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Community Benefits
Community benefits are voluntary packages that businesses and developers provide to support communities. These can be financial or in-kind assistance, and both aim to empower communities to devise and deliver projects according to the needs and aspirations of the wider community.
Historically, they are a well-established, integral part of renewable energy development. Community benefits can vary in scale, sector and longevity enormously. Their impact in delivering community priorities can be life changing.
Local Energy Scotland figures highlight that community benefits from renewables provided around £25m in the last year alone to areas of benefit. Scotland has an active and engaged community sector, and with government commitments to community empowerment, community wealth building and a just transition, there is a focus on the potential community land and asset ownership offers in income generation - particularly from the natural capital marketplace.
Scotland offers potential for nature-based carbon offsetting to scale up through forestry, peatlands, soils and potentially the marine environment.
Natural capital markets could contribute to community wealth building including the use of community benefits as a means to engage communities and share wealth throughout the local economy.
Working with a range of partners, we've drawn together examples from across Scotland - showcasing how communities who have received various types of community benefits have managed and delivered a range projects.
We have a range of advice and support to help you make the most of community assets.
Grants of up to £2,000 are available through the Community Assets Knowledge Exchange programme to support training and learning experiences related to owning land or buildings.
We have up to £5,000 available to help communities investigate the ownership, register an interest and apply to purchase land and buildings through our Community Right to Buy Fund.
The Scottish Land Fund provides funding for community organisations across Scotland to own land, buildings and other assets.
The support for Communities framework provides community-led organisations access to defined, expert help and practical support to increase sustainability and achieve social/environmental impacts.
The Fair Work programme offers specialist support to businesses and social enterprises that are based in the Highlands and Islands.
Our technology placement programme offers enterprises of any size in the Highland Council area the opportunity to take on a graduate or student placement - and we'll fund up to 70% of their salary.
The impacts of community land ownership on the local economy
Find out what can be achieved when community is at the heart of local development
Find out how the community has developed a scheme with environmental and community benefits.
Soirbheas, a registered charity, work to strengthen and support the communities of Glen Urquhart and Strathglass, through revenues from local renewable energy schemes.
Community-led development at the heart of social and economic progress.
Celebrating 10 years of community-led development
How community-led wind energy is growing the biodiversity of the Outer Hebrides.
South West Mull & Iona Development was set up in 2010 to help this remote part of Scotland reach its full potential by consulting with the community and focussing on areas of improvement.
Wach our video to find out how the community of Sandwick are developing local and visitors services to sustain their community.
