Lottery grant helps bring Newcastleton into the hub

Buccleuch House, a former resource centre in the heart of the village, will be transformed into a digital learning hub and bunkhouse for walkers and cyclists, which will help sustain the hub for the future.. 

The award of £129,812, part of a package of grants announced by The National Lottery Community Fund means that the Newcastleton District and Community Trust (NDCT) can begin to create the new hub which will be a focal point for learning opportunities and will also be a pilot for Borders College Hub and Spoke outreach programme.

Barbara Elborn, secretary of the NDCT, said: “This award allows us to press the ‘go’ button on the development works.

“We cannot wait to get started transforming a neglected but beloved old building into much-needed facilities and services; state of the art outreach learning facility, retail and office space, sustained by a 14-bed bunkhouse capitalising on the growing walking and cycling market. 

“This is a project of significant size locally, making a massive difference to the community and local businesses who will all benefit from this investment.” 

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland director Neil Ritch, said: “I am delighted that some of this funding will be used to transform an existing building into a vibrant community hub that will carry on the strong community spirit that has been so evident in recent times. “

The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland is currently focusing its funding on those projects that support organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of COVID-19.