Supporting Community and Voluntary Organisations
The Bridge is a Council for Voluntary Service and a community development organisation. As a Partner in the Borders Third Sector Interface (TSI) we aim to foster resilient and empowered communities in the Scottish Borders.
Contact UsWhat The Bridge Does:
We provide support to and representation for community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. As part of the Third Sector Interface, we:
- act as a source of local intelligence
- enable voices to be heard
- connect the sector to develop leadership, vision and coordination
- build capacity within local organisations to help them meet local needs.
Developing your organisation
Are you looking to start up, or grow an existing organisation? Or do you need help to develop a project and find out about funding opportunities? We can also help you consult your community – the first step and the most important for a new project.
See our Community Support pages »Local Community Transport
Need help with getting out and about? Our wheelchair accessible services cover most of the Scottish Borders. Available for individuals with special mobility needs and non-profit making community / voluntary groups involved in activities of benefit to the community.
See our Community Transport pages »Thrift Shops
Our Thrift Shops are social enterprises, supporting the community through re-use of clothing and household items at affordable cost. Each staffed by a manager and a dedicated team of volunteers, the funds raised provide an additional income to support our local services.
Come and visit – you will love the bargains and help us to help others too!
See our Thrift Shop Locations »Resources
Funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund, ‘Bridging the Gap through Knowledge Transfer’ has brought organisations together to share knowledge and information and build their capacity. The result: workshops on Greening your Community Building and Developing a Digitally-connected Learning Centre, an informative conference “Ideas into Action”, and a Knowledge Bank of resources for the future.
See our Resources pages »Village and Community Halls
Home to a wide variety of community activities, village and community halls in the Borders are all run by local management committees and come together in Federations to share information. The Bridge provides the secretariats for the Central Borders, Peeblesshire and Roxburgh Federations, and can help you to make contact with individual Halls.
See our Village Halls pages »Latest News:
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Regional Land Use Partnership pilot – consultation events for South of Scotland
The South of Scotland has been chosen by the Scottish Government as one of five Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) pilots, to help develop Scotland’s approach to land use in support of our green recovery, the Just Transition to net-zero, and to address the climate change and biodiversity emergencies. The work is being delivered through […]
Read More… from Regional Land Use Partnership pilot – consultation events for South of Scotland
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Community Planning Partnership sets out work plan to support communities
Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP) have set out a work plan which highlights the key priorities and actions for the partnership over the next 12 months to support communities. The key priority themes, which were agreed in June this year, are: ‘Enough Money to live on’ ‘Access to work, learning and training’ ‘Enjoying good health […]
Read More… from Community Planning Partnership sets out work plan to support communities
