EIGHT projects across the Borders have secured funding totalling £1.3 million.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) identified 14 applications – with five unsuccessful and one bid pending a decision.

The projects granted funding must be delivered by a deadline of June 30, 2022.

They are:

  • £381,821 to support the development of environmentally focused courses in entrepreneurship and carbon literacy at Borders College
  • £218,739 to fund an employment and wellbeing programme for people living in housing associations. The Berwickshire Housing programme will deliver digital skills, financial literacy, and promote good mental health
  • £187,272 to develop the electric vehicle charging infrastructure
  • £160,854 for the Scottish Borders Community Development Company (known as The Bridge) for workshops to help communities deliver larger scale projects
  • £158,041 to help the development of a mountain biking centre in Tweeddale
  • £90,739 for a feasibility study to develop an area of land purchased by Newcastleton and District Community Trust
  • £82,445 to help support the delivery of training and heritage focused activities by Archaeology Scotland
  • £57,120 for the Southern Uplands Partnership to develop energy efficiency training schemes

The money is part of a £220 million UK Government funding pot “designed to support communities to pilot new ideas and approaches to better support people in need”.

SBC was asked for information about the unsuccessful bids and the project waiting on a decision, but did not supply any details before this newspaper went to press.

Council leader Shona Haslam said: “Large scale projects that are driven by people who live in our communities and are passionate about making the Scottish Borders a better place to live and work can make a real difference to the lives of many.

“The support provided by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund is vital to helping innovative and locally-led projects breathe new life into towns and villages across the Borders and help support the region's recovery from COVID-19.”

The Conservative Tweeddale East councillor added: “Whilst it is great news that eight projects have been successful in securing funding, we will be working closely with those unsuccessful applicants to identify alternative means of taking forward their projects.”

Conservative Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, SBC’s executive member for economic regeneration and finance, described the money as a “major boost to our region”.

“The amount of money granted to these individual projects reflects the strength of their applications and their potential to improve the lives of Borderers by delivering jobs and improving local communities.

“It’s welcome news to see the timescale for delivery of these projects being extended after a delay to the announcement of funding. This will give much needed additional time to allow our projects to be delivered to their full potential and provide maximum benefit to the Scottish Borders.”