This article is an offshoot of Scotland community action focusing on community resources and assets. Resources such as networks, events and community involvement (people and relationships) can be considered as primary resources. Also resources are the activism and physical assets (or what citizens value), such as green spaces, biodiversity, cycle lanes, etc, from the other Scotland community pages.
The community buyout projects leading Scotland’s self-help revolution, theguardian.com (Jan 01, 2024)
Food activism[edit | edit source]
- Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society, national representative body for allotmenteers and community gardeners in Scotland. added 15:18, 30 October 2023 (UTC)
- GetGrowing Scotland, "brought to you by the Community Growing Forum Scotland, a group of grassroots projects and support organisations sharing information, inspiration, and expertise from communities and partners across Scotland." added 17:34, 22 November 2021 (UTC)
- Nourish Scotland, "charity focusing on food policy and practice. We work for a fair, healthy and sustainable food system that truly values nature and people."
- Scottish Crofting Federation
- Soil Association Scotland
Community energy in Scotland[edit | edit source]
The "world's first community-owned tidal power generator" became operational in Bluemull Sound off Yell, Shetland, in early 2014. This 30 kW Nova Innovation device feeds into the local grid, and a 100 kW tidal turbine was connected in August 2016. W
There is considerable support for community-scale energy projects. For example, Alex Salmond, the then First Minister of Scotland, has stated that "we can think big by delivering small" and aspired to have a "million Scottish households with access to their own or community renewable generation within ten years". The John Muir Trust has also stated that "the best renewable energy options around wild land are small-scale, sensitively sited and adjacent to the communities directly benefiting from them", although even community-owned schemes can prove controversial. W
Land reform in Scotland[edit | edit source]
- Reform Scotland's Land, commonweal.scot
In the 21st century, land reform in Scotland has focused on the abolition and modernisation of Scotland's antiquated feudal land tenure system, security of tenure for crofters and decentralisation of Scotland's highly concentrated private land ownership. Scotland's land reform is distinct from other contemporary land reforms in its focus on community land ownership, with the Land Reform (Scotland) Acts of 2003 and 2016 establishing the Community Right to Buy, allowing rural and urban communities first right of refusal to purchase local land when it comes up for sale. Crofting communities are granted a similar Right to Buy though they do not require a willing seller to buy out local crofting land. Under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, Scottish ministers can grant a compulsory sale order for vacant or derelict private land or land which, if owned by the local community, could further sustainable development. W
Land use and housing[edit | edit source]
- Planning Democracy, "Our mission is to build a movement of citizens who value Scotland’s people, places and environment. Together we will campaign to ensure that decisions about how Scotland’s land is developed are fair, inclusive, locally accountable, and promote just outcomes driven by community needs rather than profit." Video: Planning Democracy on youtube.com. Added 20:31, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
Men's Sheds in Scotland[edit | edit source]
- Scottish Men’s Sheds Association, added 15:35, 21 October 2023 (UTC), Video: Scottish Men’s Sheds Association on youtube.com
Visions[edit | edit source]
- Our Common Home Campaign, commonweal.scot
- Common Weal, Scotland’s growing grassroots think tank and movement.
- Turning Vision into Reality , scottishcommunityalliance.org.uk, added 14:23, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
Arts, sport and culture[edit | edit source]
Creative Lives is an arts organisation based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The group was originally founded as Voluntary Arts in 1991 to promote creative cultural activity. In June 2021 the organisation was renamed "Creative Lives". It is supported by funders including the UK Arts Councils and the Irish Arts Council and charitable trusts.
Creative Lives is an arts organisation based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The group was originally founded as Voluntary Arts in 1991 to promote creative cultural activity. In June 2021 the organisation was renamed "Creative Lives". It is supported by funders including the UK Arts Councils and the Irish Arts Council and charitable trusts.
Creative Lives has offices in Cardiff and Edinburgh, as well as project workers in different locations across the UK and in Dublin. Through a devolved structure across the UK and Ireland, the organisation provides information and training, and works with policy makers, funders and politicians to improve the environment for everyday creativity.
Creative Lives is registered in Scotland as Voluntary Arts Network Company No. 139147 and Charity No. SC 020345.
Creative Lives promotes creative cultural activities that people undertake for self-improvement, social networking, mental well-being, leisure and fun - but not primarily for payment. The range of art forms includes 'traditional amateur arts and crafts (singing, dancing, drama, quilting, painting, writing etc), to digital arts and creative cookery and gardening - from knitting a jumper to playing the guitar, making a short film to arranging flowers...'. There have been a number of studies and reports exploring the value of participation in the non-professional arts including for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2008 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
- In March 2020, Creative Lives launched #CreativeNetwork - a series of online networking events for those involved in arts, culture and creative industries.
- Creative Lives On Air is a partnership between Creative Lives and BBC Local Radio stations, promoting everyday creativity through local radio. The project began with BBC Radio Merseyside as a legacy project following the Liverpool's year as EU City of Culture in 2008.
- Beginning in Scotland in 2011 and extended across the UK and Ireland the following year, Voluntary Arts organised Voluntary Arts Week, based on similar models in other European countries including the Week of Amateur Arts in Flanders. Taking place for one week in May across the UK and Ireland, the aim of Voluntary Arts Week is to celebrate amateur arts and crafts, and raise interest from the public. The week involves contributions from various amateur art and craft groups, such as open rehearsals, workshops/taster sessions, special performances or exhibitions. The 2013 Voluntary Arts Week featured a national 'CraftBomb', which encouraged participants to take their arts and crafts into the public domain, including in parks, gardens, on railings and outside buildings. In 2017, the ten-day event was renamed Voluntary Arts Festival.
- Voluntary Arts was one of the founding partners in the Get Creative campaign in 2015 as an initial year-long programme. The campaign became an annual spring event in 2016. Get Creative Weekend took place from 7–9 April 2017, with over 650 events across the UK. The chief executive of Creative Lives chairs the steering committee for Get Creative, which also includes representatives from BBC, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland, Crafts Council, Creative People & Places, Fun Palaces and 64 Million Artists. From 2018, the Get Creative Weekend and Voluntary Arts Festival were merged to become the Get Creative Festival.
- The Creative Lives Awards, formerly the Epic Awards, recognise the achievements of voluntary and community-led creativity. The awards have been running in England since 2010, and from 2011 included awards for projects in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The awards are open to any non-profit amateur arts or crafts groups run by volunteers, based in the UK or Ireland, which took place at least partially in the previous 12 months. One winner and one runner-up are chosen from each of the five nations by a panel of Voluntary Arts staff and board members, and representatives from local arts councils. There is also a ‘People’s Choice Award’, voted for online by members of the public, and the ‘Peer Award’, voted for by the shortlisted nominees. An Award ceremony takes place each year, attended by the main winner from each nation. Previous winners have included a breakdance crew, all-male choir, drumming group and photography project. The Epic Awards winners' reception has previously taken place in London, Derry, Glasgow, Salford, Cardiff and Gateshead.
- Creative Lives
Traditional arts and heritage[edit | edit source]
- TRACS, "empower communities across Scotland, to discover, develop and practise their unique traditional arts and heritage in the context of our daily lives."
Health and wellbeing[edit | edit source]
- CHEX, Community Health Exchange, "promote community-led health as a way to tackle Scotland’s persistent health inequalities." CHEX facilitates a network of community-led health initiatives, chex.org.uk, added 09:30, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing, alliance of community-led health improvement organisations, added 15:34, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle[edit | edit source]
- Share and Repair Network, a project of Circular Communities Scotland, supports existing, developing and brand new sharing libraries and repair cafes to support a move to borrowing instead of purchasing seldom used items and to give people skills to repair and re-use items. The project offers guidance, a mentorship scheme and support network for any group interested in setting up...[1] Website includes members map.
- Circular Communities Scotland, empower our national network of reuse, repair and recycling charities. Website inlcudes members map. Video channel: Circular Communities Scotland on youtube.com, added 13:44, 29 October 2023 (UTC)
- Zero Waste Scotland, website includes "What Zero Waste Scotland can offer community groups"
Community currencies activism[edit | edit source]
- ScotPound, 2015, neweconomics.org
Citizens data initiative[edit | edit source]
- Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, the Scottish Government's programme of small area statistics in Scotland.
- Understanding Scottish Places
Research[edit | edit source]
Decentralising Digital, Working with rural communities in Karnataka, India, Decentralising Digital is an ongoing research project seeking to co-create new narratives for decentralised digital futures. added 12:22, 15 September 2021 (UTC)
Other resources[edit | edit source]
- Environment, information from the Scottish Government
- Greener Scotland one-stop website for greener living, provided by the Scottish Government
- Scotland's Environment, website steered by a partnership chaired by the Scottish Government.
Near you[edit | edit source]
Edinburgh, resources - Glasgow, resources
See also[edit | edit source]
- Topic overview: Community resources, Community energy, Land activism, Citizens data initiative, Maps for community action
- UK context: Community resources UK, Community energy UK, Land activism UK, Citizens data initiative UK
