Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, visited Philiphaugh Community Centre as part of a programme highlighting innovative, community-led approaches to tackling poverty and supporting
Philiphaugh Community Centre - tackling poverty and supporting young people in Scottish Borders
During the visit, the Minister was greeted by local volunteers and representatives from a range of community organisations. The programme included an introduction to the Borders Local Action Group (LAG), which has distributed over £12 million in funding to local projects over the past two decades, supporting initiatives that improve life for Borderers.
A key moment of the visit was a video presentation by the Youth Local Action Group (YLAG), a dynamic team of young people aged 14 to 26 who are responsible for distributing funds to youth-led projects across the region. The video showcased YLAG’s priorities—mental health and wellbeing, support for underrepresented groups, skills development, business and enterprise, and tackling rural poverty—and highlighted the positive impact of youth-led grant making in the Borders.
Minister Fairlie praised the commitment and creativity of local partners, stating
"It’s inspiring to see how community-led action, especially by young people, is making a real difference in the Scottish Borders. The work of the LAG, YLAG, and their partners is a model for empowering communities and supporting the next generation.”
The Minister also heard about the variety of work and activity that is taking place in the local community with the development of the Locality Plan and a chance to meet volunteers who are running the Community Cook Club and Larder. A further presentation was provided by Scottish Borders Housing Association who initially supported Selkirk Can Cook via Community Led Local Development Funding (CLLD)
Robin Tatler, Chair of the Anti-Poverty Member Reference Group
“Ensuring the safety and resilience of our communities is at the heart of everything we do in the Scottish Borders. By working in partnership with local organisations and empowering residents—including our young people—we are building a safer, more resilient region for everyone.
“The commitment and creativity shown by our communities is a real inspiration, and together we are making a lasting difference.”
The event concluded with a discussion on parental support services and employability programmes, underlining the importance of partnership working in addressing youth poverty and building resilient communities.
The visit took place during Challenge Poverty Week (6-12 Oct), which Scottish Borders Council is supporting with the launch of a new family support directory.
The online directory provides an overview of local and national support services available to families and will be a helpful resource for all parents and carers. The directory is organised to help them find relevant information quickly, based on age group and the type of support required.