Community development

The Plunkett Foundation have announced the regional shortlists in the 2016 Rural Community Ownership Awards.

A diverse range of community cooperatives across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been shortlisted for the awards.

The Scottish finalists are:

  • Buth Bharraigh Ltd, Isle of Barra
  • Glenwyvis Distillery, Dingwall
  • Raasay Community Shop, Isle of Raasay

Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of Plunkett Foundation, said:

The Carnegie UK Trust are inviting applications for a project which takes a fresh approach to town twinning.

Twin Towns UK will pair towns across the UK with similar characteristics or socio-economic challenges, to consider how to make positive change happen in their communities.

The initiative will support up to ten towns to trial 'twinning' arrangements over an 18-month period.

Building a transnational capacity-building network for common land graziers – taking the first steps

Creation of a formal capacity-building, experience-sharing, mutually-supportive and collaboration-catalysing network for graziers of common and communal land and their organisations from across Europe.

Find out more

Would you consider recording a 60-90 seconds’ video saying why UK seas matter to you and to the economic sustainability of your town/community?

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.

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