Community Organisations, Third Sector & Charities
There are a range of organisations geared to support rural and island stakeholders, third sector organisations and communities.
Find details below about some of the key organisations supporting rural and island communities address issues such as Net Zero, Community Wealth Building, social investment and more.
Community organisations, third sector and charities
If you are a community or third sector organisation or charity looking for advice and there are a range of various organisations that can support you. There is also the Funding Search Tool which can be found here.
This tool developed and delivered in partnership with SCVO’s Funding Scotland provides a free local, online funding search for your charity, community group or social enterprise. From small grants to funding for big capital projects, we can help you track down the funding you need to make a difference in your community.
Community Councils
Community Councils are voluntary organisations set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy.
Community Councils are comprised of people who care about their community and want to make it a better place to live.
A dedicated website resource is managed and maintained by Improvement Service along with social media channels to help build a strong network of community councils. Scottish Rural Network have funded Improvement Service to develop and deliver a range of training and development opportunities for rural and island community council members, including webinars, training sessions and toolkits.
More information can be found at the website here
Third Sector Interfaces
Third Sector Interface (TSI) – each local authority area in Scotland has a Third Sector Interface to support, promote, develop and represent the third sector.
You can find out more, and search for your local TSI at TSI Scotland Network. The TSI Scotland Network is supported to carry out its main functions by the Third Sector Unit of Scottish Government.
You can find websites, telephone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses for Scotland’s third sector interfaces here
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
The SCVO is the national membership body for Scotland’s charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. It works to support people to take voluntary action to help themselves and others, and to bring about social change.
The SCVO runs an information service for the third sector. You can call 0800 169 0022 or email enquiries@scvo.org.uk.
Village Halls and Community Hubs
Village halls are often the heart of rural and island communities. They are places for people to gather, learn, access services and have fun. Making sure they are well run and maintained is an important but not always easy role, often fulfilled by committed volunteers and workers.
To support community groups, we funded SCVO to develop and and publish a handbook for everyone running a village or community hall in Scotland. Developed in partnership with a range rural and island stakeholders it covers topics from governance and facilities management to net zero and digital, guiding you through what you need to know.
You can access the handbook at: Village and community halls handbook
Plunkett UK
The Plunkett Foundation is a charity which assists rural communities in the United Kingdom to create and run community-owned businesses. The organisation aims to support community-owned enterprises in the United Kingdom.
More information can be found at their website here
Development Trusts Association Scotland
As a membership organisation, DTAS uses its expertise to inform, support and represent this network of development trusts, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and expertise and encouraging mutualism and co-operation.
The dedicated DTAS team provides information, expert help and light touch support in areas such as governance, organisational development, financial planning and reporting, asset transfer and community ownership, staffing and community shares.
More information can be found at their website here
Scottish Community Development Centre
Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) is the lead body for community development in Scotland. They work their vision of an active, inclusive and just Scotland where our communities are strong, equitable and sustainable.
More information can be found at their website here
Community Shares Scotland
CSC is funded by the Scottish Government and National Lottery Community Fund to help promote the use of community shares.
Their team is on hand to provide free support and guidance to anybody interested to learn more about community shares. Eligible groups can receive up to six days of tailored consultancy to help develop a community share offer. They also welcome applications to their Microgrant to support the marketing and promotion of a community share offer.
More information can be found at their website here
SCOTO
SCOTO is a network of community tourism enterprises located throughout Scotland and led by a team of individuals who each have extensive and varied experience in community tourism.
Community tourism is where a community enterprise or a geographic community is directly involved in shaping and managing the tourism offers in their area and ensuring tourism derives tangible benefits locally. Historically many communities have felt that tourism happens to them rather than with them but there is a growing sense that tourism can be a force for good and this is where SCOTO can help.
There aim is to: “establish community owned and managed tourism as a highly respected and distinct sector within the Scottish tourism offer – dedicated to providing high quality and authentic experiences which derive positive benefits for our visitors and our communities alike.”
Social Investment Scotland (SIS)
Social Investment Scotland (SIS), is a social enterprise and charity offering loan funding and business support for social enterprises, charities and community groups. Because they are a charity and social enterprise themselves, they have a unique understanding of the challenges faced by social enterprises, particularly if they are attempting something they have never done before.
You can access the SIS website here
Community Energy Scotland
Community Energy Scotland is a registered charity who are community energy specialists, providing detailed, independent and ongoing support for all aspects of community energy project development – from micro to megawatt scale, from heat to transport. We aim to cover the cost of this service through fees payable from grants or loans secured by project groups.
Local Energy Scotland
Local Energy Scotland manage CARES – the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme. CARES supports communities across Scotland to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions.
Adaptation Scotland
Adaptation Scotland provide advice and support to help Scotland be prepared and resilient to the effects of climate change.
They help public sector, businesses and communities to understand what climate change will mean across Scotland, and identify the best way for them to plan for the impact – taking the opportunities and preparing for the risks.
Access their website here
Climate Cafe
A Climate Café is an open, inclusive space for people to get together to talk and act on climate change.
Climate Cafés are community led, informal spaces where everyone is welcome to join the conversation and get involved. Climate Cafés create a space to bring people together from across communities, work places and campuses to focus on solutions. Many people find them inspiring and positive spaces to connect with others.
Access their website here
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub supports community led climate action.
The aim of the hub is to support community led climate action in the Highlands & Islands in all the stages it takes to design, develop and deliver a project. We can support existing community groups or help communities to form new groups. Connecting communities through new and existing networks and signposting to further support as needed. Even if you are not developing a specific climate action project we can help you with climate ready policies for your organisations and how to embed climate action in your work.
Access their website here
Scottish Communities Climate Action Network
SCCAN aim to support community-led action in Scotland to address the climate and nature emergency and work for a just, thriving and resilient Scotland.
It is a volunteer-led network with membership open to any community group across Scotland that is taking action on the climate crisis and to any organisation that is involved with or supports such community-led action.
More information can be found at their website here
Community Wealth Building
The Scottish Government has adopted the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development as a key practical means by which we can achieve our wellbeing economy objectives outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
CWB is designed to harness the economic leverage of local ‘anchor’ organisations (such as local councils, health, universities, colleges, housing associations, or large local private sector employers) to tackle long standing systematic challenges and structural inequalities within our communities. It seeks to transform our local and regional economic systems to enable more local communities and people to own, have a stake in, access and benefit from the wealth our economy generates. Community Wealth Building can deliver more and better jobs, business growth, community-owned assets and shorter supply chains creating greater resilience and supporting net zero ambitions.
More information can be found here
Empowering Communities Programme
Scottish Government continue to support various community-led regeneration programmes through the Empowering Communities Programme, which includes the following two targeted funds:
More information can be found here
Participatory budgeting
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which citizens decide directly how to spend part of a public budget. The Scottish Government support PB as a tool for community empowerment and as a resource to build on the wider development of participatory democracy in Scotland.
More information can be found here
Other sources of support
Community business can find further information about supportive organisations at Rural and Island Businesses – Scottish Rural Network
