Community development

On Thursday 27 October 2016, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival of Dreams invites every creative citizen in Scotland to share a dream for the future.

From September to November 2016, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival of Dreams 2016 encourages communities across the length and breadth of take part in the storytelling campaign #DareToDream.

Mairi McFadyen, Storytelling Network Co-ordinator said:

If you have a project idea and would like to apply for a decision on funding to the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER March 2017 LAG meeting, you must submit your Expression of Interest.  

The deadline for applications is mid-day on the following dates:
Communities:  7 December 2016
Rural Enterprise/Farm Diversification:  7 December 2016
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund:  4 December 2016

Vodafone UK are calling all community hubs, rural pubs and village halls to apply to their 3G mobile Community Indoor Sure Signal (CISS) programme.

Vodafone UK wants to give another 100 rural community ‘hot-spots’ access to reliable 3G indoor mobile coverage for the first time.  Following on from its successful Rural Open Sure Signal programme, which has brought 3G coverage to more than 80 villages across the UK, Vodafone launched its Community Indoor Sure Signal (CISS) programme earlier in the summer. 

Scottish Pilgrimage Gathering 2016

Scottish Pilgrimage Gathering 2016 - 21st October 2016
"How to harness Christian Heritage for the 21st century" followed by the SPRF AGM - Comrie Croft, Comrie, Perthshire

Starts at 10:15am with a morning walk on a section of the Three Saints Way followed in the afternoon by presentations and an open discussion.
The AGM will commence at 4:15pm.

A full programme, supporting data and booking form is available on the SPRF website.

This event is open to both members and non member guests.

2016 Biodiversity Science Conference - Connecting People and Environment

The relationships between people and the environment are central to both driving and addressing the major current threats to biodiversity. There is growing concern that many people are becoming increasingly disconnected from their environment.

Conserving biodiversity, and sustainably managing our environment, needs an understanding of how people interact with the environment to produce the benefits that they receive and to find ways to overcome barriers to sustainably managing the land.

The forgotten villages that were at the forefront of Scotland’s first oil rush were celebrated recently during the WAT IF? Heritage Festival, which included a week-long Heritage Exhibition, guided walks, a Farm Tour and a Festival Fun Day.

In the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, a Scottish Borders pub is working with Pub is the Hub to diversify their services to support the local community.

As part of this, the Allan Ramsay Hotel in Carlops is holding a two-day festival to celebrate the Scottish poet Allan Ramsay, marking the launch of a new cultural heritage resource centre dedicated to the life and works of the poet.

The Plunkett Foundation's Community Ownership Awards 2016 are open for entries.

Community-owned businesses in the UK and Ireland are being encouraged to enter the awards run by the national charity Plunkett Foundation.

The awards have nine geographic categories and are open to all forms of trading activity from shops and pubs to farms, woodlands and broadband projects.

Launching the Awards, Plunkett’s Head of Frontline James Alcock said:

Rural enterprise projects across the UK can apply for funding from the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The charity aims to improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of life in rural areas. It has announced a grant funding pot of over £600,000 to suport rural initiatives.

Three projects have been awarded funding from the South Aberdeenshire LEADER programme.

In the programme's first funding rounds, the South Aberdeenshire LEADER Local Action Group has awarded £225,475 to the following projects:

  • Strathorn Riding School Development
  • Finzean Farm Shop Development
  • Ringlink Internship Programme

South Aberdeenshire LAG Chair Liam Smyth from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce said:

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