Objective: The Rural Parliament is seeking: Scottish Rural Action will: Delivery partners: 2.1 Increased awareness and Relevant organisations to take a Work with partners to raise awareness of the Rural communities engagement amongst coordinated approach to ensuring opportunities offered by the Community Scottish Council for communities with the new communities are aware of and have Empowerment (Scotland) Act and forthcoming Voluntary Organisations opportunities available the capacity to access the Land Reform Act and provide encouragement through the Community opportunities available. and support for communities to ensure good Develop Trust Empowerment (Scotland) Bill uptake of the opportunities by February 2016. Association Scotland Rural communities’ take-up the and the forthcoming Land opportunities offered and share Feed into the regulations and guidance Reform Bill. Scottish Government successes and challenges with each following the passing of the Community other. Empowerment (Scotland) Bill between June Other stakeholders 2015 and October 2016. Gather and promote case studies of empowered rural communities by Oct 2016. Facilitate inter-community networking and knowledge exchange by Oct 2016. 2.2 Funding for community A change of policy with Highland & Advocate on behalf of rural communities for a Rural communities projects and initiatives is Islands Enterprise to pay funding for policy change within Highlands & Islands Highlands & Islands available to community community-led projects in advance Enterprise by February 2016. Enterprise organisations in advance of of expenditure being made, projects making expenditure. wherever this is not dictated by EU or other externally controlled rules. Inclusion of concerns about the Make a submission to the European Rural European Rural payment in arrears of EU grant funds Parliament to this effect, asking them to lobby Parliament to small projects within the report for changes on our behalf and on behalf of Scottish Council for from the European Rural Parliament. other countries for whom this is also a Voluntary Organisations concern, by July 2015. - European Unit
Objective: The Rural Parliament is seeking: Scottish Rural Action will: Delivery partners: 2.1 Increased awareness and engagement amongst communities with the new opportunities available through the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill and the forthcoming Land Reform Bill. Relevant organisations to take a coordinated approach to ensuring communities are aware of and have the capacity to access the opportunities available. Rural communities’ take-up the opportunities offered and share successes and challenges with each other. Work with partners to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act and forthcoming Land Reform Act and provide encouragement and support for communities to ensure good uptake of the opportunities by February 2016. Feed into the regulations and guidance following the passing of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill between June 2015 and October 2016. Gather and promote case studies of empowered rural communities by Oct 2016. Facilitate inter-community networking and knowledge exchange by Oct 2016. Rural communities Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Develop Trust Association Scotland Scottish Government Other stakeholders 2.2 Funding for community projects and initiatives is available to community organisations in advance of projects making expenditure. A change of policy with Highland & Islands Enterprise to pay funding for community-led projects in advance of expenditure being made, wherever this is not dictated by EU or other externally controlled rules. Advocate on behalf of rural communities for a policy change within Highlands & Islands Enterprise by February 2016. Rural communities Highlands & Islands Enterprise Inclusion of concerns about the payment in arrears of EU grant funds to small projects within the report from the European Rural Parliament. Make a submission to the European Rural Parliament to this effect, asking them to lobby for changes on our behalf and on behalf of other countries for whom this is also a concern, by July 2015. European Rural Parliament Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations - European Unit