Highlands and Islands Enterprise
My likes
Guidance

Community benefits

""

What are 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.

The opportunity

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.

""

The power of community benefits from natural capital

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. Download a copy of the guidance below.

Community benefits - a bridge to progress guide

Carbon sequestration

Interested in the potential from carbon markets? Find out more about the potential value to communities identified in our research.

Carbon sequestration Argyll and Bute research

Communities doing it for themselves

Have a look at our case studies to find out about the fantastic projects communities across the Highlands and Islands are involved in.

Case Study

Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn - Galson Estate Trust

The impacts of community land ownership on the local economy

Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn - Galson Estate Trust

Case Study

Morvern Community Development Company

Find out what can be achieved when community is at the heart of local development

Morvern Community Development Company

Case Study

Shetland Amenity Trust

Shetland organisation with the islands' heritage at its core

Shetland Amenity Trust

Case Study

CBaB

Island pioneers sharing learning in the local energy economy.

Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh

Case Study

Cumhachd Shlèite

Find out how the community has developed a scheme with environmental and community benefits.

Cumhachd Shlèite

Case Study

Soirbheas

Soirbheas, a registered charity, work to strengthen and support the communities of Glen Urquhart and Strathglass, through revenues from local renewable energy schemes.

Soirbheas

Wind turbine
Case Study

Tiree Development Trust

Community-led development at the heart of social and economic progress.

Tiree Community Development Trust

Case Study

Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust

Celebrating 10 years of community-led development

Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust

Case Study

Point and Sandwick Trust

How community-led wind energy is growing the biodiversity of the Outer Hebrides.

Point and Sandwick Trust

Case Study

South West Mull and Iona Development

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.

South West Mull and Iona Development

youngster looking intently at piece of wood
Case Study

Sandwick Social and Economic Development

Wach our video to find out how the community of Sandwick are developing local and visitors services to sustain their community.

Sandwick Social and Economic Development

""

Where to next?

We have a range of advice and support to help you make the most of community assets.

Community development

Our support for communities is flexible. Find out how we can help including funding, asset and land development, specialist advice and more.

Community Assets Knowledge Exchange Fund

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.

Community Right to Buy fund

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.

Scottish Land Fund

The Scottish Land Fund provides funding for community organisations across Scotland to own land, buildings and other assets.

Browse all support services

We support businesses, communities and social enterprises through a range of services, including advice, funding, events and property. Find out how we can help you.

Feedback

Did you find what you were looking for?

Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news, funding, investment and development opportunities from across the Highlands and Islands.

Please see our privacy policy for details on how we will use your data.

Thanks for signing up

A confirmation email has been sent to

Get updates that matter to you
Tell us what you're interested in to customise the emails we send you e.g. funding, community development, business support or local events.


Tailor my preferences