Community development

The Scottish Community Alliance is delighted to confirm that it has received funding from the Scottish Government to continue administering the Community Learning Exchange during 2019-20.

This is the Exchange's fifth year of operation and the objective continues to be to increase the capacity and capability of the community sector by encouraging learning visits between community groups.

Update from Highlands & Islands Connections project

Earlier this year we reported on a new rural mental health project – Highlands & Islands Connections. In this article we get an update on work that’s happening in two pilot locations.

SSE's Sustainable Development Fund is currently open for applications in Perth & Kinross and Scottish Borders.

The Sustainable Development Fund supports strategic projects in the regions where SSE is operating. It allows the benefits of the company's renewable energy developments to be accessible to a wider area and is directed to projects that can achieve significant impact in local communities. 

The community fund can support projects which:

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced funding for skills and economic development across the South of Scotland.

A former school building which is currently lying empty in Kirkcudbright will be transformed into a Dark Skies Visitor Centre and Planetarium, through the South of Scotland Economic Partnership. With investment of £300,000 from SOSEP the building will also include a childcare facility, a youth activity centre and commerical premises for business start-ups.

Applications are open to run an event as part of Community Land Week, 10-18 August 2019.

Community Land Week is coordinated by Community Land Scotland and the Scottish Government. It's a celebration of all things community ownership and first ran in 2018. 

Any geographic community that owns land or another asset, from an estate to a woodland to a community centre, can apply to run an event as part of the week.

Last night, as part of the much anticipated NetworX conference held in Brussels, the European Commissioner Phil Hogan announced the 5 winners of the inaugural Rural Inspiration Awards.

The Scottish Rural Network would like to extend a massive congratulations to all 25 finalists, and the 5 overall winners.

The winners were:

Recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in nature conservation, the eighth annual Nature of Scotland Awards co-sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage are open for applications until 4 June.