Council’s Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund opens for applications

Published: 1st June 2021

Our Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund has now opened for applications

The one-off £500k fund has been established as part of the response and recovery efforts relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is available for one-off new initiatives and projects and has been divided between the five localities of Berwickshire, Cheviot, Eildon, Teviot, and Liddesdale and Tweeddale.

The aim is to provide support for initiatives, projects or events that will ‘re-boot’ or ‘kick start’ activities that have the overall aim of strengthening community capacity, resilience and engagement and particularly relate to: 

  • sport
  • culture
  • volunteering
  • tackling environment and climate change issues

It will also be able to provide support to events and projects that are looking to recognise the significant contribution made by individuals and groups throughout the pandemic by way of increased volunteer activity and service to their communities.

Co-ordination of the fund and assessment of applications will be done by our Communities and Partnership Team. Assessments will then be passed to the relevant Area Partnership for decision making.

Fund open from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022

The fund is open from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 and is available to:

  • constituted groups (maximum £15k)
  • non-constituted groups (maximum £5k, with payment through an umbrella body)

A fast track process is available for applications of up to £1.5k.

Funding will be allocated on a one-off basis only.

Applications must be for new initiatives and projects that aim to support the region’s recovery from the pandemic. They should be accessible to all within the community and be provided free of charge.

Projects or initiatives will also need to demonstrate how they will meet at least one of the following outcomes:

  • improved access to sport
  • improved access to arts and culture
  • increased volunteering capacity
  • improved or enhanced community capacity
  • resilience and engagement
  • support for local environment enhanced in a sustainable way
  • greater intergenerational work

More information about the application process and eligibility criteria is available on our website.

Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Community Development and Localities

“The Build Back a Better Borders Recovery fund is a significant part of our commitment to doing all we can to support communities and local community groups with the COVID-19 recovery effort.

“Now that the fund has opened, I would encourage local community groups to have a look at the criteria and get their applications in. There is considerable scope for a range of ideas and initiatives to be put forward and we will be keen to support as many as we can.”

More information

Proposals for the administration of the fund were agreed at the Council meeting held on 13 May.