Community development

Aero Space Kinross (ASK) have launched a Star Offer to help them reach their Community Share target of £50,000 by the end of June 2017.

The ASK project will be a knowledge hub, exciting visitor attraction and event venue to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors, with features including a planetarium and flight simulation. The project will also inspire future generations into flight-related, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) careers and leisure flying pursuits.

Around 90 people from across Scotland gathered at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye on 30 and 31 May for the Community Land Scotland conference 2017.

The theme of this year's conference was 'Sharing the Knowledge' and with presentations, workshops and plenty of time for networking the event was a great opportunity for people to learn from each other.

Grant funding is available for business groups and local bodies, working in partnership with their local authority, to develop proposals for Business Improvement Districts across Scotland.

A Business Improvement District (BID) is about businesses working together and investing collectively in local improvements, in addition to those delivered by the statutory authorities. These improvements will be of benefit to the businesses involved and also contribute to the wider aspirations of the local residential community and growing the local economy.

The European Network for Rural Development's (ENRD) latest 'Rural Connections' magazine is now available online.

The Spring 2017 edition has a focus on social inclusion with interviews on a youth initiative of South & East Cork Area Development, Social Innovation in Marginalised Areas, and a National Rural Networks cluster on migrants and refugees. There is also a report on what LEADER can do in terms of social inclusion.

A new plan has launched setting out how all those with responsibility for the Cairngorms National Park will coordinate their work to tackle the most important issues over the next five years.

The Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan (2017-2022) will deliver the following long-term outcomes for the National Park:

Scottish Rural Action have launched their Action Plan, with key points in five areas they will be taking forward.

The new Moray LEADER programme launched at the Morayvia Aerospace Centre recently.

Around 80 people from agencies, businesses and community groups attended the launch event on 26 May to find out more about the £3.5 million fund.