The Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health conducts world-leading research to conceptualise and evidence ways that lives of individuals and communities can be improved through a better understanding of various community-based and health-focused initiatives.
Sector: Community assets
The Scottish Civic Trust was set up in 1967, to help people connect to their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. In its infancy, it successfully campaigned for the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town, was instrumental in the revitalisation of New Lanark and can also claim credit for bringing Doors Open Days to the United Kingdom.
Fife Historic Buildings Trust is a charitable trust working with Fife Council, community groups and others to find new users and funding to secure a long-term future for historic buildings at risk. We have helped deliver over £40m in historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, supporting town centres, businesses, tourism and local communities.
We help communities purchase land and buildings, and promote land reform. We work closely with others to put the right expertise in the hands of the community. We promote community ownership and work to create conditions for a fairer system of land ownership and use. We think communities create the best solutions to their problems, and the ownership of land and buildings is often key to these solutions. This is a pilot project by Community Land Scotland.
Community Land Scotland represents Scotland’s new generation of community landowners, urban and rural; we work to inspire & support communities to own and develop land and assets and influence the public policies that can help them. We believe that we cannot create a more socially just Scotland without tackling land ownership issues – this means more of Scotland’s land in the hands of more of Scotland’s people. Whether you are at the early stages of thinking about land ownership as a community or you are an established community organisation already owning property, we look forward to hearing from you.
Community Energy Scotland is a registered charity that provides practical help for communities, businesses and groups in green energy development and energy conservation. Our vision is of strong, well informed and capable communities across Scotland, able to take advantage of their renewable energy resources and address their energy issues in a way that builds a more localised, democratic and sustainable energy system.
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity, working since 1976 to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. The AHF exists to help communities and other not for private profit organisations find enterprising ways to revitalise the old buildings they love. We help with advice, grants and loans. Our support acts as a catalyst for putting sustainable heritage at the heart of vibrant local economies. For over 40 years, we’ve been the leading social investor in creating new futures for historic buildings.
Project Viability & Development Grants
With support from Historic Environment Scotland, Project Viability Grants are to fund initial studies to look at potential new uses for a building and at its current condition, usually resulting in a Viability Report produced to a standard template. Project Development Grants help add detail to outline plans, assisting in getting projects to the point that they can apply to larger capital funders. It can fund professional fees or capacity building for organisations.
With support from the William Grant Foundation, projects in Scotland may be eligible for the TSF. Projects applying are generally characterised by a community-led ethos, a desire to give new purpose to a building valued locally for its architectural heritage and plans that demonstrate strong social, economic or environmental benefits that meet local need. Projects that don’t fit well in other funding streams are particularly welcome to enquire and apply.
We can also support projects through loan finance, offering flexible and competitive terms to provide greater assistance to projects that will deliver local economic and community impact, as well as providing sustainable use of a historic building for future generations.
What is eligible for the Social Investment Programme?
Loan finance can be used for building acquisition, plugging a short-term funding gap, for working capital during a project delivery phase or to support further growth of a social enterprise or other community business based in a historic building. Contact Asha Karbhari to discuss any queries.
Our purpose is to support community-led action in Scotland to address the climate and nature emergency, working for a just, thriving and resilient Scotland. We are a volunteer-led network with full free membership open to any community group across Scotland that is taking action on the climate crisis and to any organisation that is involved with or supports community-led climate action. Individual free membership is open to anyone who is involved with or supports local, community-led action to address the same issues.
SCCAN membership is free and allows member organisations and individuals to access exclusive funding, development and networking opportunities. It also provides access to peer to peer learning, increasing the impact of organising in communities all across Scotland, and to collaborate on specific SCCAN contracts and commissions.
We’ve received support from the Scottish Government to train people to facilitate discussions around climate in people’s homes, with each session generating a lead for the next, eventually educating and empowering thousands of individuals to take action on climate. Read more about the programme and sign up for training here.
Community Learning Exchange (CLE)
CLE provides the solution to the financial barriers of site visits and networking, be it digital or face to face, an obstacle the Scottish Government has recognised as prohibitive to the potential of community groups. It is only available to groups who are members of the Scottish Community Alliance, of which SCCAN is one. It can cover travel, hosting, time for planning and other costs. Find out more here or contact us via email for more information.
The Melting Pot develops initiatives that stimulate and support social innovation, harnessing the power to ignite and effect social change by connecting people and supporting their ideas, passions and expertise. In turn, we help Scotland fulfil its economic, social, cultural and environmental potential. Our doors first opened in October 2007, after several years of development by a grassroots group of like-minded folk in Edinburgh.
Good Ideas is a free incubation programme that helps people turn their good ideas into change, supporting them to realise their vision in the form of social enterprises, charities and campaigns. Making an idea happen can be a daunting prospect and exploring new ideas is challenging – we’re here to help people test their ideas and make change happen.
Consultancy Services & Products
We share our 18 years’ experience of supporting and stimulating social innovation via our consultancy services and products. Whether you’re setting up a new coworking space, building a community at your existing hub, or wanting to run a social business incubation programme like Good Ideas, we can help! Find out more about our coaching, training and Etools here.
Calton Road Coworking Hub & Venue Hire
After leaving our previous spot on Rose Street and using research from the Future of the Office report, we secured three floors of space (previously used by Foundation Scotland) right next to Edinburgh Waverley. As well as regular coworking memberships and one-off hotdesk facilities, we have meeting rooms and event space to hire. Find out more here.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership is Scotland’s national towns’ collective; representing and promoting the diversity of our towns and places, and supporting those organisations and groups that have an interest in or ownership of them. Our role is to act as a hub for relevant news & resources, knowledge and good practice, to support learning and community through our events, to influence and share policies that impact towns and to raise the profile of Scottish towns.
The sole focus of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association is to support Scotland’s Shedders and their supporters to create sustainable and thriving Men’s Sheds in their communities across Scotland. If you need help, inspiration, or just a chat, you have come to the right place. The SMSA is not affiliated to any other UK Men’s Sheds Associations and works exclusively in Scotland as a registered Scottish charity, ‘In Scotland – For Scotland’. Our website has ample information to help you become part of the growing grass roots movement – become a member for free and gain access to our online resource library. We can also mail you information leaflets. We look forward to welcoming you to be a part of a life enhancing and thriving community!
The Community Transport Association (CTA) is a national charity that represents and supports providers of community transport: thousands of local charities and community groups across the UK that all provide transport services that fulfil a social purpose and community benefit. We are for, and about, accessible and inclusive transport.
Our vision is of a world where people can shape and create their own accessible and inclusive transport solutions and our mission is to achieve this through championing accessible and inclusive transport, connecting people and ideas, and by strengthening our members and raising standards. We have 160+ members in Scotland and support them with advice, networking, policy work and anticipation of future challenges to the sector.
The Communities Housing Trust (CHT) is a registered charity and social enterprise focused on building sustainable rural communities across central and northern Scotland. With a reputation throughout Scotland for providing essential affordable housing and accompanying amenities, we work at the forefront of the sector to support community led development, addressing inequalities and the repopulation of under-served areas. Since 1998 we have worked on more than 120 community-led projects, often in remote, rural areas, to provide over 1000 crucial affordable homes and other amenities.
The Scottish Government has provided a time limited fund to assist self or custom builders finance the construction period for their new home. Due to the pandemic, the deadline has been extended to August 2022 with an additional £2 million being made available. Read more
Community-led housing is about local people playing a leading and fundamental role in solving their housing problems. It encompasses community groups, development trusts and cooperatives, and covers new build, self-build and the use of existing buildings. Read more
At GCVS, we’re here to support community groups, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises with the help and training they need to succeed. By strengthening the voluntary sector, both citizens and communities can benefit. We provide free support in Glasgow for the essentials like fundraising, governance, measuring impact and climate friendly practice. Our paid for services Scotland wide for Payroll, HR and Health & Safety provide in-depth expertise.
CVS Falkirk & District is recognised by Scottish Government and Falkirk Community Planning Partnership (CPP) as the third sector interface for the Falkirk area. We have a primary role in ensuring the continuation and development of a vibrant third sector (charities, social enterprises, community and voluntary groups etc) in Falkirk.
We work with existing social enterprises, and encourage individuals and organisations to be more socially enterprising, through a range of services, including but not limited to start up guidance, idea development, business planning, identifying funders, partnerships, legal and compliance issues, measuring social impact and tendering and procurement. We have a variety of local support options for social enterprises in Falkirk, who are familiar with the social enterprise model and can offer guidance on different subjects.
