Consultation and engagement plan
Online survey
An online survey on sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities is now available through our CitizenSpace website. It will close on 31 August 2025.
Summary
Following the publication of the Borders Sporting and Cultural Estate Review by Integratis, a series of community engagement activities will take place through until September 2025.
These are a vital opportunity for individuals, groups, and communities to have their say on the future of local sport, leisure, and cultural service and facilities. We understand that these facilities and the services delivered from them are deeply valued, and it is essential that community voices are heard and reflected in any future proposals.
No decisions have been made. The consultants’ report presents a range of individual facility options for consideration - it is not a list of actions to be taken forward in full. Not all options will be progressed, and community feedback will play a significant role in shaping the recommendations to be put to Full Council in due course.
It is important to note that financial savings are a key driver and must be achieved to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of Live Borders.
Purpose of engagement
The primary aim of this engagement is to inform and involve communities in the future of local facilities and services. This includes:
- Capturing how facilities are currently used, community priorities, and local insight to shape well-informed, balanced decisions
- Providing accessible information on the rationale behind the consultants’ recommendations
- Ensuring that engagement focuses on the facilities identified in the proposals, rather than the report in isolation
- Helping develop a set of clear, evidence-based proposals to be brought back to Full Council in late Autumn 2025 for formal decision-making.
This process has been designed to ensure legal, statutory, and equalities obligations are met, and that engagement is both meaningful and inclusive, building on - rather than duplicating -previous engagement work.
Engagement plan
Throughout the summer we will be providing multiple opportunities for local residents, service users and other stakeholders to provide their feedback and ideas in relation to Live Borders services and facilities.
This includes:
- Public drop-in events: These will allow members of the public to drop-in at a time of their choice and share their views and suggestions face-to-face with representatives of the joint engagement team. Information on relevant facilities in that community will be available.
- Youth engagement events (for ages 11 to 18): These events require registration to manage attendance and will be facilitated sessions, with young people engaged in a creative way to share their input. Online booking will be available shortly.
- Pop-ups: Details are being finalised on locating pop-up information stalls in high footfall areas to capture feedback from the public and signpost opportunities for more detailed engagement opportunities, including the online survey and in-person events.
- Invite-only focus groups: These events will involve roundtable discussions with various community stakeholders, including, for example, community council, town team, development trust, community centre management committee.
No future service or facility proposals will be developed until the consultation and engagement activities are complete, therefore the timing of events should not cause concern. There is also time available to re-engage with key stakeholders if the need arises.
Public events
Please note the event in Earlston has been moved to Earlston High School
Tuesday 8 July - Galashiels
- Drop-in event - Volunteer Hall, Galashiels; 2pm to 7pm
Wednesday 9 July – Leaderdale and Melrose
Please note, feedback on any facility/service within the Leaderdale and Melrose area is welcomed at the following events.
- Drop-in event – Corn Exchange, Melrose; 9am to 11am
- Drop-in event – Lauder Public Hall; 12noon to 2pm
- Drop-in event – Inspire Learning, Tweedbank; 3pm to 5pm
- Drop-in event – Earlston High School; 6pm to 8pm
Thursday 10 July – Stow
- Drop-in event – Stow Town Hall; 2pm to 7pm
Monday 14 July – Newtown St Boswells
- Drop-in event – Council Headquarters reception; 2pm to 7pm
Tuesday 15 July – Duns
- Drop-in event – Southfield Community Centre, Duns; 2pm to 7pm
Wednesday 16 July – Eyemouth
- Drop-in event – Eyemouth Community Centre; 2pm to 7pm
Thursday 17 July – Coldstream
- Drop-in event – Coldstream Community Centre; 2pm to 7pm
Tuesday 22 July – Jedburgh
- Drop-in event – Jedburgh Town Hall; 2pm to 7pm
Wednesday 23 July – Kelso
- Drop-in event – Tait Hall, Kelso; 2pm to 7pm
Thursday 24 July – Langlee
- Drop-in event – Langlee Community Centre; 2pm to 7pm
Friday 25 July and Saturday 26 July – Border Union Show, Kelso
- Pop-up information stand
Monday 11 August – Newcastleton
- Drop-in event – No8 Club, Newcastleton; 4pm to 7pm
Tuesday 12 August – Peebles
Please note, feedback on any facility/service within the Tweeddale area is welcomed at the following event.
- Drop-in event – Burgh Hall, Peebles; 2pm to 7pm
Wednesday 13 August – Selkirk
- Drop-in event – Victoria Halls, Selkirk; 2pm to 7pm
Thursday 14 August – Hawick
- Drop-in event – Hawick Town Hall; 2pm to 7pm
Monday 18 August – West Linton and Innerleithen
Please note, feedback on any facility/service within the Tweeddale area is welcomed at the following events.
- Drop-in event – Graham Institute, West Linton; 10am to 2pm
- Drop-in event – Memorial Hall, Innerleithen; 3pm to 8pm
Youth engagement events
A series of youth engagement events for 11 to 18 year olds are being planned. Booking will be required. Details of these will be published on this page shortly.
Due to an unexpected issue with the availability of external facilitators the previous schedule published has been removed.
Ongoing communication and support
Together with Live Borders we are committed to transparent and open communication throughout this process.
In addition to wider community engagement, we are also engaging directly with:
- Staff who may be affected by potential changes to venues or services
- Key stakeholders and partners, including the third sector and other relevant organisations
These discussions will ensure that all voices are heard, and that the impact on individuals, services, and communities is fully understood.
Communities will also be supported to explore alternative proposals or Community Asset Transfer opportunities where appropriate, with clear guidance and all necessary information provided to support this.
Progressing proposals
Following the engagement period we will begin a vast piece of analysis to review all the feedback received to ensure that every voice is captured and considered.
This analysis work will take place alongside the development of the final proposals which will bring together all research, public feedback, and other relevant considerations to develop comprehensive and well-informed proposals that will shape the recommended outcomes. As part of this process, we will return to the community to share what we heard and how your feedback has informed our approach.