In our Hands: Community Ownership in the South of Scotland

Full programme

The South of Scotland is now one of the fastest growing areas for community ownership in Scotland and communities are purchasing a wide range of assets including shops, estates, forestry, harbours, community centres, business and retail space and land for housing – to name but a few.

This event will also provide an opportunity to network with other communities that are buying or have already purchased land and buildings and to learn from each other, as well as from a community landowner in the Western Isles, where three quarters of people live on community-owned land.

One of the aims of the new South of Scotland Enterprise is to support community ownership and there will be a chance at this conference to discuss the type of support that communities will need.

Speakers will include Agnes Rennie of Galson Estate Trust in Lewis and Peter Peacock, the former Policy Director of Community Land Scotland. Attendees will also hear from aspiring and established community owners in the South of Scotland including Midsteeple Quarter.

Round table workshops will include: community shops, asset transfer, housing, large estate buyouts and community ownership in towns.

For anyone staying overnight before the conference, there will be an optional networking dinner at the Buccleuch Centre on Wednesday 26 February at 7.30pm.