Bridgend Farmhouse Community Project facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | 03/10/2010 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Will Golding, John Knox, Anna Danby, Sally Swann |
| Type | Community owned charitable organisation |
| Focus | To advance community development through the shared ownership of Bridgend Farmhouse and providing opportunities for active citizenship and volunteering |
| Location |
|
|
Area served
|
South-east Edinburgh |
The Bridgend Farmhouse Community Project in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a special place run by the community, for the community! It's a charity that brought an old 18th-century farmhouse back to life. Now, it's a busy meeting place, a cozy café, a lovely garden, and a spot for workshops.
This project offers lots of cool classes, workshops, and training for people of all ages. You can learn different crafts and skills here. It's also a great place for performances, talks, and fun gatherings. The project is officially called Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG). It was one of the first places in Scotland to be owned by the community in a city area. In 2018, it became the first group in Scotland to change its legal status to a Community Benefit Society with charitable status.
Contents
The Farmhouse Story
The land where Bridgend Farmhouse stands has had buildings on it since the 1500s! Back in the 16th century, King James V might have had a hunting lodge here. There was also a beautiful chapel built around 1518. This chapel was later used as a stable for horses.
In 2014, archaeologists studied the site. They found proof that an important building stood on the chapel's spot a long time ago. The current farmhouse building was built in the mid-1700s. It was made bigger in the early 1800s.
The farm used to raise dairy cows and grow crops. Later, much of the land was sold to become a plant nursery. When the nursery closed, it went back to being a mixed farm. The Binnie and Darling families worked the farm for many years. The council bought the land in 1998 and the house in 1965.
Between 2017 and 2019, a project called 'Place, Work, Folk' gathered stories. It recorded memories of people who lived and worked at Bridgend Farmhouse. This project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
How the Project Began
The idea for Bridgend Farmhouse started in 2010. A small group of local people wanted to save the old, crumbling farmhouse. They dreamed of turning it into a community hub. They were inspired by Sir Patrick Geddes, a famous planner from Edinburgh. His idea was "work, place, folk."
In 2010, the group created the charity Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG). Their goal was to make the farmhouse and its land a community center. It would focus on nature and the outdoors. It would also offer chances for learning, training, and community growth. For four years, they talked to people and planned events.
Experts like Malcolm Fraser helped with design ideas. The Glass-House charity advised on how to involve the community in designing the farmhouse. In 2013, a community development officer started outreach programs. These programs reached out to nearby areas like Craigmillar, Niddrie, Inch, and Moredun.
The charity received grants from Historic Environment Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council. In 2014, they got funding from the Big Lottery Fund (BLF). This helped them plan for a bigger BLF grant. The City of Edinburgh Council owned the property then. In 2014, they let BIG use the farmhouse for a year. That's when volunteers started weekly sessions to fix up the neglected site.
In 2015, the City of Edinburgh Council agreed to give the land and farmhouse to BIG for just £1! This was a big deal. It was one of the first times a city property was transferred to a community in Scotland. This happened before the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 became law. The agreement makes sure the land and building will always be used as a community center. It's a place for learning, eating, and exercise.
In 2015, the charity received over £1 million from the Big Lottery Fund. They also got grants from the Robertson Trust and Historic Environment Scotland. Bridgend Farmhouse officially opened as a community center on March 24, 2018.
Bringing the Farmhouse Back to Life
The design for the farmhouse was created over many years. BIG and the community worked together. They held workshops and discussions to decide what it should look like.
The goal was to restore the farmhouse carefully. They wanted to bring back old features like the chimneys and traditional windows. They also added four new workshops. These were built to look like old farm barns. The farmhouse itself kept its original structure. Many inside features, like wooden roof beams and the staircase, were kept.
Malcolm Fraser was the main architect for the restoration. His team worked with other experts. Cornhill Building Services were the main builders. Volunteers from BIG also helped a lot! They helped with painting, decorating, and building furniture. The restored farmhouse was ready in late 2017.
In January 2019, the project was praised for a RIBA MacEwan Award. This award is for architecture that helps the "common good."
You can find more history of Bridgend Farmhouse at the Edinburgh Capital Collections archive. There are also many interviews, recordings, photos, and stories from the 'Place, Work, Folk' project here.
What the Project Aims For
The Bridgend Farmhouse project wants to create more chances for people. It helps people learn, eat healthy, and exercise. It focuses on people living in nearby areas like Craigmillar, Niddrie, Inch, and Moredun.
Here are some of its main goals:
- Community Development: Helping communities grow and giving people skills to be active citizens. It offers chances for volunteers and teaches outdoor skills. It also helps people understand the environment better.
- Healthy Living: Encouraging healthier choices for both physical and mental well-being. It also helps reduce loneliness by providing a friendly place to meet.
- Understanding History: Helping people learn about the history and heritage of the area.
- Fairness for Everyone: Making sure everyone has equal chances and promoting diversity.
- Caring for Nature: Encouraging people to use and protect Craigmillar Castle Park. It also teaches about biodiversity and protecting the environment.
What You Can Find Here
Bridgend Farmhouse has many cool facilities:
- An outdoor education workshop
- A bicycle workshop
- An arts and crafts workshop
- A DIY workshop
- A room for exhibitions and meetings
- An outdoor stage for performances
- A kitchen garden where food is grown
- A peaceful mindfulness garden
- An eco-bothy (a small, eco-friendly shelter)
- An outdoor play area
- External barns
- A community café
- A training kitchen
Fun Activities
Bridgend Farmhouse offers lots of activities and projects!
- Place, Work, Folk: This local history project collects stories from people living nearby.
- Volunteer Sessions: Every Wednesday and Sunday, you can join open volunteer sessions. You can help with gardening, building, woodwork, landscaping, arts and crafts, cooking, and other group activities.
- Training Courses: The café kitchen offers training courses. You can get qualifications in Food Hygiene and Health & Nutrition. You can also work towards a Scottish Qualification Award (SQA) in Working With Others.
- Real Fast Food: This project prepares healthy food grown locally. Volunteers deliver it to people who can't leave their homes, using an electric bike and trailer.
- Craft Courses: They have taught courses in things like lime mortar pointing (a building skill) and gardening. Other courses have included "Making natural cosmetics," "Forest skills," and "Intergenerational storytelling," which created a book of shared stories.
- Regular Groups: There are weekly groups like a singing group, a craft club, and a woodwork club.
- Acorn Fund: This fund helps local people and groups with their own projects on site. Past projects include "Building a wormery," "Wood carving," "A singing group," "A seed library," "Film & media training for volunteers," and "Medicinal dhal workshops."
Working Together
Bridgend Inspiring Growth works with many other groups. They team up to make a bigger difference in the community.
Charitable Organisations
|
|
Schools
Universities and Colleges
|
Other Partners
|
How the Project is Run
In 2018, BIG became the first group in Scotland to change its legal setup. It went from a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) to a Community Benefit Society with Charitable Status (CCBS). This means people can buy shares to become part-owners of the land and project. Each member gets one vote, no matter how many shares they buy.
The first Community Share Issue in 2018 raised over £70,000 from 400 members! These members have a say in the future of the organization. They can vote at the AGM and give advice on how the project should be run.
BIG has a board of twelve trustees, and they are all volunteers. At least half of the trustees must live in the local area. This ensures that local voices are always heard in important decisions.
The organization has a democratic structure. This means volunteers and members can help guide the project's work. There are four working groups that meet every month: Buildings and Land, Activities and Events, Food, and Business. These groups are where volunteers work together and make decisions as a team.
Awards and Recognition
Bridgend Farmhouse has won many awards for its amazing work!
- In January 2019, it was praised for a RIBA MacEwan Award for architecture that helps the "common good."
- The Scottish Government chose Bridgend Farmhouse as an example of good practice in their 2018 strategy. This strategy is called 'A Connected Scotland; Strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger communities'.
- In June 2019, the project received a 'Special Commendation' in the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Charity of the Year awards. This was in the 'Celebrating Communities' category.
- In 2020, the project won the Scottish Design Awards national Regeneration Award. It also won the Edinburgh Architectural Association Wood Award and the Voluntary Arts Scotland Epic Award for the Bridgend Eco-Bothy.
- In 2021, they received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. They were also shortlisted for the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum community-led regeneration award in both 2020 and 2021.
Images for kids
-
Bridgend Inspiring Growth Farmhouse Community Project Logo
-
Bridgend Farmhouse
-
Bridgend Farmhouse Cafe
-
Bridgend Bike Shed
