Facts & Figures

Isolation, distance from community facilities and services, lack of employment opportunities  … a familiar story in rural life? A group of committed local people formed the Newland Community Development Trust in the Scottish Borders to develop a community hub and to make a difference to the quality of life in the area. Now they have the funding in place, the land has been acquired and wider community and Council support has been secured, NCDT can move forward to make this a reality. (Feb 2010) 

Company Limited by guarantee with charitable status

NCDT aims to become self-sufficient by hiring out facilities/renting space within a community hub – see ‘physical hub’ below. Scottish Borders Council will be an anchor tenant. 

see ‘physical hub’ below.

Roots & Links

In 2003 Newlands Primary School was threatened with closure. A parents group worked to convince the Council to save the school.  The group were also concerned for the wellbeing of their rural community: isolation, distance from facilities and services, and a lack of employment opportunities, all impact significantly on the quality of life there. In 2007 the Trust was formed to develop a stronger sense of community and to work to improve general wellbeing in the area. 

The Trust has a Board of nine elected Directors and three co-opted Directors.  Local people become members for £1 giving them voting rights at the AGM

Include:

Include:

• Scottish Borders Council
• the Big Lottery Fund
• the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Activities

The Trust has developed a business plan for a modern, multi-purpose community centre.  This hub will be in Romanno Bridge, next to Newlands Primary School, and  be run as a self-sufficient enterprise.  It will serve the whole community, providing:

§         a large hall for sports and events

§         a nursery and playgroup

§         kitchen with dining area that can cater for weddings and so on

§         adult learning, IT and library facilities

§         a new football pitch.

Two members of staff will manage the centre, and other jobs will be created in childcare and catering.  Scottish Borders Council has agreed to the transfer of land for the building into community ownership – now awaiting agreement from the Scottish Government. Almost £2 million in funding has been secured from the Big Lottery Fund and the Scotland Rural Development Programme.  The Trust is tendering for the appointment of a company to lead on design of the building and project management of the construction.

The Board and supporters are developing their skills and confidence as they take the project forward.

• see ‘physical hub’ above for proposed services. 
• an existing hub at Lamancha – see ‘community links’ above - includes a community centre with rooms for hire, a café and library.
• the Trust is already running community events - African Music night and a Family Ceilidh for instance - and supports other local and school events.

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Securing significant funding from two bodies, the Scotland Rural Development Programme and the Big Lottery Fund: the SRDP recently extended its scope to cover community and other rural projects as it’s key function had been to support agricultural and fisheries projects only.  NCDT was one of the first community projects to come on board, and we and SRDP aim to use what we’re learning as a model for the future.

Securing the support and partnership of the Scottish Borders Council: persuading SBC that this is worthwhile and to come on board with us and transfer the land took time. It’s the first time they’ve gone into partnership with a community group; a unanimous decision by the Council. There’s also been a Parliamentary minute noting this innovative approach.

What Next

Clearing each hurdle has been a massive challenge:  first securing funding and then the land.  Now we’ve got to deliver on what we’ve said we will do.  It’s going to be amazing.  We’ve had 38 formal responses from professionals to deliver the design and project manage the hub’s construction: we’ve invited six companies to tender.

Commitment and skills: Many people didn’t believe this could happen.  Our strength has been our core group of nine who came to the first meeting and then became the Directors.  We’ve been lucky that those who came along had the skills we needed. Don’t give up: where’s there’s a will …

Partnership and funding: when working with the Council, we’ve needed to understand their issues and challenges. Be patient and persevere. With funding applications, attention to detail is extremely important; dot the I’s and cross the T’s.

To provide a community hub that delivers what we said it would … and then get a development officer to work jointly with this hub and the one at Lamancha.  We’d like to start community transport through a minibus to support travel to the community centres; and also to provide meals on wheels to the elderly, with fresh locally-produced food. 

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