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New Rural Therapy Service Funded for Young People Near Hawick
- Ross Irvine (Head of Psychological Services)
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
“The Langhope Rig Wind Farm Fund supports rural communities like Upper Teviotdale, where access to mental health services has been limited.”
We’re delighted to share that our Insight Youth service has been awarded £13,000 from the Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland. This funding will enable us to deliver a new therapeutic support service for young people living in rural communities surrounding Hawick, including Ettrick, Yarrow, Upper Teviotdale, Borthwick Water, and Ale Water.
More Local Support Where It’s Needed
Insight Youth provides free, specialist mental health support for young people across the Borders. But until now, those living in more remote areas around Hawick have had little or no local access. Thanks to this grant, we’re now able to offer regular therapeutic appointments from our existing base in Hawick, with sessions prioritised for young people in the surrounding countryside — places where transport and access have long been barriers.
This new rural outreach is part of our wider Insight Youth network, which already runs hubs in Kelso and Tweedbank. Our aim is to bring consistent, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming therapy to every part of the Borders, not just the towns.
What the Grant Will Support
The Langhope Rig grant will help us:
Deliver counselling and psychotherapy for young people aged 8–25
Provide supervision and support for our team of trained volunteer therapists
Cover admin, outreach, and limited travel assistance for clients
Ensure clinical oversight and safeguarding through a dedicated Senior Therapist
A Word of Thanks
We are deeply grateful to the Langhope Rig Wind Farm panel and to Foundation Scotland for recognising the need in these communities and backing a solution.
Their investment helps ensure that young people growing up in dispersed rural communities — from hill farms to small villages — are not left behind in accessing the help they need.
“This funding allows us to close a critical gap,” says Ross Irvine, Head of Psychological Services.“It brings therapeutic support directly into areas where many young people have never had access before. It’s a huge step for rural mental health in the Borders.”
What Happens Next
We’re now preparing the service for launch, with referrals set to open soon through local schools, GPs, social work, and community organisations. Self-referral will also be available.
This project reflects a long-term commitment: to build a Borders where every young person — no matter where they live — can get the support they need, in a place they can reach.
Read more from Foundation Scotland about this project:
This project is supported through the Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, a community-led fund administered by Foundation Scotland.
