Blackhill Community Fund

In January we submitted an application to BWCF and had approval to spend £5,000 of a total of around c. £16,000 on new furniture for the Volunteer Hall. We also managed to secure funds from AHFD reserves and £5,000 match from SBC Community Fund. Our expenditure was impacted on by Covid pricing, and from prices […]

Thank you again (Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund) for awarding us this grant.  We have now had the courts repainted and purchased three new nets as can be seen in the attached photograph. Over the last few months, we have been trying to attract new players to come and try tennis by running a number of

Thanks to funding from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, the local tennis courts have been freshly repainted and fitted with new nets—boosting efforts to attract new players. Free “come and try” sessions, after-school clubs, and a successful holiday camp have helped engage young people in the sport. The club plans to continue growing participation while maintaining the courts for future use.

This project aimed to refurbish and repair a number of local amenities in our local area, including two local bus shelters, railings, benches, cutting back shrubbery and renewal of signs.

The project allowed older residents from the Westruther community to share their memories and experiences with Primary 4 to 7 pupils from the primary school.

Since 1990, our befriending projects have supported children (8+), young people, and adults with learning disabilities—reducing isolation, boosting wellbeing, and giving respite to family carers.

Since 2015, this community-led project has transformed Duns with vibrant planting across 23 sustainable beds and countless planters. Their electric watering vehicle, “Billy Bowser,” is essential to the upkeep—and thanks to 100% funding from BWCF, new batteries were installed in 2023 to keep everything growing strong.

Achievements The grant of £2,750 has helped us in the following ways:

With support from BWCF, we collaborated with Dunse History Society and Duns & District Business Forum to create a printed and digital tourism map celebrating the town’s rich history. Despite challenges, including post-Covid delays and team changes, the project brought together over 100 local contributors and now forms part of a refreshed Town Trail, helping visitors explore Duns in a meaningful and engaging way.

With support from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, the community of Gordon proudly purchased the Gordon Sports Field in February 2023. This new community-owned space is already taking shape, with fencing installed by local volunteers and plans underway to develop it into a vibrant hub for sport and recreation.