The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is pleased to announce that it has awarded a Project Development Grant to Recovery Scotland to support the charity’s plans to adapt a historic school building for use as an education, training and wellbeing hub providing vital services to the local community. This was one of 10 awards made at the latest grants meeting, where projects across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland were offered funding totalling £106,144.
In the heart of Falkirk’s historic town centre sits the former Falkirk Grammar School. Designed by James Tait and opened in 1846, with an extension added by Alexander Black in 1868, the school soon gained a reputation for excellence. It later became Falkirk High School, and, in 1979, it was listed at Category C under the name Technical Institute. More recently, the building was used by Falkirk Council as a Community Education Centre, along with offices for the council’s Education Department. The building was eventually vacated in 2020 and listed for sale in late 2022.
Images: The exterior and interior of the former Falkirk Grammar School/ 6 Park Street. Credit - Recovery Scotland.
Also situated in Falkirk, Recovery Scotland is a charity whose vision is to make recovery a reality for all people affected by addiction and associated mental health problems. Operating for 40 years, it offers a range of activities and services, including local peer-led recovery communities, physical and mental health wellbeing initiatives, and education and employability programmes.
Having outgrown its existing office spaces, and with the need for its vital services continuing, Recovery Scotland has recently taken on ownership of the former Falkirk Grammar School. It hopes to transform the historic building into an inspiring and accessible education, training and supportive wellbeing hub where recovery is possible, and where partners and the wider community can come together to receive support, learn and connect with one another. The revitalised building will include an IT suite, classrooms and meeting rooms for education, training, and employability support; a commercial style community training kitchen and café, with the potential for a community shop; high-spec wellbeing and sports facilities, including a small group exercise studio and gym; a music recording and podcasting studio; and offices and meeting spaces for Recovery Scotland staff and volunteers, as well as other charities and community partners.
The Historic Environment Scotland-supported AHF grant will fund the production of a thorough and detailed business plan, ensuring that this project is realistic, well-planned and sustainable, and preparing Recovery Scotland for capital fundraising endeavours in 2025/26.
Susan Anderson, Project Development Manager for Recovery Scotland, said: “Recovery Scotland are delighted to receive development funding from AHF. This will support the business planning process of our ambitions to transform the much-loved 1846 former Falkirk Grammar School in the heart of the town centre into an inspiring, accessible and sustainable education, training and supportive wellbeing hub for people in recovery from addiction and the wider community, including our third sector partners and other local community groups.”
