Community development

Local residents from Lesmahagow, Brocketsbrae & Hawksland will launch their new 5-year community action plan at The Fountain, Lesmahagow on October 26^th from 10am-2pm.

Applications are currently being accepted for the fourth round of SSE Renewable's Highland Sustainable Development Fund.

The fund is open to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities across the Highland local authority region, with £1 million available.

Successful projects will have the potential to deliver transformational social, economic and environmental changes in the local area and support long-term community development.

The Kinloch Community Hub on the Isle of Lewis was formally opened by HRH the Princess Royal recently. 

The former school turned community hub in Balallan is managed by the Kinloch Historical Society and includes a cafe, laundrette, charity shop and meeting space as well as housing the Historical Societies Museum and Archive. 

A recent event focused on the contributions of younger islanders in renewing island life and contributing to sustainable island communities.

Fifty people from Scottish and Irish islands gathered in Grimsay, North Uist from 30 September to 4 October as part of the "Smart Islands in Scotland and Ireland: Supporting Enterprises and Young People" project, funded by LEADER in the Outer Hebrides and Ireland. The week week was hosted by local organisation CoDel (Community Development Lens) and the Scottish Islands Federation.

The first ever National Islands Plan for Scotland has been laid before the Scottish Parliament for consideration.

The proposed National Islands Plan provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland's island communities.

Four rural villages in North Lanarkshire will soon launch individual community action plans.

​The plans for Upperton, Caldercruix, Greengairs and Plains set out each community's priorities for the next five years and highlight particular projects the community would like to work together on to improve their place. 

Last month Angus LEADER hosted a group of individuals from Belgium and Romania as part of a tourism project across the three countries. The Transnational Cooperation Project, funded through the Angus LEADER programme aims to build the capacity of each area to develop a flourishing visitor economy that benefits the whole community.

As part of a commitment of funding designed to support the growth of grassroots social enterprises, the Scottish Government have provided support for the creation of a Rural Social Enterprise Hub.