SCDC Weekly

We’re always looking to improve and understand your priorities, so we’re asking you to let us know your feedback on The Weekly in our (very!) short survey.

The new Capital Investment Health Impact Assessment (CHIA) is an online toolkit to help capital investment teams consider how capital projects impact the health and wellbeing of local communities.

Organisations from across the sector have responded to last week's Scottish Government budget announcements. 

The 10th December is International Human Rights Day, a day celebrated annually to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the aftermath of World War II. A range of groups and individuals come together to march on the Scottish Parliament Building, demanding the Scottish Government bring forward a Human Rights Bill for Scotland.

With COP29 now concluded, this article explores what the policy context looks like for communities taking climate action in Scotland.  

In a new article, CHEX Head of Programme Sarah Boath reflects on the challenging funding landscape community organisations are facing, and why we need to start thinking of these vital supports as prudent investments instead of short-term projects.

A new toolkit for refugee communities, refugee supporting groups, and community groups has been developed to help build stronger, more influential and effective community organisations. 

Public bodies have a crucial role to play in supporting co-productive approaches, and SCDC’s new training offer is specifically designed to support this role and give staff time to gain new knowledge and skills - and confidently apply them in their work.

As the public and third sectors face an increasingly difficult funding environment, a new article has outlined some of the challenges of carrying out co-production during this time - with a new Co-production Guide setting out some possible solutions.

This event will bring together people working in community organisations, who are facing the pressures of delivering their vital work in the current challenging environment, for peer learning and support. 

In response to a Social Justice and Social Security Committee call for views, SCDC and CHEX have reflected feedback from community organisations on what fair and efficient funding for the third sector would look like in Scotland

Later this month is Co-production Week Scotland, and this year it’s focused on how we embed co-production as the way to deliver services and support across the country.

Voices from across the sector have called on proposed cuts to community organisations in Edinburgh to be halted, and for further engagement to take place to better understand the impact this decision could have.

Applications for the SCDC Board Member posts have been extended until 5pm on 8th November 2024. 

New data shows life expectancy in Scotland is still lower than pre-pandemic levels, despite increases since 2020-2022.

We’ve launched a new suite of training designed to enable public bodies and partnerships to support community priorities and aspirations.

A coalition of disabled people's organisations have come together for a fortnight of campaigning and action to demand justice and equality for disabled people.

A comprehensive new report, published during Challenge Poverty Week, has outlined the scale of challenge around tackling poverty in Scotland.

A new report has explored how democratic initiatives in Scotland can support enhanced democratic wellbeing: how much say communities have in the decisions that affect their lives.

It’s Challenge Poverty Week, and every year we join The Poverty Alliance and thousands of others to raise our collective voice against poverty and unite in calling for a more just and equal Scotland. 

Our new resource explores Local Place Plans – a way for communities to have more influence over what planning development can happen in their area. 

SCDC is looking for new Board members to help lead our organisation into its next decade of development.

A coalition of individuals and organisations have signed a joint letter urging the First Minister to support the passing of a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government have published their analysis of the Democracy Matters 2 consultation, which explored what new decision-making powers for communities could look like, and how potential new decision-making bodies might work. 

During Scottish Climate Week, we've published a new resource which explores the community development perspective around the climate crisis - and how communities are taking action on this pressing issue.

As recent evidence continues to highlight Scotland’s persistent and rising health inequalities, it’s important to understand the causes of these systematic and avoidable differences in health outcomes across our population.

A major new report has outlined the significant inequalities facing Scotland's communities. Published by the newly-formed Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU), the report has found that outcomes related to inequalities and health are not improving significantly in Scotland, and that some are getting worse.

Last week’s Programme for Government set out the main priorities for the Scottish Government over the next 12 months. In this edition of the Weekly, we’ve identified some of the key announcements and issues related to community development policy and practice.

We know that involving communities in deciding priorities and shaping local action is vital if we're to maintain collective wellbeing, support regeneration, and reduce inequalities. This is a core part of community development work, but how can it happen in practice?

How do we support young people to use their voices to take action on the health issues important to them? Launching at an event in October, a new HIIC course will help to answer that question by providing young people with new skills and understanding around health, power and social justice.