Community development

First Minister Nicola Sturgoen has announced £29 million of funding for community and third sector projects that try new ways to tackle poverty and improve people's lives.

The funding over the next two years supports the Fairer Scotland Action Plan, which was published in October 2016.

WAT IF? (Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation) is launching four new funds which could provide up to £19,000 directly to the local community each year.

The development trust, established in 2012 by residents to manage community benefit funds from nearby windfarm developments, has focused their new programme of grant schemes on addressing access to services and facilities such as transport and education.

Tyne Esk LEADER approved six projects in their first round of funding.

A total of £267,000 was awarded to the six projects, which include community, farm diversification and enterprise projects. The Tyne Esk LEADER programme covers Mid- and East Lothian.

You can find information on the approved projects below.

And you can find out more about the Jerba Campervans' project in their Case Study.

Highland LEADER are encouraging potential applicants to come forward with their project ideas.

Funding of over £6.6 million is available for projects that will benefit communities through the area's LEADER programme, which covers the mainland Highlands, the Small Isles and Skye but excludes the city of Inverness and the Cairngorms National Park.

Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Local Action Group are delighted, in a backdrop of change, to have committed £867,041.10 to a mix of community, enterprise and farm diversification projects since March 2016.

The Scottish Government has published the country's first long-term Social Enterprise Strategy.

The ten-year strategy includes a number of steps aimed at growing the social enterprise sector and driving inclusive growth.

Social enterprises trade for the common good and work to strengthen communities, improve people’s life chances or protect the environment.

Sarah Hyslop, LEADER Manager for Ayrshire Local Action Group attended a European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) transnational Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) Seminar – Achieving results the CLLD way: Putting the method to work - in early December.

Participants included people from Managing Authorities, Local Action Groups (LAGs)/Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), Networks, European Commission and regional/national organisations from many member states including Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia, Cyprus, Italy and Hungary.

Scottish Rural Action have launched their full Manifesto for Rural Scotland.

The manifesto was released in draft form in September 2016 and was officially launched at the Scottish Rural Action AGM in Perth on 9 December.

During the second Scottish Rural Parliament event held in Brechin, Angus in October, delegates had the chance to propose changes to the wording and additions to the content of the manifesto before it was agreed on by those in attendance at the event.

Amanda Burgauer, chair of Scottish Rural Action, said: