STOBO Village Hall is to get a revamp after receiving a £20,000 grant.

Community leaders are now able install a new kitchen and a disabled toilet with baby changing facilities, and create wheelchair-friendly access to the building.

The cash had been donated by the Fallago Environment Fund, which supports projects around the Borders.

The new kitchen will be able to provide hot meals to 60 people at a time.
And the hall’s committee, which serves Stobo, Dawyck and Lyne, says the facelift will help the group extend its events programme.

Harry Griffin, who is on the committee, said: “Stobo Village Hall is in urgent need of an upgrade and this grant is a great start to our fundraising efforts. 

“We’re extremely grateful to the Fallago Environment Fund for an award which will play a significant role in the development of this important resource at the heart of our community.”

Other projects from around the Borders have also received funding.
The Hume Castle Preservation Trust near Greenlaw has received £32,890 to facilitate historical research that will unlock the secrets of the castle’s medieval past; and Thirlestane Castle in Lauder, has been awarded £15,000 to go towards the restoration of a room to house its Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian toy collections. 

Elsewhere, the Waterloo monument at Peniel Heugh near Jedburgh, has received £12,500 to repair the viewing platform on the 150ft tower; while Keith House, a listed building in Coldstream, has been granted £8,000 to assist with its restoration for the purposes of social housing. 

A grant of £1,500 has also been given to Kelso Folk Festival to help with organisation and running costs.

Gareth Baird, Chairman, Fallago Environment Fund, told us: “Our overall aim is to enhance and protect the rich natural, built and cultural heritage of the Scottish Borders for everyone who lives here. 

“These latest grants have been awarded to six extremely worthwhile projects that we hope will encourage a mix of learning, tourism, social interaction and a better quality of life. We’re delighted that wind-farm-generated funds are being used in such a positive way.”

For more information visit: http://www.tweedforum.org/fallago