Community Led Local Development: A Ceilidh of Ideas, Action and Possibility

Elidh Brown, Development Manager at tsiMORAY shares her reflections from the European Rural Parliament and the follow up event in Brussels, and explores why connecting people is key to rural resilience and opportunity.

At its heart, a ceilidh is about people coming together to share stories, build connections and celebrate the strengths already present in a community.

Reflecting on the European Rural Parliament (ERP) in Inverurie and the follow-up meeting in Brussels, I was struck by how closely that mirrors Community Led Local Development (CLLD).

Whether through Moray’s Local Action Group, Scotland’s CLLD Network, Youth Local Action Groups (LAGs) or the ERP itself, the principle is the same: creating spaces where people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences can contribute, learn from one another and help shape the future together. In Moray, we saw this in action through our ERP study visit to Portgordon and Cullen, showcasing community-led solutions, and by supporting three young people to participate in both the Youth Parliament and the main ERP gathering.

One of my strongest memories came on the ceilidh evening. Young and old from more than 30 European countries joined together in one big, joyful and slightly chaotic Strip the Willow at the intergenerational ceilidh. Afterwards, I drove the three young people from Moray home. Somewhere on the journey they connected to my Bluetooth, created a shared playlist and we sang our way back across Aberdeenshire and into Moray. It was a fitting end to a busy, inspiring and thought-provoking few days. Each of them said they had absolutely loved the experience and could never have imagined attending an event like that until they had lived it for themselves.

That conversation stayed with me. Opportunities like these do more than broaden horizons. They build confidence, nurture ambition and help young people see themselves as active participants in shaping the future of their communities. They also ensure that young voices are heard in the places where decisions are made, from local community groups to national governments and European institutions. That is why participatory democracy matters and why investing in young people matters.

Travelling to Brussels also reinforced how much rural communities across Europe have in common. While our landscapes, languages and cultures may differ, many of the challenges are shared: transport, access to services, housing, demographic change and, increasingly, the impacts of climate change, including wildfires. Returning home to Speyside reminded me that Scotland remains one of the greenest and most beautiful parts of Europe, but we are not exempt from these pressures.

The response to these challenges cannot simply be imposed from above. The strongest and most lasting solutions are often those designed and delivered by communities themselves. Through the Moray Local Action Fund, local people are investing in projects that improve wellbeing, inclusion, accessibility, transport, digital participation, community facilities, environmental sustainability and support for those facing poverty. These projects help reduce household costs, strengthen local economies, improve opportunities for families and young people, and build the confidence and capacity that communities need to thrive.

What makes CLLD particularly powerful is that it recognises local people as experts in their own places. It supports volunteering, leadership, community enterprise, environmental action and community ownership, helping to keep wealth, skills and opportunity rooted locally. The result is not just stronger communities, but stronger connections between social, economic and environmental goals.

The key lesson I took from both Inverurie and Brussels is that community-led development is about much more than funding. Like a ceilidh, it creates space for people to come together, share ideas, celebrate strengths and imagine new possibilities. When communities are trusted, and when young and older generations learn and lead together, remarkable things can happen. Rural communities are not simply places facing challenges. They are places full of creativity, resilience and solutions, with much to teach one another across Scotland, across Europe and beyond.

The challenges facing rural communities are real, but so too is the creativity, determination and leadership that exists within them. If we want thriving rural places in the future, we must continue to invest in community-led development, create meaningful opportunities for young people to participate and lead, and ensure local voices are heard wherever decisions are made. Whether through a community conversation, a local project, a Youth LAG, a rural parliament or even a ceilidh, every opportunity to connect people and share ideas helps build stronger, fairer and more resilient communities. The invitation is simple: get involved, share your story, listen to others and help shape the future of the place you call home.