Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review: stage 2 - review of policy and delivery context
Stage 2 of the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review. It describes the recent, current and future policy and delivery context for three key elements of rural community funding and support: Scottish Rural Action, the Scottish Rural Network and Community Led Local Development.
Footnotes
1 Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review
2 A detailed review of the evolution of rural and island policy in Scotland since 1945 is available online here: The evolution of rural and island policy in Scotland A review of the evolution of rural and island policy in Scotland since the Second World War, providing suggestions for future policy evolution.
3 Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024
4 2023-24 Programme for Government
5 A letter from Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands to Finlay Carson MSP, Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in June 2024 sets out some information (Rural Support Plan draft outline).
6 ‘Equality, opportunity, community, New leadership: A fresh start’
7 See the Scottish Government’s 2023 policy prospectus and 2023-24 Programme for Government.
8 Rural Delivery Plan: Ministerial Working Group - gov.scot
9 New blueprint for Scotland's rural economy: recommendations to Scottish Ministers - gov.scot
10 Manifesto for Rural and Island Scotland
11 Scottish Rural Parliament 2021
12 Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament 2023
14 The most recent annual report from 2024 was published on 31 March 2025. More information is available here: Implementation and Measurement of the National Islands Plan - National Islands Plan: annual report 2024 - gov.scot
15 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot
16 Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot
17 Island communities impact assessments: guidance and toolkit - gov.scot
18 National Strategy for Economic Transformation
19 Press release accompanying the publication of SRUC’s Rural and Islands Insights Report 2023
20 National Performance Framework | National Performance Framework
21 Rural Economy Action Group - gov.scot
22 Island communities impact assessments: guidance and toolkit - gov.scot
23 Scottish Rural Network: evaluation - gov.scot
24 Scottish Rural Action was set up as a Company Ltd by Guarantee in 2013, and as a Scottish Charity in 2018.
25 Microsoft Word - SRA Evaluation FINAL
26 See for example this event focusing on rural health: 2024 05 05 Report from Hows your rural health_0.pdf
27 A rural movement is a partnership approach to networking and amplifying the diverse voices of rural and island communities. It serves two functions: mobilising and connecting communities to each other so they are skilled and supported to shape their own futures; and connecting communities to decision-makers to co-produce national policy.
28 Programme for Government 2019 to 2020 - gov.scot
30 The report from this event is available online here: Scotland's rural movement | Scottish Rural Action.
31 Community Led Local Development | Scottish Rural Network
32 Rural Communities Testing Change Fund | Scottish Rural Network
33 Rural Communities Ideas into Action
34 Evaluation
38 More information about how the funding was distributed between LAGs is available here: Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)- Scottish Rural Network (SRN) - RCTC - RCIA - CLLD Allocations 2022-23 - Website reference material - 14 December 2022.pdf
39 More information on the Index is available online here: SEP INDEX - Executive Summary.pdf. The index was initially developed more than 10 years ago using 2011 data based on a basket of indicators (combined with population, area, etc.).
40 Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action
41 Local Action Groups | Scottish Rural Network
42 More information on the allocation of funding to LAGs can be found here: Website - Local Action Group Funding Allocations 2023.pdf
43 This briefing is available online here: Rural Communities - The Future of CLLD briefing
44 This briefing is available online here: CLLD Conference - 18th April Aviemore - Outputs - October 2023.pdf
45 The statement is available online here: SRIP - CLLD Statement from 3rd November 2023.pdf
46 Information on LAG allocations is available online here: LAG CLLD Allocations - FY 2024-25 (1).png (1414×2000)
47 The report from the Glasgow event is available online here: here
48 Land Reform (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
49 Community Right to Buy - gov.scot
50 Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
51 Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation - gov.scot
52 Community empowerment - gov.scot
53 Local Governance Review - Improving public services - gov.scot
54 Community involvement in the planning process - Planning and architecture - gov.scot
55 Local Place Plans | Our Place
56 Empowering Communities Programme - Community empowerment - gov.scot
57 Scottish Land Fund | The National Lottery Community Fund
58 Supporting island communities - gov.scot
59 For more information on these priorities see: Priorities for Scotland: First Minister's statement - 22 May 2024 - gov.scot
60 Best Start, Bright Futures: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2022 to 2026 - gov.scot
61 Good Food Nation - Food and drink - gov.scot
62 Future of the National Care Service: Ministerial statement - gov.scot
63 National Transport Strategy 2 | Transport Scotland
64 Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 | Transport Scotland
65 Islands Connectivity Plan | Overview | Transport Scotland
66 ‘The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021-2024’
67 ‘Unleashing rural opportunity
68 ‘Delivering rural opportunity: third report on rural proofing’
70 UKSPF
71 More information on these requirements is available here: Interventions list for Scotland - GOV.UK
72 Rural England Prosperity Fund: prospectus - GOV.UK
73 Payments to support parks, National Landscapes and the Broads – Farming
74 Farming Investment Fund (FIF) - GOV.UK
75 Village Halls to see major revamp as Platinum Jubilee fund opens - GOV.UK
76 UKSPF 2025-26 allocations - GOV.UK
77 More information on the Plan for Neighbourhoods is available online here: £1.5 billion to restore pride in Britain's neighbourhoods - GOV.UK. This Plan is set in the context of the Devolution White Paper (covering England only) which is focused on valuing community assets and empowering communities to be able to influence their neighbourhoods English Devolution White Paper - GOV.UK.
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot