Board of Trustees: Position Statement on Community Centre Closures

The Board of Trustees of Borders Community Action has expressed serious concern about the Scottish Borders Council’s proposed plans to close several community centres across the region. These facilities are vital local hubs, providing spaces where people connect, access support and build community resilience.

While recognising the financial challenges the Council faces, the Board stresses that closure decisions must consider the wider social and economic impacts. The proposed closures have an immediate impact on third sector organisations and their service users, heightening isolation, weakening local networks and increasing pressure on health and social care services.

The Board is also concerned about the reliance on community asset transfer as a main response to closures. Years of underinvestment have left many buildings in poor condition, and successful transfers require genuine community readiness, adequate funding and structured capacity-building.

Colin Easton, Chair of the Board, said:

“These centres play an essential role in the well-being of our communities. Expecting local groups to assume responsibility for assets without proper support risks setting them up to fail rather than empowering them to succeed.”

Finally, Council papers should have been released earlier to allow communities sufficient time to understand the proposals, consider their implications and engage meaningfully with elected members ahead of the meeting on 20th November.

Borders Community Action is calling for a long-term, collaborative approach to community infrastructure that aligns investment, regeneration and social outcomes. The organisation will be contacting elected members ahead of Thursday’s meeting to explore constructive ways forward and to encourage partnership in rebuilding community capacity across the region.