Events
Workshop Series 3: New Futures – Former Places of Worship
Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) is hosting our third series of informative workshops on community ownership of former places of worship as part of the New Futures: Former Places of Worship programme. The purpose of the workshops is to provide specific information on key topics and to increase awareness of the support and guidance available to help steer communities through the process of taking a historic church into community ownership and securing its long-term future as a community asset. Running alongside this programme of workshops will be standalone events, the first of which will provide relevant information for communities interested in the continuation of worship in former church buildings.
The workshops are free to attend, held online and will be hosted by COSS and feature selected guest speakers. Each workshop is open to individuals and community groups interested in taking former places of worship into community ownership. More information and registration can be found at our Eventbrite page.
New Futures is a three-year programme (January 2025-December 2027) funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Development Trusts Association Scotland to provide enhanced support to community groups considering taking on a former place of worship across Scotland. This programme was launched in direct response to the significant and unprecedented number of former places of worship which are due for disposal over the next several years.
Schedule:
- First Steps to Community Ownership – Tuesday 6th October 2026, 13:00-14:30
- Involving Your Community – Tuesday 20th October 2026, 12:00-13:30
- Finance and Fundraising 1: Mainstream Funders – Tuesday 27th October 2026, 11:00-13:00
- Finance and Fundraising 2: Alternative Funding Methods – Thursday 5th November 2026, 13:00-14:30
- Continuing to Operate as a Place of Worship – Tuesday 17th November 2026, 12:00-13:30
- Your Building: A Guide – Thursday 26thth November 2026, 11:00-12:30
The following workshops will be held in early 2027, dates to be confirmed:
- Business Planning
- Financial Planning
- Community Right to Buy
- Net Zero
For questions and enquiries, please email Addie Maher, Churches Programme Officer at: addie.maher@dtascot.org.uk
New Futures – Former Places of Worship is delivered by Community Ownership Support Service with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.