Scotland’s Human Rights Festival 2026 will be the first national, multi-day festival dedicated to celebrating, explaining and strengthening support for human rights across the country. Taking place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 December 2026, the festival is Scotland-wide, with a mix of online, hybrid and in-person events.

Human rights are often framed as legal language, political argument or something that only applies to other people. Scotland’s Human Rights Festival exists to close that gap.

The festival has a clear purpose: to make human rights more visible, more accessible and more relevant. We are bringing human rights out of policy papers and into stages, streets, screens and conversations across Scotland.

Some events will inform. Some will challenge. Some will entertain.

Led by Human Rights Consortium Scotland and in collaboration with core partners Art27 Scotland and Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights.

Festival Programme

Download the full festival programme here. Plain text version available here.

Scotland has ambitious environmental planning policies, with strong commitments to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. But communities are discovering that good policy means little if they do not have the power, resources or evidence to make it count.

When the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) came into force in 2023, it strengthened protection for nature, including ancient woodland, and established a stronger expectation that development should contribute to biodiversity enhancement.

Three years on, are these policies actually working?

Our experience working with communities shows a serious gap between policy and practice. Nature is essential to our health, wellbeing and quality of life. Yet planning decisions still too often treat ecological protection as something that can be traded away when development pressures arise.

Dykebar: when evidence is overlooked

At the former Dykebar Hospital estate in Paisley, preparations for 600 houses have fundamentally altered a landscape that provided space, stillness and connection to nature for people experiencing complex mental health needs. Residents still occupy buildings on the site where over 3000 trees have been felled.

Our particular concern was Hollybush woodland, part of the site where 20 houses are proposed. Developers’ surveys described it as scrub and secondary woodland of relatively limited value.

But the community looked more closely. They found mature trees, an established canopy, woodland plants and around 20 veteran trees. Earlier botanical surveys had recorded ancient woodland indicator species, while historical maps showed long-standing woodland cover.

The evidence was there. It simply had not been properly brought together or acted upon.

Hollybush was not on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, but the Inventory is known to be incomplete. Historical maps and field evidence are essential to identifying ancient woodland  and those maps existed.

The community did that work. The developers did not.

The community submitted their evidence to the planners, evidence that has since been corroborated by Nature Scot. But by then, the developer had appealed the original refusal, a right communities do not have, and the evidence was considered too late to influence the Reporter’s decision.

Permission was granted.

Hundreds of years of accumulated ecology, its complexity, diversity and uniqueness, have been lost for around 20 houses.

The case exposes a fundamental problem: ecological assessments are commissioned by developers rather than independently. Communities are then left trying to identify what has been missed, with far fewer resources and no equivalent right of appeal.

Rosskeen: when poor assessments become biodiversity gain

At the House of Rosskeen near Invergordon, a proposal for 66 houses on the community’s only remaining natural open space raised similar concerns.

Ecological surveys were undertaken out of season, including on a day when the site was covered in ice. The ecological report itself acknowledged that a proper ecological survey had not been undertaken.

The community brought in independent ecologists. They uncovered a remarkable diversity of fungi in a long-established field that had been missed in the developer’s assessment and was considered likely to be of exceptional local or regional value.

But it came too late. The grassland has now been lost, along with the fungal networks and ecological infrastructure it supported.

The problems continued with the biodiversity calculations. The reported Biodiversity Net Gain was just 0.76%, despite the Council identifying 10% as a benchmark where the metric is used. Campaigners identified errors in the calculation, including the treatment of invasive species and trees in private gardens. Their analysis produced approximately 9% net biodiversity loss, rather than a 0.76% gain.

There were also questions about a proposed enhancement involving Scottish primrose (Primula scotica), a rare species endemic to Scotland and generally associated with exposed coastal habitats. The proposed intervention would require a licence, with serious questions about whether it would be granted or whether the species could survive in this setting.

How meaningful is a biodiversity gain if it depends on ecological interventions that are uncertain or unlikely to succeed?

Most strikingly, the claimed biodiversity gain relied heavily on the community taking ownership of the woodland and delivering long-term ecological management, including major rhododendron removal.

We believe communities can often be excellent custodians of nature. They live there. They know the land. They care about its future.

But that commitment must not be exploited.

Community stewardship should be something communities choose and are properly resourced to deliver, not a way for developers to meet biodiversity commitments without paying for the work required.

If a developer claims biodiversity gain, the developer should be responsible for ensuring that gain is real, properly evidenced, funded and capable of being delivered for the long term.

A system that needs to change

These are two examples of a much bigger problem: nature is losing out to development.

The problem is not simply individual decisions. The system itself is failing nature. Communities have limited ability to challenge poor ecological assessments, question biodiversity claims or ensure their concerns meaningfully influence decisions.

Some of these problems are fixable.

Local authorities need access to independent ecological expertise, with assessments commissioned early enough for proper seasonal surveys and meaningful community input. Planning authorities also need the training and resources to make informed ecological decisions, particularly when only four in ten planning departments have in-house ecological expertise.

The National Planning Hub should help build that ecological capacity, not simply support faster decision-making.

And we need to rebalance power.

Developers have the resources to bring forward proposals and ecological evidence. Communities are too often left trying to prove why that evidence is wrong, with limited resources and no equivalent right of appeal.

If communities are expected to live with the consequences of development, they must have a meaningful say in whether and how that development happens.

Nature cannot continue to depend on exhausted volunteers filling the gaps left by the planning system.

If Scotland is serious about the environmental ambitions of NPF4, nature needs more than strong policies on paper. It needs a planning system with the expertise, scrutiny and community power to make those policies count.

The debate about public sector reform creates a real opportunity to think differently about where power sits in Scotland.

Changing tiers of local government alone, however, will not create stronger local democracy. The bigger question is whether communities themselves will have greater influence and control over the decisions, resources and priorities that shape their places.

We are not starting from scratch.

Across Scotland, communities have spent decades building relationships, knowledge and capacity.  Community organisations, supported by a wide network of intermediaries, are already bringing people together, developing local plans, managing assets and delivering practical responses to challenges faced by people in Scotland.

If reform is to make a lasting difference, success should be measured not simply by whether decisions move closer to communities but by whether communities gain greater power to shape those decisions and ability to act on the priorities they identify.

This is an important conversation for communities across Scotland, with much to discuss, challenge and develop.  We welcome the opportunity to contribute to these conversations and help shape reforms that deliver meaningful change for communities.

Read more on the Scottish Government Proposal for reform of local governance.

We welcome the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government and, in particular, its clear commitment to place community empowerment and community wealth building at the heart of a new model of governance, alongside implementing the ambitions of Democracy Matters.

The commitment to strengthen local governance and give people the means to articulate priorities and the tools to build community assets and services is an important opportunity to reinvigorate local democracy in Scotland. It closely reflects our belief that communities must have a stronger and more meaningful role in shaping the decisions, investment and services that affect them the most.

We look forward to working constructively with the Scottish Government, local government and partners across Scotland to turn these commitments into practical change for Scotland’s communities.

The important test, however, will be how these ambitions are translated into practice. Community empowerment must mean more than additional opportunities for consultation. It will require genuine influence and power over decisions and resources, clear democratic accountability and sustainable investment in community capacity.

The anticipated dialogue on the future of local governance provides an important opportunity to move from ambition to implementation and to build a democratic infrastructure capable of giving every community in Scotland a meaningful voice and the capacity to act.

For more information on the Programme for Government please see the Scottish Government website – Programme for Government – gov.scot

National intermediaries and networks play a vital role within Scotland’s ecosystem. They connect grassroots organisations to policy processes, amplify community voice, support collaboration, and build capacity across the sector. Much of this work is often unseen but fundamental. Without strong infrastructure bodies, smaller organisations struggle to influence decisions, learning is fragmented or collective responses to emerging challenges are weakened. This work relies on continuity, trusted relationships, and the ability to plan beyond a single financial year.

Yet, the majority of current funding practices undermine this role. Short-term project-restricted funding constrains strategic planning, late decisions create operational uncertainty, and insufficient core, flexible investment undermines workforce sustainability. While steps towards multi-year commitments are welcome, they remain inconsistent and under resourcing continues to limit the impact intermediaries can achieve on behalf of their members and communities.

A genuine shift to fair funding is necessary. Multi-year settlements, realistic inflationary uplifts, and proportionate accountability would provide the stability for long-term change. Predictable funding would enable intermediaries to invest in people, deepen partnerships, and contribute consistently to policy development rather than reacting to short-term pressures.

Without meaningful reform, the risk is to weaken the very infrastructure that enables community voice and democratic participation. Continued instability will reduce coordination, drive out expertise, and narrow community representation in national decision-making. The consequences of which would be felt most acutely in the communities already facing the greatest challenges.

SCVO’s Fair Funding campaign directly reflects these concerns. It calls for multi-year settlements, proportionate reporting, and respectful funding relationships, which mirror the needs expressed by Scottish Community Alliance. Together we are clear, sustainable community impact requires sustainable investment in the infrastructure that supports it.

The role of intermediaries – SCVO

For the third year running, Scottish Rural Action (SRA) partnered with a fantastic range of organisations to deliver the Community Showcase at The Royal Highland Show 2026. We’d like to thank The Scottish Government and The Scottish Rural Network for making this collective opportunity possible.

The Royal Highland Show (RHS) takes place every year at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, bringing together hundreds of thousands of people in a vibrant celebration of rural life. The goal of the Community Showcase is to place ‘community’ at the heart of the RHS, alongside the traditional sectors — agriculture, forestry, and fisheries — that have long shaped the event.

This year for the first time, SRA hosted two events on the Friday, inviting partners, members, MSPs, and the general public along, in celebration of four things that give fire to the incredible potential of rural and island Scotland: the Community Led Local Development programme, youth leadership, the Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament and Community Wealth Building. The opening addresses were delivered by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action & Rural Affairs, Gillian Martin, and Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad.

As part of the programme, we showcased The Poverty Alliance‘s exhibition of powerful photo storyboards created by local Citizens’ Panel members from Argyll & Bute and Aberdeenshire. The exhibition is helping to change the conversation around rural poverty and inequality. Remaining in place throughout the weekend’s Community Showcase, it attracted more than 800 visitors, who stopped to read these powerful stories.

We also screened a series of short films created by the Scottish Community Alliance and The Scottish Beacon, highlighting the work of community organisations pioneering Community Wealth Building in Scotland. Complementing Hannah Clinch’s excellent presentation on the regeneration and enterprise activity taking place in Dunoon, visitors had the opportunity to sample delicious, heritage-inspired, locally produced cordials from The POP Shop. We were also delighted to once again welcome pupils from George Watson’s College and Lochgelly High School, who worked against the clock to build and dismantle a kit car.

Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) have published their ‘NOW’ Manifesto – driven by what needs to happen for meaningful climate action- with communities at the heart of social transformation.

Between 2019 and 2024, Scotland’s onshore wind sector made an estimated £5.6 billion in post-tax profits. Around 73% of that profit – £4.1 billion – is estimated to have been paid in dividends to corporate shareholders, with £729 million of that to companies owned by private equity or based in tax havens. During that same time, only around £147m in total in community benefit was paid by developers to communities near to those windfarms.

These were some of the key findings of research from the Centre for Local Economies (CLES), commissioned by us along with Community Land Scotland and Uplift. The findings in the report: Blown Away: following the money in Scotland’s onshore wind sector, showed clearly just how much money from commercially owned onshore wind farms is leaving not just the communities that they’re near to but also Scotland itself, and also put paid to the idea that there isn’t enough money from onshore wind to go round.

Read more at Community Energy Scotland

The SURF Regeneration Forum Awards are delivered each year with over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government.  The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the  achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland. So if you know of or work with a great project or you think the area that you live or work in is worthy of an Award you can apply here.

Closing date, 7th September.

Scotland is experiencing more frequent heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures. Climate change is no longer a distant issue—it’s something communities and organisations are dealing with right now.

ClimatACTical, a gamified learning resource from Growing Climate Confidence, helps organisations explore these challenges in a practical, hands-on way. Through gameplay, teams respond to climate events, make decisions under pressure, and see how their choices shape what happens next.

In sessions so far, participants have been caught out by unexpected events, then quickly reflecting on what they could have done differently. The result is simple but powerful: a clearer sense that small decisions made today can build resilience for tomorrow.

ClimatACTical is supporting organisations across Scotland’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to move from awareness to action. In some cases, this has already led to practical changes, including teams setting up green groups to take ideas forward. It creates space to test ideas and identify realistic next steps as part of everyday work.

Creating space for confident action

ClimatACTical was developed in response to a clear need. There is strong willingness across the sector to take action, but time, capacity and headspace are often limited.

The game brings climate considerations into familiar organisational decisions, giving teams space to step back and explore choices together in a way that feels manageable and relevant. No prior knowledge is needed.

As one participant reflected:

“I was approaching this from a community spaces perspective, and the game felt like a useful way to get people thinking about climate resilience and net zero in a related context, but removed from day-to-day pressures. It opens up conversations and helps people see a wider range of options, including lower-cost actions like setting up a green team or greening outdoor spaces, not just focusing on grant funding.”

Developed with Verture and Small99, and shaped by input from across the sector, the aim was to create something practical and grounded.

Taking ClimatACTical on the road

A series of pop‑up and play sessions has taken climatACTical across Scotland, with each session adapting to its setting and the people taking part.

At the Village Halls Conference in Glasgow, a drop‑in session introduced the game to a range of community organisations, sparking immediate discussion. In Dumfries, participants explored scenarios in more depth, with conversations ranging from community energy to food growing and waste reduction. Many reflected on the value of stepping back to consider longer-term priorities alongside immediate pressures.

Across other locations, similar themes emerged—highlighting the importance of local knowledge, community resilience and shared learning. The flexibility of the game has been key, working equally well as a short introduction or a more in-depth workshop.

Capturing and celebrating what is already happening

Alongside delivering sessions, visits to Dumfries and Galloway and Moray created space to capture real-life stories from across the sector.

These visits highlighted the breadth of activity already underway. At KPT Development Trust, collective local action is powering change, from community hydro projects to food growing and shared green spaces. Dumfries Swift Group emphasised the importance of protecting biodiversity, while Moray Waste Busters demonstrated how the circular economy can come to life through a busy reuse store. Full stories will be shared in early autumn.

Much of this work is already happening, often with limited resources. ClimatACTical helps surface and connect this activity, making climate considerations more visible in day-to-day decision-making.

Learning through real-world scenarios

At the heart of climatACTical is the opportunity to explore decisions in context. Players balance actions against budgets, priorities and unexpected events, with climate scenarios adding a level of realism.

These moments often lead to the greatest reflection. Participants see how early preparation can reduce disruption, while delayed action can increase pressure on services and staff. In a supportive environment, teams can test ideas, make choices and reflect without risk—leaving with practical next steps.

Role play is also key. By stepping into different organisational roles, participants gain insight into financial constraints, service pressures and competing priorities, helping teams have more effective conversations about how to move ideas forward in practice.

What we are learning so far

A few clear themes have emerged:

• Confidence grows through doing
• Action feels more manageable when linked to everyday decisions
• Flexible formats make it easier to take part
• There is already strong activity across the sector to build on

ClimatACTical brings these elements together, supporting organisations to take practical next steps in ways that fit their work and communities.

Get involved

This is just the start. As more organisations take part, climatACTical will continue to develop through feedback and shared experience.

If you would like to host a session, try the game with your team, or find out more, please get in touch at chiara.fingland@scvo.scot or complete this enquiry form.