Three local organisations are celebrating the award of grants of £25,000 each from the Scottish Government’s Enterprise Ready Fund.
The fund, which aims to help maintain, develop and grow third sector groups has given the cash to Stable Life, Borders Environmental Education Services and the Duncan Mackinnon Music and Arts Trust.
Iain Coltman, director of the trust, which operates from the former St Andrew’s Church in Galashiels, said: “We are extremely grateful for this grant which will enable us to acquire some essential hardware and supplies to take Mac Arts to the next stage.”
He added: “The grant will provide us with the equipment to promote a variety of events, including workshops, gigs and theatre, giving Galashiels a facility for the arts it needs and deserves.”
Mags Powell, business development manager for Stable Life, based at Dryden, said: “The funding has allowed us to purchase ponies and much needed capital equipment along with marketing tools to help promote the organisation.
“Having this funding has given us a huge step up the ladder, as without it we would not have been able to run our service at the capacity we wish to and we would only have been able to support a reduced number of young people.”
Borders Environmental Education Services will use the money on rebranding.
Director Pete Carthy said: “We carried out a survey of around 110 people and 90 per cent thought our name meant we only delivered services in the Borders area and that we were somehow connected to council services and schools.
“Almost 80 per cent thought we were something to do with bees and bee-keeping from looking at the acronym and logo. The name has got to go, as it’s stopping us from developing as an organisation.”