The Communities and Partnership Team works with and supports communities in the Borders on:
- funding
- community benefits
- local community planning
We also look at the best ways for ourselves, our partners and communities in the Borders to engage and work together. Our Team is an initial point of contact for queries relating to the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Funding
We work with groups to access grants and funding. Our funding officer works with external organisations to support investment for communities in the Scottish Borders. We also administer a Community Fund. This funding can offer grants to constituted voluntary/community groups to support delivery of community projects in the Borders area. It can also provide one-off support grants to groups who are facing temporary financial difficulties. Find out more about community grants and funding
Community Empowerment Act
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 helps to empower community bodies through the ownership of land and buildings, and by strengthening their voices in the decisions that matter to them. Our team is a first point of contact for queries under the new Act, and we have created resources to assist communities with the introduction of the Act. Find out more information about the Community Empowerment Act
Community Engagement
Our five Community Engagement Officers are out and about in the area to support groups, organisations and residents to be part of the conversation and changes that people would like to make to their area. It is a key outcome in the Scottish Borders Council Plan, under the sections "Working together improving lives" and "Empowered, vibrant communities", where people support each other and take responsibility for their local area.
Tp keep residents up to date with community planning and community activity, the five Community Engagement Officers have a Community Engagement newsletter with updates on activities from across the five Localities.
We provide assistance for our services, for queries relating to engaging and consulting with communities.
- take part in our current consultations
- view our we asked, you said, we did section
Locality Planning
Under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership are required to produce a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (known as a LOIP) and locality plans for each of the five areas within the Scottish Borders.