The Community Empowerment Act helps to empower community bodies through the ownership of land and buildings, and by strengthening their voices in the decisions that matter to them. Details can be found using the link below.
Community Empowerment Team
Email: Community [dot] Empowerment [at] gov [dot] scot
The Scottish Government Land Team help Crofting and Community Right to Buy communities throughout Scotland, to register a community interest in land and if successful the opportunity to buy that land when it is offered for sale; giving communities and crofters control over the way land is managed. Contact the team if you are interested in securing assets for purchase through Community Right to Buy.
Community Land Team
Tel: 0300 244 9822
Email: CRTB [at] gov [dot] scot
Through the provision of information, resources and a variety of direct contact, DTA Scotland assists interested communities explore the benefits and relevance of the developement trust approach. They also provide useful resources, training and support to communities wishing to establish a developement trust.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a member please contact the main office in the first instance.
DTA Scotland (Main Office)
Tel: 0131 220 2456
Email: info [at] dtascot [dot] org [dot] uk
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland. Their purpose is to generate sustainable economic growth across the Highlands and Islands. If you are a community organisation in the HIE area, with an interest in developing a project around sustainability then contact the Strengthening Communities team by following the link below.
HIE have developed a guide, Ten Steps to Community Ownership which you may find useful
Email: info [at] hient [dot] co [dot] uk
Scottish Community Alliance help the community sector in Scotland to develop its own distinct identity and voice so that it can campaign effectively on a wide range of issues. It is an alliance of several thematic membership organisations supporting communities across Scotland. They administer a fund that allows community organisations to visit and learn from a wide variety of different types of project across Scotland. Communities can access this funding through the most appropriate membership affiliate, including COSS. A list of these is avaiable on their website.
Angus Hardie, Director
Tel: 0131 260 9501
Email: info [at] scottishcommunityalliance [dot] net
Community Land Scotland (CLS) represent existing and aspiring community landowners to reflect thier views in promoting changes to legislation to empower communities, while acting as a point of contact for any communities in Scotland who wish to find out more about community land ownership. If you are interested in acquiring privately owned land then CLS may be able to help you.
Community Land Scotland (Linsay Chalmers, Development Manager)
Tel: 07884 314297
Email: info [at] communitylandscotland [dot] org [dot] uk
The Improvement Service's purpose is to help councils and their
partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all people in Scotland through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services. COSS works closely with the service to ensure we have continuing links with relevant public bodies and the development of service delivery across Scotland.
Improvement Service Office
Tel: 01506 282012
Email:info [at] improvementservice [dot] org [dot] uk
The Social Farms & Gardens is a UK wide charity supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together. It manages the Community Land Advisory Service. to help community green space projects with land and planning queries. Currently only funded in Wales there is still a wealth of information on their webpage
email: scotland [at] farmgarden [dot] org [dot] uk
The Scottish Men’s Shed Association aim to help new and existing groups to set up and run a Men’s Shed in their local town or community. To give a helping hand to anyone looking for assistance or more information on what it means to develop and run a Men’s Shed.
The Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) and The Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) are working together to provide useful information to help groups to develop their asset transfer plans, speak to the right people about premises and how to approach the relevant people with their ideas. Helping to provide potential funders and local authorities with the facts they need to make the strongest case for a Shed in their Community.
COSS have a range of tools and publications to help groups get started, including a fact sheet which examines some of the issues particularly affecting Men’s Sheds in the asset transfer process.
Website: http://www.scottishmsa.org.uk
Email: info [at] scottishmsa [dot] org [dot] uk (subject: Enquiry%20via%20the%20Social%20Enterprise%20Scotland%20website)
Phone: 01330 825529
Address: 72a High Street, Banchory, AB31 4DR
