Community development

The 2018 Scottish Charity Awards are now open for entries in eight categories.

Organisers, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, want you to tell them which Scottish charities and individuals have been the best, most innovative and effective over the past year.

The award categories are:

Rural Wisdom Get-together

The Rural Wisdom project is exploring ways to make rural areas better for older people. They're holding a series of events across Scotland for anyone who is interested in this work to come together, to share thoughts, to hear from others and to build the Rural Wisdom network across the country.

Karina Ross from Dementia Friendly Communities Ltd in Helmsdale will  share how they support people with dementia to live well in their rural community. We’ll hear about circles of care and how technology is being used to help connect those living in the most remote areas.

EUROPARC Conference 2018 - Registration now open

The theme for this event will be ‘European Parks: Inspired by the Next Generation’ will focus on what Parks can learn from young people and what changes need to be made to manage protected areas for future generations. Matching the ‘Year of Young People’ designated in Scotland for 2018, the conference will call for young people to be more involved in decision making, volunteering, working and living in Parks.

The Scottish Government want your views on a new draft plan to tackle loneliness and isolation in Scotland.

A public consultation has opened on the new national strategy A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections.

The European Network for Rural Development has launched the Smart Villages portal.

A new fund will support young people who have an idea to promote Scotland's amazing natural environment in 2018.

The Future Routes fund has been created by Scottish Natural Heritage, YoungScot and ReRoute as part of the Year of Young People 2018. The fund is open to individuals and groups of young people from across Scotland aged 11-26.

A housing project in a small community on the Isle of Mull has won one of the 2017 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.

The Ulva Ferry Housing project took home the Housing award at the award ceremony on 7 December. The project is delivering affordable family housing in a remote rural community on the West Coast of the Isle of Mull, tackling depopulation and socio-economic decline. 

WAT IF? (Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation) has taken its first step into the property market by purchasing a three-bedroom house in the rural village of Tarbrax.

WAT IF? plans to refurbish the property and convert it into an affordable rental to meet local housing needs. Work is expected to start on the house next summer with new tenants in place by the end of the year.

The finalists for the 2018 Scottish Rural Awards have been announced.

The Scottish Rural Awards, partnered by Scottish Field magazine and the Scottish Countryside Alliance, celebrate the industry, innovation, dedication and community spirit of those who live and work in the countryside.

Finalists have been announced for the following eleven award categories:

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart has set out new legislation aimed to simplify and improve the planning system in Scotland.

The Planning (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 4 December and will create a new structure with clearer development plans, earlier engagement with communities, streamlined procedures and smarter resourcing.

Mr Stewart said:

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