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June 2020
In this e-bulletin:
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DTA Scotland Annual Conference & AGM - when the news of lockdown first broke, DTAS took the decision to postpone our Annual Conference and AGM, opting for November 8th and 9th as new dates. We had hoped very much to offer a version of our regular face-to-face conference at the Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld. However, as the current situation has evolved, it has become clear that this may not be an option. We continue to monitor the situation closely and aim to update members in coming weeks as to the final position. If we are unable to offer the traditional conference, we will definitely offer a digital alternative and work is underway to explore how best we do this.
Vacant & Derelict Land Project Officer - DTA Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Land Commission is delighted to welcome Karlene Docherty into post in July as the new Vacant & Derelict Land Project Officer. This exciting new post seeks to address the challenging problem of vacant and derelict land across Scotland, in particular the smaller sites which often cause the most harm in communities. Working alongside development trusts or other community organisations, Karlene will seek to develop practical and innovative approaches to help bring different types of these small and persistently problematic sites back into productive use.
Scottish Land Commission (SLC) Land Rights & Responsibilities Protocols - Two new protocols that set out practical expectations for private trusts and charities owning land in Scotland have been published by the SLC. Designed to ensure that the way land is owned, managed and used, benefits everyone in Scotland, the protocols set out expectations on trustees and land managers to manage land in a way that:
- Is fair and considers the needs and priorities of the local community
- Encourages positive behaviour by all parties
- Actively engages local communities in decisions on land use and land management
To read about the new protocols in more detail, please click here.
Locality Coastal Communities Network - The Coastal communities network was established at the start of 2020 to connect coastal communities around England. The group meets on a monthly basis over Zoom to discuss challenges and opportunities and share skills and experience. The group is keen to widen its membership to incude coastal communities throughout the UK and would like to extend an invite to coastal DTAS members. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 30th of July at 3pm. Any DTAS members that are interested in taking part should email Natasha.Foxford@locality.org.uk to sign up.
Social Enterprise Connect Scotland - launching on 1st of July, this new organisation is the result of a merger between Senscot and Social Firms Scotland. Further information including an organogram of the staff and board structure as well as how it sees its role and functions with regard to representing and supporting social and community enterprises and social firms across Scotland will be available shortly. Best of luck from all at DTA Scotland. Those regular readers of the weekly Senscot bulletin can still keep up to date with the thoughts and musings of Laurence Demarco via his new blog site. You will be required to sign up to receive this.
The Scottish Tech Army - is a team of tech and digital experts from a wide and varied field who are currently furloughed and offering their expertise to community organisations and charities who need to adapt their delivery in the wake of Coronavirus. The group is keen to help as many who need it and have produced some really creative material so far. Find out more here.
Senscot Reset Week - many of DTAS's members took part in the Senscot Reset week of discussions back in May. Having now had some time to analyse the feedback, Senscot has produced this Reset Week report highlighting the key themes that emerged from the discussions.
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Newcastleton & District Community Trust has recently made history after successfully purchasing 750 acres of land known as Holm Hill from the Duke of Buccleuch’s Borders Estate. A successful application to The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) allowed the trust to secure the £850,000 they needed for the historic buy-out. Purchasing the land which is adjacent to Newcastleton village will help the community take control of future development of the village which will include farmland and the development of renewable energy and leisure activities. In the same SLF annoucnement, The Langholm Initiative was also successful in securing support for a Borders Estate buy-out. The Initiative has now launched a crowdfunder campaign to raise the remainder of the funds required to purchase another part of Langholm Moor and create a nature reserve and small-scale renewable energy projects. To find out more and donate to the crowdfunder, click here.
Throughout lockdown social media has been awash with details of people's innovative approaches to dealing with being at home and keeping in touch. Thurso Community Development Trust took that idea one step further and have introduced weekly broadcasts to and for the Thurso community in order to provide useful updates and information. The Thurso Show goes out via Youtube and is promoted by the trust through its Social Media channels. The show has proved to be very successful in making people aware of the local Coronavirus services and support that is available. To find out more and watch some of the previous broadcasts, click here.
To help create a brighter world during COVID-19, Lanark Community Development Trust (LCDT) aimed to fill the hole left by the cancellation of its annual Flowerfest by creating a virtual flowershow using community photos. Over 200 local people of all ages submitted photos and artwork to the project and thanks to £500 from the TESCO Bags of Help COVID-19 Support Fund, the virtual flowershow was turned into printed photobooks. These photobooks have now been delivered to around 300 local vulnerable, older and isolated people, with further copies available to order via the Trust’s Facebook page for a small donation.
In a continuation of this positive attitude, LCDT has been usingi ts digital channels to continue to engage with local audiences by sharing a variety of online resources, daily photos and activity ideas for the garden. The trust has also launched a new YouTube channel with a variety of ‘how to’ and ‘advice’ videos. To find out more, click here.
Despite lockdown, LCDT’s Castlebank Horticultural Centre growing compound is still in full production! As we moved into the peak growing season at the start of June, the trust began offering the local community a limited number of fresh produce boxes for a suggested donation of £5. These have been very popular and ‘sell out’ each week about an hour after ordering opens.
DTAS member Fuse, based in the east end of Glasgow recently hosted award winning journalist Audrey Gillan, who wanted to find out about the perceptions of local young people on growing up in the east end. The programme highlights the importance and influence of youth organisations and services in young people's lives. Click here to hear some of the Wean's World interviews, recently played on BBC Sounds.
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Training & Events
Social Enterprise Academy has a number of funded online sessions availale throughout July and August:
Managing Change – online learning plus zoom sessions at:
Tuesday 7th July 2-4pm
Tuesday 21st July 2-4pm
To find out more, click here.
Rebuilding Income Streams – online learning plus zoom sessions at:
Wednesday 8th July 11am -12
Wednesday 15th July 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 29th July 1.30-3.30pm
To find out more, click here.
Leading Remotely – online learning plus zoom sessions at:
Tuesday 14th July 10am-11am
Tuesday 21 July – 10am-12noon
Tuesday 4 August 10am-12noon
To find out more, click here.
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In a time where there has been little cause for celebration, it was heartening to see 10 DTAS members highlighted in the most recent Scottish Land Fund announcement. Please see below a brief summary of the awards and what they will help towards:
Newcastleton & District Community Trust - £850,000 - to take ownership of 750 acres of land on the Tarras Water and Holmhill Estate from Buccleuch Estates.
The Langholm Initiative - £1,000,000 - to develop a community-owned nature reserve on part of the Langholm Moor.
Colonsay Community Development Company - £214,000 - to purchase a former Baptist manse, which it plans to develop into temporary accommodation for key workers and families on the island.
Shapinsay Development Trust - £237,125 - to purchase two properties, which they plan to develop as affordable rented housing for residents on the island.
South Islay Development - £110,200 - the group will purchase Port Ellen Playing Fields with plans to upgrade it into an activity park and campsite.
Stronsay Development Trust - £130,790 - by using this money to purchase a three-bedroom property, SDT will be able to provide affordable housing on the island.
Dornoch Area Community Interst Company - £216,411 - This project by the Dornoch Area Community Interest Company will acquire a former abattoir site in order to establish community facilities, including a community centre with curling barn, car parking, games area and golf driving range.
Strathglass and Affric Community Company - £38,588 - to purchase a former nurses’ home in Cannich and develop it into two homes for social rent.
North Ronaldsay Trust - £159,400 - The Trust will use the award to acquire a house, garage with a workshop, shop, outbuildings and eight acres of agricultural land in order to convert these into a community facility, enterprise hub, commercial unit and affordable housing.
Congratulations all from everyone at DTAS! Please do keep us updated as to how your projects are progressing.
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Funding
Bank of Scotland REACH programme - suitable for charities that can demonstrate they address disadvantage or social exclusion. Grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 over one year. For the remainder of 2020 will operate as a monthly programme. For further information and eligibility criteria, click here.
CARES - currently open for new expressions of interest, until 22 July. The fund can offer capital grants to support up to 60% of costs for projects on a competitive basis as well as development funding support for feasibility work and options appraisals to develop new local energy projects. To help introduce this new element, Local Energy Scotland will be holding CARES funding surgeries on specific themes including an intro to CARES, community buildings and community asset transfers. Our lunchtime funding surgeries are an opportunity to explore this funding call’s themes and the support available in more detail, ask the team questions, and find out the next steps in how to apply.
If you’d like to attend, please email info@localenergy.scot for a secure Zoom link.
Sustrans Scotland Pocket Places Scotland - Pocket Places focuses on simple, quick and low cost changes that can improve the look and feel of a street or neighbourhood. In addition to up to £20,000 for construction, Sustrans is offering the service of a design team to help design and implement improvement to local streets. Deadline for this round is 31 July. For further information, click here.
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Welcome to Kinlochleven Community Trust who join us as full members and to Stoneyburn & Bents Future Vision Group SCIO (SBFVG) who join as year 1 provisional members.
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A Word from the Chair
As we reflect on 2020 so far, it is difficult to feel we are not sinking by the levels of loss, worry and anxious uncertainty that the Coronavirus has brought with it. Life as we knew it changed overnight, and as the fallout from this global pandemic continues to unfold, the next 6-8 months are set to be even tougher still as the ‘response’ government funds and resources dry up, leaving us with an economy in tatters and a monumental increase in social need.
It is difficult therefore to look for any positives in the situation that we are faced with, but as the Chair of a network of community powered, inspiring and resilient organisations, I’m going to do just that…
We’ve all said for a very long time that community anchor organisations – like DTAS member development trusts are the best placed, knowledgeable and agile organisations to meet and respond to the needs of geographic communities. And haven’t we just gone and proved it?
Over the past few months, it has been uplifting and amazing to watch as the details emerged of the varied, timely and co-ordinated local Coronavirus responses that DTAS members were delivering. Across Scotland we have been able to support many thousands of people in our communities through the provision of essentials like food, medicine and fuel; support to access benefits and wider financial advice; helped tackle isolation by providing online and over the phone check ins, or a digital platform to allow lunch clubs, literacy and exercise classes. The list is quite literally endless – yet all of it completely necessary as we responded to what was needed in our individual communities.
We are seeing unprecedented levels of engagement and volunteering – and not just from those usual suspects, but from those who perhaps were aware of the work of their local trust, but only now have come to understand its critical importance in the infrastructure of the community. We have witnessed the very essence of ‘community’ spring back to life as people go out of their way to help neighbours, friends, acquaintances and in many situations, strangers.
Partnerships and collaborations between community and voluntary organisations have been strengthened and there is a real energy behind the idea of not just a community led, but a community powered recovery.
We have been able to mobilise and respond quicker and more effectively than other larger organisations and intermediaries and it has not gone un-noticed.
In amongst the uncertainty and worry, we have helped to enable a momentum that is unlike anything that has gone before it. We are all in this together and although I know there are tough times ahead, I am optimistic about the future and we will not only float but our engines will be refuelled and we will be full steam ahead, very soon.
Sandy Brunton, Chair, DTA Scotland
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Policy Update
It has been an incredibly busy first month for me at DTA Scotland and I want to applaud the incredible work that both our members and DTAS staff have achieved in response to the challenges brought by Coronavirus pandemic.
DTAS played a key support role to the Scottish Government to deliver out the Supporting Communities Fund. All DTAS staff worked together from across our different teams to help ensure the support funding was going to those who were delivering vital on the ground support of essential supplies and deliveries. In total, over 150 members accessed the fund and helped get over £5million out the door in as little as four days from application to bank account.
For some members the response phase is still critical to their communities. Others are able to start to think about recovery plans, reopening and trading once again. DTAS is seen as an expert and trusted voice when we feedback to the Scottish Government and others. That trust comes from the strength of our members voices highlighting the issues and challenges, positives and negative experiences in their communities. It is your voices which help DTAS shape the next critical stage of support both from us to you and to you from Government. DTA Scotland is a part of shaping those discussions with Scottish Government. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our members so it is incredibly important that we continue to hear from you.
As part of our engagement work, DTAS development officers recently held a series of structured online discussions with 55 different DTAS members. Several key themes have emerged but the main response from the members was to note their relief that they are not alone. With all the worries that members are facing there was welcome reassurance in our DTAS community that everyone is in the same boat.
Please click here for a summary of the themes that emerged from the discussions.
The next 6-8 months are going to be very challenging for our members I want you to know that your DTAS team is here to help and we will continue to champion the needs of the development trust community.
I look forward to getting to know you all better, and thank you for the warm welcome that I have received so far.
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Cowie Rural Action Group deliver food in the community
Community-led assets at centre of Coronavirus response
Many of the groups we work with at COSS to take on assets have been well placed to provide effective support in their communities during this challenging time. We’ve put together some case studies of fantastic organisations working from their community-run assets to respond to the challenges raised by coronavirus:
- Kinning Park Complex's 'Acts of Organised Kindness' project has centred around ensuring the local community has access to the goods, services and support they need - the catch ups, food deliveries, dog walking and online activities have all helped the community stay connected during this time.
- Inverclyde Shed members have been making links with Sheds and community gardens across Scotland by hosting ‘Virtual Sheds’ and inviting others to join and share knowledge and learning. Maintaining contact with the Shed’s members has helped at a time when social isolation is being felt by people more than ever. In addition, volunteers who live within walking distance have used their daily exercise time in the community garden to undertake improvement works. Once harvest time comes, the Shed plan to deliver the freshly grown salad vegetables and herbs to local elderly people’s homes.
- Cowie Rural Action Group have provided community support in many diverse ways - from preparing meals for older people, to delivering 300 Easter eggs to houses in the community. Increasing connections and partnerships across other local organisations in the area has been essential to their success and this collaborative approach to supporting communities is something we hope is here to stay after this challenging time has passed.
Read the full set of case studies here.
Scottish Land Fund Awards for Asset Transfers
COSS were delighted that seven of the sixteen recent awards from the Scottish Land Fund went to community organisations obtaining assets formerly in public ownership. Funding for asset transfers was awarded to: Cliftonville & Coatdyke Community Group; Strathglass and Affric Community Company; Friends of Dundonald Castle; The Ridge SCIO; Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC); and Dunnet Forestry Trust.
£49,000 was awarded to The Ridge SCIO whose asset transfer request was approved by East Lothian Council in February. Kate Darrah, Managing Director at The Ridge said “It was a massive slog, but we got there! Thanks so much also for your input at the outset, which was absolutely key in pointing us in the right direction.”
Cliftonville & Coatdyke Community Group were awarded £190,690 for the transfer and renovation of Coatbridge Bowling Club. North Lanarkshire Council agreed to the transfer in March and now the group can cover the cost of purchasing the building and car park, installing new disabled facilities, and employ a part time development officer post for 1 year. Congratulations to all involved.
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Community Shares Scotland
New Programme Manager at Community Shares Scotland
Community Shares Scotland is bidding farewell to James Proctor, who is moving on after almost three years as Programme Manager. We thank James for his work, particularly on establishing ‘model rules’ well suited to development trusts, and wish him well in his new role with South of Scotland Enterprise.
Morven Lyon will now act as interim Programme Manager. Morven is the programme’s longest serving member of staff, having joined at the very beginning.
These staffing changes coincide with a short extension to Community Shares Scotland’s funding. The team continues to welcome new cases and would like to encourage anybody interested in community shares to get in touch to learn more.
New website soon to launch
Community Shares Scotland has been busy redesigning its website, with a new site set to launch later this month. The new website aims to illustrate the ‘journey’ through a community share offer, making it much simpler for communities to understand where to get started. It will also include new case studies and an interactive map of share offers across Scotland.
To be notified of the new website launching, please sign up to the Community Shares Scotland newsletter.
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