The Organisation
Building Futures Galloway is a social enterprise based in the rural South Machars of Galloway, an area marked by systemic youth unemployment and limited access to cultural opportunities. It provides full-time, sustainable employment to young people who are distant from the labour market by offering in-work training in heritage construction skills, such as masonry, architectural joinery, and heritage boatbuilding. The enterprise also works with vulnerable pupils from the local high school to improve their academic performance, attendance, and self-esteem through work experience and weekly sessions in these skills.
Building Futures Galloway has already acquired workshops and heritage buildings for skills practice and hired a small team of skilled supervisors. The young people employed by the enterprise often face barriers such as ADHD, deafness, and autism. The initiative addresses youth unemployment by providing dignified, meaningful career opportunities in the heritage sector, an industry with a national skills shortage. The enterprise’s work is particularly significant for the local economy, where many young people face limited employment prospects.
The skills taught are also aligned with sustainability goals. As part of its commitment to Net Zero, the organization teaches a “fabric first” approach, where essential repairs precede the installation of modern technologies like heat pumps. The use of lime products in masonry, which absorb CO2, is a key part of this strategy. Building Futures Galloway thus seeks to help combat climate change while addressing both local unemployment and the broader heritage sector’s skills shortage.
Project
The project successfully restored two historic properties—the Old Town Hall in Whithorn and a derelict property at 9 High Street—using traditional heritage construction methods to create energy-efficient, sustainable buildings. It provided training for disadvantaged young people, aged 16-27, in heritage skills such as masonry and architectural joinery, leading to accredited qualifications. These young people gained valuable skills for long-term, green jobs in the heritage sector, contributing to Net Zero goals.
A key focus of the project was to demonstrate how the retrofit of historic buildings can support the journey to Net Zero. The use of traditional materials, such as lime-based products, not only preserved the embodied carbon of the structures but also contributed to reducing carbon emissions. The project adopted a “fabric first” approach, which prioritises the repair and preservation of a building’s original structure before introducing modern technologies. This approach maximises energy efficiency while minimising the use of high-carbon materials.
Through the successful retrofit of these buildings, the project highlighted the importance of maintaining and improving older buildings as an environmentally sustainable alternative to demolition and new construction. By incorporating low-carbon heating systems, like the installation of an Air Source Heat Pump, and energy-efficient measures, the project demonstrated how historic buildings can become as energy-efficient as new ones, supporting long-term sustainability and carbon reduction efforts in line with the UK’s Net Zero targets.
Impact:
The project made a significant impact on both environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
Environmental Impact:
The energy-efficient retrofitting of the Old Town Hall and 9 High Street demonstrated that traditional buildings could match new builds in terms of energy performance. By incorporating sustainable insulation, photovoltaic panels, a high-quality heat pump, and lime plaster—which absorbs carbon over its lifetime—both buildings will contribute to carbon reduction and support Net Zero targets. The “fabric first” approach preserved the embodied carbon of the structures while minimising energy demand.
Social Impact:
The project provided accredited training in heritage construction skills to disadvantaged young people, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in masonry and architectural joinery. This equipped them with the skills needed for sustainable, long-term careers in a sector experiencing a national skills shortage. By involving young people in energy retrofit work, the project supported a Just Transition to Net Zero while promoting green jobs that are resilient to automation. It also created meaningful employment opportunities and positioned heritage conservation as a pathway to both environmental and social sustainability.
Quotes
A major impact for local people is seeing 9 High Street revitalised after 50 years of dereliction and rooflessness. The neighbours stated, “We are so grateful for the work that’s being done, which has removed a cause of damp that has affected our house for years”.