Tag: Development Trust Association Scotland

Give communities the power to shape Scotland’s future

Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) has launched its new community-led manifesto, calling for a fairer Scotland where local people have the power, investment and opportunity to shape their own futures. 

Representing nearly 400 development trusts across Scotland, DTAS works with communities to take ownership of local assets, build sustainable enterprises and drive local regeneration. Its support helps communities safeguard vital services, bring a new lease of life to local spaces and strengthen social and economic wellbeing in towns, villages and islands across the country.  

Last year, DTAS supported 81 local organisations, helping them secure more than £1.1 million in funding.

The manifesto highlights the ways in which communities are already leading change – from transforming disused buildings into thriving community hubs, to tackling rural depopulation and building a fairer local economy. However, it also highlights how limited funding and a lack of long-term investment is still holding them back.

To help Scotland’s communities reach their full potential, the manifesto sets out practical steps and policy asks centred around five key pillars:

  • A sustainable and supportive environment for communities
  • Developing local democracy
  • An inclusive, sustainable, wellbeing economy
  • Land reform and community ownership
  • A just transition and climate action

Among its proposed actions, DTAS is urging greater investment in long-term community development, reforms to land policy to expedite community ownership, and the creation of a community wealth fund to help local people take on and transform assets for public benefit.

Pauline Smith, CEO at DTAS, said: “Communities across Scotland are already delivering life-changing solutions to the challenges they face – from keeping vital services running to building a fairer local economy. But too often, their ambitions are limited by short-term policy and centralised control.

“This manifesto is our call for change to give local citizens real power, not just a voice. With the right investment and trust, they can shape a fairer, greener and more resilient future for Scotland.”

Case study: Huntly Development Trust

With DTAS help, member Huntly Development Trust has been able to secure the Strengthening Communities Funding needed to grow its organisational capacity and sharpen its impact locally.  DTAS’ Community Ownership Support Service has helped the Trust taken ownership of key community assets and accelerate its vision for local regeneration.

Donald Boyd, general manager at Huntly Development Trust, said: “Development trusts across Scotland are the beating heart of local action. We’re practical, on the ground anchor organisations – the “first responders” of community development – finding ways to meet local needs and secure new opportunities for local wellbeing.

“Here in Huntly, our work results in major local benefits and cost-savings to the public purse, but it requires long-term, consistent support.

“While we’ve made great strides in tackling local challenges, the support mechanisms identified by DTAS could help us and other communities across the country achieve so much more to drive lasting change.”

DTAS-Manifesto_FinalDownload

Scotland’s Community Foundation fast tracks funding to help most in need

Independent funder Foundation Scotland has announced a £12 million fast-tracked ‘Response Fund’ to support organisations which serve the hardest hit communities across the country. 

The accelerated funding programme comes in response to increased pressure on charities and community groups, many of whom are seeing a surge in demand for services while they themselves are facing reduced capacity and soaring overheads, such as utilities, staffing and National Insurance costs. 

To provide support for organisations who need it now, and to help with longer-term capacity building, Foundation Scotland will implement funding programmes that aim to do both.

Support includes a cost-of-living adjustment to all organisations funded in the last year to help them cope with rising operational costs. This will be implemented alongside a payment to organisations who were awarded funding last autumn, but who were unable to reflect the sudden increase in employer National Insurance costs in their applications.

Funding for these two programmes will total around £650,000.

Foundation Scotland will also contribute half a million pounds to the Corra Foundation’s ongoing Boost programme, a small grants fund for local community organisations supporting children and families hardest hit by poverty.

The Boost programme provides grants of £500-£3,000 and is delivered by Corra, in partnership with STV Children’s Appeal and Comic Relief.

Carolyn Sawers, Chief Executive of Corra Foundation said: “Community-led action is critical to tackling poverty and its impacts.

“Small grants, designed to work for local groups, make a big difference. With Foundation Scotland’s contribution, Boost will be able to reach many more children and families across Scotland.” 

Funding support that will help both immediately and in the longer term is also being given to all of Scotland’s Citizens Advice Bureaux, to assist with staffing and operational costs.

During the cost of living crisis, CABs have been overwhelmed with people desperate for help or support to navigate energy bills, benefits, debt, housing concerns and other urgent issues.  CABs themselves are charities and many are struggling with the disproportionate balance of need to resource as well as the ever increasing strain of covering their own costs.

All 59 CABs, as well as their umbrella body Citizens Advice Scotland, will receive individual awards of £50,000 this year and £50,000 in the next financial year, totalling £6million of funding over 2 years.

Derek Mitchell, CEO of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “Our network is seeing record levels of demand from people across all corners of Scotland.

“The advice we provide is fundamentally about bringing stability to volatility, but the people behind the network, the ones working tirelessly to help communities are facing increasing pressures. 

“CABs own livelihoods are often marked with uncertainty and at the mercy of short-term funding cycles. Funding like this is a game-changer. It will allow CABs to take a breath and plan the next two years with more of a safety net around costs. 

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Foundation Scotland for the support, and to everyone at CAS and the network that continue to work each day to better the lives of people across Scotland.”

Lastly, Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) will receive funding to help support local development trusts across the country.

Development trusts are community led organisations, set up to proactively address and tackle local needs and issues through community-led activity and partnership working. Many of them are vital to community support systems and infrastructure, but are facing critical operational challenges.

Funding will help them stabilize and rebuild their capacity, to better support the communities they represent. DTAS is the member-led organisation that promotes and supports development trusts across Scotland, and they will hold and distribute the funds.

This award will total £5million, allocated over two years, and represents the biggest single award Foundation Scotland has made in its history.

Pauline Smith, Chief Executive at DTAS said: “This funding couldn’t have come at a more crucial time and is strong recognition of the incredible work Development Trusts are doing across Scotland.

“We’re operating in a challenging environment, and this £5 million investment will be directed straight to our members through a Recovery and Resilience Fund – supporting long-term strength and sustainability in communities.

“With over 400 existing and aspiring Development Trusts in our network, we see every day the vital role they play, responding to growing local needs, strengthening community-led governance, and creating places people are proud to call home.

“These trusts are the backbone of community infrastructure, and without them, much of the social, economic, cultural, and environmental activity in our communities simply wouldn’t exist.

“This support will help strengthen the infrastructure that so many people rely on. We’re hugely grateful to Foundation Scotland – this funding will make a real and lasting difference across the country.”

Giles Ruck, CEO of Foundation Scotland said: “As Scotland’s Community Foundation, we are acutely aware that people across the country are continuing to face ongoing financial hardship, struggling to keep their heads above water or pay their bills.

“We want to support communities and individuals where we can. As a first step, we are fast tracking this Response Fund to help address multiple and pressing challenges. We want to go at least some way to help those affected by financial crisis, as well as help organisations and charities to stabilise and rebuild. 

“Although we are providing over £12 million in funding, we know that we are scratching at the surface. However, we are committed to using this fund as a stepping stone from which we can better support communities, listening to what people say that they need, and working with others to create a stronger, more resilient Scotland.

“Foundation Scotland would like to thank the many donors who trust us with stewardship of their funds, pooling them with our own to ensure the greatest impact on our communities.”

For more information about Foundation Scotland visit:

  https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk