Community Grants

Destination Tweed’s Community Grants Scheme was launched to support projects based within 2 km of the River Tweed (or within 2 km of links to Biggar and Moffat), on the themes of Nature, History and Stories.

This fund was open to applications over four rounds between June 2024 and June 2025, and is supporting 30 projects, awarding over £200,000 in grants of up to £10,000 to community groups and organisations all along the river.

Community Grants is led by Tweed Forum.

  • Tweed Forum logo
Community Grants
Stone carver, Natasha Smith shows local children the top of a new sundial carved with help from local volunteers and set to be unveiled at the inaugural Newstead Sundials Festival. Picture Credit: Phil Wilkinson.

Supported Projects

 

  • Tweed Valley Words

    From Anna Buchan to Robert Burns, and Dorothy and William Wordsworth to Sir Walter Scott – Go Tweed Valley have provided all the inspiration you need for your next day out, or the next chapter of your novel, perhaps…

  • Celebrating Wilson's Tales

    The Wilson’s Tales Project celebrated the life and stories of Tweedmouth-born John Mackay Wilson and his ‘Tales of the Borders’ through a series of events for all ages

  • Peeblesshire Paths Group

    Maintaining Peebles’ local path network through the purchase of a weed wiper machine, which is shared with neighbouring communities in Innerleithen and Walkerburn to extend the benefits

  • Innerleithen Open Studios 2024

    A weekend celebrating the art and artists of Innerleithen and the surrounding area

  • St Boswells Primary School Green Space Project

    St Boswells Primary School Parents & Friends Partnership supported the school’s volunteer-led gardening group to enhance pollinator habitat around the school while increasing participation in a range of gardening activities

  • Newstead Sundials Festival

    The village of Newstead has a rich history which was celebrated at the inaugural Sundials Festival on 7th September 2025, led by Newstead Village Community Trust

  • Women Ride the Tweed

    The FNY Collective’s project included the development of a new collection of cycling routes which highlight the stories of key women in history –  a HERitage trail – and a cycling festival at Traquair

  • An Old Story for a New Era: A Roman Fort Site for the 21st Century

    The Trimontium Trust are enhancing interpretation at one of southern Scotland’s best-known and most significant Roman fort sites

  • Down by the River I…

    Woven Kinship’s project will provide outdoor creative experiences to people facing barriers to accessing nature in meaningful ways, and people exploring their mental health and wellbeing

  • Palimpsest at Paxton House

    Paxton House’s 2025 exhibition by Grenadian-born, New York-based artist and filmmaker Billy Gérard Frank explores the deep-rooted connections between Scotland, Grenada, and England, confronting the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade through multimedia art, community storytelling, and education

  • Connecting People to the Fauna and Flora of the River Tweed

    A wellbeing-focussed nature journaling course led by Instinctively Wild by the Tweed in Tweedsmuir, culminating in an exhibition

  • Gardening for Biodiversity

    Greener Peebles’ project includes creation of a wildlife trail through habitat creation, installation of information boards, seating, artworks and creation of a new co-curated mural

  • Benchmark at Grinham's Wood

    Sharing the stories of Horncliffe and its community in days gone by through the installation of a series of benches and information panels alongside the Tweed

  • Capturing Tweedsmuir

    An exciting new outdoor photography exhibition led by Upper Tweed Community News, with works displayed in six locations spread across the landscape that inspired them

  • Innerleithen Mill Lade Trail

    Innerleithen Community Trust is shedding new light on the historic mill lade through the creation of a new heritage- and ecology-focussed trail

  • Berwick's Carboniferous Past

    This partnership project between North East Museums and English Heritage explores Berwick’s prehistoric past through NE Museums’ fossil collections

  • Coldstream Outdoor Classroom/Community Garden

    Friends of Coldstream Primary School and Coldstream Community Larder have joined forces to facilitate the construction of an outdoor shelter and raised beds, for shared used by the community

  • Movement and Meditation by the Tweed

    Create Wellbeing CIC led a series of free qi gong classes on the banks of the Tweed at Peebles

  • The Meteoric Rise of the Little Egret

    Riddell Fiddles’ multi-generational project will draw inspiration from the intriguing little egret, culminating in performances of newly commissioned musical pieces at locations along the river

  • Tweed Meadows Skills Training Programme

    Merlindale Nature (now transitioning to Borders Meadows Trust) are delivering a series of events focussing on wildflower meadow creation and maintenance, and enhancing and creating pollinator habitat

  • Open Studios 2025

    A weekend celebrating the art and artists of Innerleithen, Walkerburn, Traquair and the surrounding areas

  • Fixed Point Photography and Information Board – Birgham Haugh

    Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Council are leading on a project to help track changes to the flora and fauna on the Haugh through the seasons

  • Castle Vale Park Lily Pond Mural

    Friends of Castle Parks, Berwick’s project will see local primary school pupils co-design a new mural for Castle Vale Park, drawing inspiration from the works of Cedric Morris on display at the Maltings

  • Tweedsmuir Community Garden

    Tweedsmuir Community Garden Group will install a new outdoor shelter to provide a space for workshops and community events on the banks of the Tweed

  • Rope and Flame

    Inspiring Life: Evie Douglas Memorial Fund is working with Dragonfly Productions to deliver this exciting retelling of the infamous witch trials in Peebles, shedding new light on a dark time in the town’s history

  • Tweed Inspirations

    Live Learn Earn CIC will work with pupils at Moffat Academy to create a new art installation from recycled bicycle parts, drawing inspiration from their local surroundings

  • From Stream to Story: Bridging Generations on the Tweed

    YouthBorders are leading on an intergenerational film project celebrating the unique relationship between local communities and the Tweed

  • River Tweed Singers

    Borders Young Musicians are creating new multi-generational community choirs in Kelso and Galashiels, culminating in performances of newly commissioned choral pieces inspired by the Tweed

  • Corehead hay meadow. Credit: Kate O'Leary.

    Tweedbank Nature Trail

    Tweedbank Community Council will reinvigorate the town’s nature trail, with the help of local primary school pupils who will curate a series of information stations to highlight the area’s diverse flora and fauna

  • Abbotsford Next Chapter Schools & Family Project

    Abbotsford Trust’s new programme of events and outreach, inspired by creativity and imagination, aims to reduce barriers to engagement for young people and families

Please note the Community Grants scheme is now closed to new applications