Youth Facilities Fund
The Youth Facilities Fund was developed in partnership with our Community Learning and Development team and Youth Borders; as part of the Government’s £20 million Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP) investment in the Scottish Borders.
This fund empowered young people to shape the future of their communities by supporting capital infrastructure projects that directly benefit youth across the region. It offered grants ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 to eligible organisations including community and voluntary groups, registered charities, CICs, and social enterprises.
What sets this initiative apart is its youth-led decision-making process. Funding decisions were made by the Youth Local Action Group (YLAG), a team of ten young people aged 16–30 from across the Borders. Supported by Youth Borders, the YLAG met during a weekend residential to review applications, participate in team-building activities, and ultimately decide which projects would receive funding.
Comments from one of the YLAG participants
“We analysed each application and weighed out the pros and cons. As a group we made decisions on who to fund. We all got to give our opinions and came to a decision together about who to fund with young people's interests at the centre to improve the facilities they use.”
Twelve projects were awarded funding totalling £532,904.13, with all funds to be fully allocated by Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Approved Projects
One Step Borders was awarded £15,400.00 for their project Living Room Hope, which aims to refurbish their main office and counselling rooms in Selkirk to create a welcoming, accessible, and digitally enabled youth wellbeing hub.
Selkirk Scout Group was awarded £17,000.00 for their project Hall Refurbishment, which aims to replace all 11 external windows and two external doors to reduce escalating heating, helping to free up funds for their Scouting programme.
Stable Life was awarded £16,884.00 for their project Refurbishment Project, which aims to renovate their log cabin by repairing the roof and rotting wood, installing low-energy heaters, resurfacing the riding yard for safety, and fixing potholes in the car park to ensure a safer and more comfortable environment for vulnerable young people.
Brothers of Charity Scotland was awarded £29,250.00 for their project Pathways to Independence, which aims to transform an industrial-style space into a sensory-informed, youth-led learning environment for young people with additional support needs.
Eildon West Youth Hub (TD1 Youth Hub) was awarded £30,240.00 for their project TD1 Modernisation, which aims to improve health and safety through facility upgrades, expand their PC suite to support digital skills and gaming, and enhance services for young parents and rural youth clubs.
Beyond Earlston was awarded £52,354.00 for their project BE on the Road, which aims to purchase a minibus for evening use and shared access by other community groups, helping address local transport challenges.
Tweeddale Youth Action was awarded £55,773.00 for their project No need for coats!, which aims to develop architectural plans and install a new, efficient heating system at the Innerleithen Youth Club to prevent session cancellations during cold weather and improve comfort in their refurbished facility.
Escape Youth Services was awarded £71,138.36 for their project Escape 2.0, which aims to upgrade their youth centre with improved security systems, energy-efficient features, expanded storage, and enhanced outdoor areas to better support youth and community activities.
Lauderdale Scout Group was awarded £100,000.00 for their project Lauderdale Scout Hall Extension, which aims to expand their existing hall into a modern, flexible space that supports a wide range of activities, including cooking, sports, arts, and environmental projects, while also improving storage for outdoor equipment.
Cheviot Youth was awarded £78,272.60 for their project Reboot: The Big Hub Upgrade, which aims to renovate the Kelso Youth Hub by installing energy-efficient windows, replacing the heating system, redecorating the interior, creating therapeutic spaces, and adding accessible toilets to ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment.
Connect Berwickshire Youth Project was awarded £27,987.37 for their project From Tired to Thriving, which aims to transform their outdated Duns youth space into a modern, safe, and accessible environment with energy-efficient upgrades, inclusive facilities, and co-designed features that reflect the creativity of the young people who use it.
Connect Berwickshire Youth Project was awarded £38,604.80 for their project Keeping up with the Kitchen, which aims to upgrade the Eyemouth Youth Centre with energy-efficient windows, new carpeting, updated seating and desks, minor roof repairs, and refreshed interior spaces to match the quality of care and support offered to young people.
This initiative reflects the power of youth-led decision-making and the importance of investing in spaces that support the wellbeing, creativity, and development of young people in rural communities.
For more information, please contact ukgovfunding@scotborders.gov.uk