initiatives including a Christmas Fayre which raised £673, a Burns Ceilidh which brought in £792, cake sales, and raffles. These events have not only generated income but have also brought the wider community together, strengthening social connections across generations.
The group maintains a welcoming atmosphere that's frequently recognised, according to Lyn, one of the founding volunteers.
| "Several newcomers to the village or surrounding areas have joined us recently — the group provides a friendly introduction to others with small children." |
The committee has also focused on sustainability beyond finances. Learning from the challenges of the post-Covid restart, they've implemented transition processes to ensure continuity, with new committee members shadowing existing roles before taking them on. Meanwhile, the group has expanded its volunteer base, with several new, older volunteers joining the team to share the day-to-day running of sessions.
Impact on Community Life
The group now serves approximately 75 individuals — over 30 parents and carers who attend with their young children on different days throughout the week. For many families, particularly newcomers to the area, the group provides an invaluable first point of contact.
One mother shared her experience:
“I have lived in Stow for eight years. I worked in Edinburgh so didn't get to know many people in the village. After having a baby I was told about the playgroup in the village hall and went along. I was really scared about going into a room filled with women who all knew each other and I felt like an outsider. This was not the case - everyone was lovely and came and spoke to me, they got to know me and my child giving us an identity within the village. They have made going for walks easier as I see them throughout the village. I now have friends in the village who I go on days out with and have been able to give my child some friends and people who she will grow up with. None of this would be possible without the town hall and the playgroup.”
The benefits extend well beyond socialisation. The group supports child development by providing space for early-years children to improve their social skills through play, sharing, and interaction with peers. This gentle preparation for nursery means children transition to formal education alongside friends they already know, easing what can be a difficult adjustment. For the older volunteers who help run the sessions, the group provides meaningful engagement with younger generations.
Supporting Community Aspirations
The group's success directly addresses priorities identified in Stow and Fountainhall's Community Action Plan. The Plan emphasises the importance of "promoting wellbeing" and highlights specific concerns around childcare provision and the retention of young families in rural areas. The Plan notes that childcare and nursery facilities are required to assist working families and that childcare is viewed as a business opportunity for communities. It also expresses concern about the retention of young people, stating that "reliable transport, limited housing and lack of opportunities to socialise impact young residents.
By providing affordable early years provision and opportunities for families to connect, Stow Baby and Toddler Group directly contributes to making Stow a more attractive place for young families to settle and remain. The group helps fulfil the community's vision of creating "a place that supports intergenerational living" and "a sustainable, inclusive community with good access to amenities."
Wider Community Benefits
The group's impact extends to the sustainability of community infrastructure itself. By keeping Stow Town Hall busy two mornings a week, the group plays a part in highlighting the importance, and potential viability of, this community asset. Many families who attend the playgroup subsequently book the Hall for parties and other events.
Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager at Foundation Scotland, understands the ripple effects of supporting community-led groups:
“Community benefit funding plays a key role in volunteer-led services that might otherwise struggle to survive. When the Fund supports groups like Stow Baby and Toddler Group, it’s not just funding play sessions - it’s investing in the social fabric that makes rural communities resilient and vibrant. The fact that this small group has grown from strength to strength over four years, developing its own fundraising capacity while maintaining affordable access, shows what can be achieved when communities have the security of reliable funding.”
Looking Forward
The group's treasurer reflects on their journey:
| "When a few of us restarted the Baby and Toddlers Group after the Covid shutdown, we turned to Longpark Community Fund through Foundation Scotland for support. The costs of hall rental, fees and insurance are substantial and the subsequent grants approved by the Panel have covered these for us. As a result our little group has grown from strength to strength, and is proving to be a valuable meeting point for young and old in our rural community." |
With funding now extended through to December 2026 and a healthy programme of fundraising events planned, the group is well-positioned for continued success. They plan to apply again to the Fund to ensure long-term sustainability, whilst continuing to develop their own income-generating activities.
The story of Stow Baby and Toddler Group illustrates the importance of community benefit funding in supporting the volunteer-led services that underpin community life in rural Scotland. By providing families with affordable access to early years support and opportunities to connect with others, the group contributes directly to the sustainability and vibrancy of Stow as a community - precisely the outcome that community benefit funds are designed to achieve.
Read more about the EDF Power Solutions Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund