Community development

The Supporting Communities Fund was announced on 18 March 2020 as part of a £350 million package to help those most affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Up to £10 million is being made available as an initial sum available to support community anchor organisations, and a further allocation of £10 million has been approved to support the second phase of the fund.

Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER have produced a newsletter which highlights how some of their projects are responding to Covid-19.

Everyone is invited to a Virtual Spring Tea taking place for residents of Carstairs Junction, Sunday 29 March at 2pm, via a Facebook Live video on the Community Action Lanarkshire Facebook page.

Residents in Sandford and Upper Avondale are invited to a FREE Community Led Action Plan Launch and Coffee Morning, this Saturday 21 March.

Tea, coffee, cakes, and kids activities will be provided alongside information on the five-year plan for the area. Residents will be able to find out how their views helped shape the plan, and how they can get involved with the plan, moving forward.

The Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC) has become the new owner of the former Dornoch Police Station following a successful Asset Transfer Request from Police Scotland.

The transfer which included a 5% discount from market valuation in acknowledgement of the significant community benefit that will ensue from the community ownership of the building. The acquisition was funded by the Scottish Land Fund.

In this article, Community Action Lanarkshire tell us about a project that's encouraging active travel in rural Clydesdale. 

Communities in rural Clydesdale have been sharing their local knowledge to create a series of new local travel maps and signage to promote walking, cycling and sustainable travel.

The Scottish Land Fund has awarded £1,586,398 to 11 community ownership projects.

A community development company on the island of Colonsay, population 135, has been awarded £390,000 to buy land to build affordable housing and to create a site for affordable business units. The money will be used to buy two areas of land around the settlement of Scalasaig as part of a project to build homes for island residents.

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.

The Tesco Bags of Help Fund is now open for applications.

Community groups, schools, charities, local authorities and not for profits can all apply for grants of up to £2,000 for projects that bring benefits to communities. This includes:

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