What a room full of development trusts reminded us about rural communities
Karina Ross, senior development manager in Caithness and Sutherland, reflects on the recent learning event for community development trusts
When 20 or so community development trusts get together to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing their communities, one thing quickly becomes clear: these organisations are at the heart of rural life.
They’re tackling some of the biggest issues facing Caithness and Sutherland while creating opportunities for people to live, work and thrive locally.
They create jobs, tackle inequalities, provide local services, develop community-led housing, manage community assets and run projects that attract visitors. Rooted in the communities they serve, they understand local priorities and are well placed to turn ideas into action and impact.
The development trust learning event in Lairg last month was the second time we’d hosted such an event. Our aim was to help groups build their capacity and respond more effectively to the priorities identified by their communities.
With this in mind, we brought together trust representatives, funders, support organisations and specialist advisers to share knowledge, experiences and practical help. The event created opportunities to exchange ideas, build new relationships and explore opportunities for collaboration.
They explored how they can strengthen the work they do for their communities, while balancing increasing demands with limited time, resources and capacity. They looked at how to access the right advice, support and investment to move forward with local initiatives.
The day focused on some of the pressing issues facing rural communities.
Lizi Blackwood, our area head of business and enterprise, led a session on housing. Participants explored some of the area’s most urgent housing challenges and discussed practical approaches to increasing the supply of homes that communities and businesses need to thrive.
The role of digital technology was covered in a session by Ryan Till of Straight St Consulting. The discussion highlighted that digital technology and AI are no longer tools reserved for large organisations. Used well, they can help community bodies save time, improve decision-making and focus more of their effort on delivering for local people.
There was a similarly insightful session on planning, led by Gail Prince from the Highland Community Planning Partnership. This covered how local and regional strategies fit together and highlighted the important role of communities and development trusts in delivering shared ambitions.
A panel session brought together organisations that support community-led projects across the region. These include The Highland Council, SSE, North Highland Initiative and Development Trusts Association Scotland who shared advice on accessing funding, developing projects and making the most of current and future opportunities.
Participants left with new information to consider in relation to housing delivery, funding and the use of digital tools. The connections made created opportunities for further conversations between groups and support organisations. And feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with everyone wanting the event to return annually.
Kerry O’Keefe from Wick Development Trust said:
“It was a well organised, interesting, informative and interactive day and a valuable source of information on current topics, funding updates, discussions and networking opportunities. We took a lot away from the day and will further explore how digital technologies and AI can help development trusts improve efficiency and effectiveness.”
We really value the ambition, commitment and impact of development trusts across Caithness and Sutherland. They bring local knowledge and determination to some of the most important challenges facing the area. They turn investment into action, ideas into projects and community aspirations into lasting benefits.
Whether addressing housing shortages, managing assets, supporting local services or creating new economic opportunities, they have a crucial role in helping communities shape their own futures. That’s why we’re determined to continue our support for their work.
The enthusiasm in the room left no doubt that these events add value. That’s why we’re already planning a third learning event in 2027.
In the meantime, we’re facilitating monthly online networking meetings for development trusts across Caithness and Sutherland, helping these organisations continue sharing ideas, developing projects and learning from one another.
When communities are connected, informed and empowered, they’re better placed to shape their own future.