For communities who wish to take on assets, it is important that the assets are purchased and/or managed by a suitable organisation, that is fit for purpose and accountable to the community is serves. HIE assistance can be considered for any community initiative with the following characteristics:
- Open Membership - open to all people living in a defined community and not restricted to self-interest groups.
- Community control - at both membership and board level. The majority of the organisation's voting members must be individual members and resident within the area of benefit. More than half the voting seats on the board must comprise community directors resident within the area of benefit and elected by the membership.
- Development opportunity: the initiative must include activities that add value locally and create economic, social and environmental opportunities, for the resident community. These should create and support local employment and use land resources sustainably.
- Long-term viability: the initiative must demonstrate financial viability, even if this is on a non-profit distributing basis
- Non-profit Sharing - surplus funds or assets are to be re-invested into the work of the organisation to further its objects and must not be distributed to members or others. In the event of the organisation being wound up assets at dissolution are to be passed to a non profit sharing body with similar objectives.
The Scottish Community Land Network is funded by HIE and is a useful resource for anyone interested in the development of community-based land activities.
The community assets team also provides advice and grant funding to help communities develop renewable energy schemes, up to 1MW. Larger schemes are delivered in partnership with Community Energy Scotland.
For more information, please contact a member of the Community Assets team.
