Blackhill Community Fund

We used the funding that we received from BWCF to improve our storage facilities at our warehouse. This has helped to increase our outreach capacity as we were able to accept and store more baby equipment and support more families within our communities.

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.

Thanks to a £4,000 grant from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, ESR planted native woodland trees and installed fencing to protect them from curious hooves. Young people and adults engaged in hands-on planting sessions, gaining skills and confidence outdoors. The project not only inspired individual growth and future ambitions but also supported biodiversity, creating habitats and natural barriers for years to come.

This fund supported the pilot project of a BlackBox Theatre in the Duns Cadet Hall which hosted our creative engagement programme, experimental theatre from early career artists, was a rehearsal venue and hosted the showing of a dance film by local dancer. The new studio theatre gave opportunities to early career artists and producers.

With support from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, Reston JAC member Lauren travelled to Canada as part of an international exchange. A highlight of her trip was visiting Richmond Ranch, home to Aberdeen Angus and Limousin cattle. “I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to go back one day,” she shared. “Thank you for helping make this incredible experience possible.”

DunsPlayFest 2022 returned with a hybrid festival—live performances at the Volunteer Hall and a curated online programme available for weeks afterward. With support from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, a young filmmaker captured the live shows for digital audiences, and A Heart for Duns received funding for a sign-board for the visually impaired—ensuring accessibility remains at the heart of the festival’s vision.

Formerly known as the EBGR project, the Borders Greenway is progressing thanks to vital early support from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund. The grant helped establish a well-supported Community Consultation Group and Steering Group, contributing to a full feasibility study commissioned by South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish Borders Council. Covering the proposed route from Melrose to Eyemouth, the project is now poised to become a major active travel initiative for the region.

With a £3,243 grant from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, ParentSpace delivered 91 one-to-one support sessions—exceeding expectations. Sessions were held in-home or by phone, providing flexible support for families across the region. The grant also funded training for two new facilitators, helping expand services, including a new Dads-only course and more planned for the year ahead.

Thanks to support from the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund, Gavinton Village Hall is now equipped with a generator to provide emergency power during outages. The generator is fully insured and maintained, with local volunteers receiving regular refresher training. The project has inspired similar setups in neighbouring communities, strengthening local resilience across the area.