The French Barracks

The last of the derelict buildings at Forthside is being restored. It’s a huge job as you can see. This impressive building wasn’t a barracks at all but one of five stores built for the railway. It was latterly owned by the MoD but not for accommodation. Until this work started it was in a terrible state.

The building is being converted to a third sector hub in conjunction with the Robertson Trust, the largest independent grant-giving trust in Scotland. It’s a huge project but so good to see this wonderful building being restored. And for such an excellent purpose. Various charities are currently getting a well deserved bad press for misuse of funds and abuse of vulnerable people but the third sector also does very important work both as a direct provider of services and as a campaigning voice. I know the campaigning can be constrained these days with procurement and so on but we certainly need it and should make sure it’s never silenced.