One million acres

Community Land Ownership: government sets ambitious target

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A strategy to significantly increase the amount of land in community ownership has been published today.

The report by the one million acre short life working group recommends a number of proposals to deliver the one million acre target by 2020 and spread the benefits of community ownership, including:

  • stimulate demand for community owned land through raising awareness
  • build capacity of communities to take land ownership projects forward
  • improve access to support services and develop a network of support providers
  • address issues around the availability of land and barriers to the supply of land

The report identified 480,000 acres of land already in community ownership, which has recently been increased to over 500,000 acres by the acquisition of land by The Pairc Trust since the report was finalised.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Aileen McLeod said: “I welcome this report from the one million acre short life working group, which looks at ways to reach our target of one million acres of community owned land by 2020. This ambitious target has the potential to transform the fortunes of communities across the country.

“I would like to thank the group for all their hard work and I look forward to considering the recommendations in this report alongside current land reform legislation to help ensure we empower communities with practical powers as well as support sustainability.” Continue reading One million acres

Charter heralds a ‘new dawn’ for recycling in Scotland

Scottish Government and COSLA announce agreement on new consistent recycling systems across the country

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Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead was joined by COSLA spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability, Councillor Stephen Hagan earlier this week to announce a new consistent approach to recycling in Scotland. Continue reading Charter heralds a ‘new dawn’ for recycling in Scotland

Contact the Elderly launches 12th Edinburgh group

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A charity which offers a lifeline of friendship to older people who live alone has launched its twelfth group in the Edinburgh area. Contact the Elderly runs free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for those aged 75 and over who would otherwise have no-one to see and nowhere to go. Continue reading Contact the Elderly launches 12th Edinburgh group

EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants

Anger and anxiety over funding debacle

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Third sector umbrella organisation EVOC is to seek answers to funding queries following the uncertainty caused by Tuesday’s Education, Children and Families committee meeting.

The meeting was expected to recommend that organisations that had received funding in 2015/16 would be given the same amount as last year, while successful new applicants would receive 50% of their bid. However the key report was withdrawn on the eve of the meeting, leaving scores of community organisations in the dark over their futures.

Following the decision to withdraw the grant recommendations paper before Tuesday’s meeting, EVOC approached the Executive Director of Communities and Families for clarification and she has agreed to respond to questions collected by EVOC on behalf of organisations affected. 

EVOC’s Children, Young People and Families Network development worker Sarah Wade said: “If you wish to raise a question please email me at sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk by 10am on Monday 14 December.

“This will enable us to collate questions from the Sector and submit them to Gillian Tee as soon as possible. Please include the name of the organisation you represent when you contact me – this will not be included with your question. For those organisations who have already been in touch with me, I will include the questions you have already raised.”

Email sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk or call 555 9133 for further info

Continue reading EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants