The Scottish Community Coalition on Energy has published its manifesto recommendations for political parties in the run up to the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.

Energy is a hot topic just now. From fuel poverty to net zero, and from energy pricing to local opposition to pylons, it’s consistently in the news and on the agenda in Government and Parliament.

Although many of the powers to make change are reserved at UK level, there are some key policies that the Scottish Government could implement that would be transformative for communities in Scotland. Read the Coalition’s 3-page manifesto to find out more.

Social Enterprise Scotland are pleased to launch Building Wealth, Building Community: A Manifesto For Scotland’s Future Economy which sets out a clear series of practical, affordable and urgent policy proposals that will drive economic growth, tackle poverty and build stronger, moreresilient local communities.

The Coastal Communities Network (CCN) is a coalition of over 30 community-based organisations working to protect and restore Scotland’s coast and seas. This summer, they have been granted charitable status, becoming the first independent community-led marine conservation network in Scotland.

CCN formed as a result of a partnership between the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) and international conservation NGO Fauna & Flora. Both recognised the need for a space for community groups working on marine conservation and management to connect and share ideas, skills and experiences. The network officially launched in 2017 with eight members, and has now grown to 33 community based organisations based all around the coasts of Scotland, from Fair Isle to Berwickshire.

Working together, CCN members address a wide range of pressing issues, including the environmental impacts of salmon farming, unsustainable fishing practices, marine plastic pollution and the degraded condition of marine habitats.

Over the past eight years the network has gone from strength to strength and will now operate in its own right – having gained charitable status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

CCN achieving independent charitable status comes at a really pivotal moment for Scotland’s marine and coastal environment. With the2026 Scottish Elections on the horizon amidst the backdrop of a significant marine heatwave, we are reminded that the next Scottish Government will see us to2030, the critical year by which we have committed to halting biodiversity loss.

Our marine and coastal environments are in a critical state– over the past century, the amount of fish landed has declined steeply despite an increase in fishing effort, and seabird species have declined by 49% since1986, according to the State of Nature report. Coastal communities often witness first hand this deterioration, giving them a unique and crucial stake in marine decision-making.

To achieve our 2030 targets of halting biodiversity loss, we need an ecosystem-based recovery of our marine environment that empowers coastal communities and addresses local needs. Placing coastal communities at the core of decision-making can ensure that bold marine recovery efforts benefit nature, climate and people.

Funded by the Scottish Government and facilitated by Inspiring Scotland, the Creative Communities Scotland fund will support grassroots community-led organisations across Scotland to develop and deliver projects that harness the power of creativity in supporting the wellbeing of people and communities.  

The fund is open to all hands-on, participatory art forms including dance, filmmaking, creative writing, music making, and storytelling.  

In line with the Scottish Government’s Culture Strategy, the fund is also focused on supporting communities who face barriers to engaging with creative activities because of social, economic, cultural, physical or other challenges.  

The Creative Communities Scotland Fund will run from January 2026 to December 2026, and charities will be able to apply for up to £35,000 of grant funding.

The deadline to apply is noon on Thursday 18 September 2025.

More information can be found at Creative Communities Scotland – Inspiring Scotland.

On the eve of summer recess we have received the news of Good Food Nation progress. The government released “The Proposed National Good Food Nation Plan” for parliamentary scrutiny.

In terms of the broad direction of travel, here is a lot to celebrate.

Those following the Good Food Nation journey will not be surprised to see the Scottish Government’s vision of a fairer, more sustainable, healthier food system set out in the outcomes. Little has changed there since the public consultation and for a good reason – the public and stakeholders supported the long-term vision.

There is a clear alignment with the right to food in anticipation of legal incorporation in due course. The population health-related outcomes, targets and indicators are particularly well developed. They pay attention to nutrition as well as diet-related health conditions, have specific focus on inequalities and include measures for infants, older children and adults alike. In the broader picture there are some interesting indicators, including one looking at the total agricultural land area used to produce fruit and vegetables for human consumption.

There big-ticket items are, of course, the metrics that could not be ignored: greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, food insecurity levels, diet-related illness. We have work to do on all those fronts. But it is uncanny how many of the other indicators are ones where the available metrics are already trending in the positive direction. There are also several that have little impact on the overall food system – such as the indicators which relate to consumer perceptions and self-reported behavioural changes, as opposed to measurable changes in the food system and environment.

There are of course many gaps – some of them fundamental. While the document references food environment extensively, it makes no attempt to measure or track trends. There are no indicators related to food deserts, concentration of takeaways per head of population, or fast-food ads in either physical or digital space. There is a glaring omission of sustainability in relation to the food and drink sector, apparently ignoring the work of Scotland Food & Drink Net Zero Programme. There is no mention of trying to track worker safety on sea and on land – occupations which gained notoriety for the disproportionate number of deaths and life-changing injuries.

And then there are surprises. One particularly eyebrow-raising example is the inclusion of the production volume of salmon under the climate and biodiversity outcome. Could it be the government is looking to bring that volume down, based on the troubling environmental practices and mass mortality events that plague the industry? More likely it’s an economic indicator in the wrong place – an apt illustration of the disjointed approach between growth and sustainability.

In short, the Government picked up pieces of the existing metrics and policies and tried to convince us this makes for a good plan. One would be justified in wondering why this policy took 3 years to develop. To this end it’s not a Good Food Nation Plan; it’s The Treachery of a Plan.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Outcome 5 speaks of people and communities being empowered to participate in, and shape, their food system. Why it proposes to measure it by the number of people growing fruit and veg is anyone’s guess. Instead, we shall measure it by the number of people who respond to this document. The plan is now undergoing a period of parliamentary scrutiny, with opportunities to engage with MSP and committees. We will be setting out more details about opportunities for input in due course.

The transition to a Good Food Nation will not happen overnight – but if it is to happen at all, it will require leadership. Thus far the government has missed the opportunity to lead from the front – and so it creates a space for the MSPs, Committees, civil society and citizens to lead from behind.

Throughout Scotland, the community sector is critical to addressing today’s challenges by delivering essential services that build stronger communities. Too often they operate in circumstances that are under resourced and overly bureaucratic – distant from decision making structures that impact their ability to deliver vital public service reform.

We call for:

• a modern and responsive system of local democracy built to meet today’s needs
• local democratic structures to recognise, and include the lived experience and expertise in our communities
• new forms of local democracy to be consolidated through legislation
• sustained investment in community organisations and intermediaries through secure, long-term funding

Download the full 2025/26 Manifesto and read our Vision for Scotland and Manifesto for Action for more detail on our vision for a sustainable Scotland.

The Discussion Paper is the next step in the development of the proposed Bill. It is intended to support everyone with an interest in the Bill to have more informed discussions.

The paper sets out Scottish Government’s current policy proposals and consolidates work to date. Its proposals build on the 2023 public consultation, as well as the extensive engagement over a number of years with rights-holders, civil society, and public bodies. The paper reflects the progress made as well as the challenges encountered in developing legislation to incorporate further human rights treaties into Scots law.

The Discussion Paper and Easy Read version can be found in the below links:

• A Human Rights Bill for Scotland: Discussion Paper https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836916031
• A Human Rights Bill for Scotland: Easy Read version https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836917601

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee is seeking views on a Bill which will promote consideration by public bodies of sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations.

Responses to this call for views will help to inform the Committee’s scrutiny of the Bill, including the selection of witnesses to be invited to give oral evidence on the Bill.

More information is availabel from the link below:

Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill – Scottish Parliament – Citizen Space

The closing date for responses is 24^th August.

Between the 19th and 22nd June, the Royal Highland Show (RHS) returned to Ingleston, bringing together over 210,000 people in a celebration of rural and island life. The RHS is 202 years old and one of the most important events in Scotland’s rural calendar.

⭐It is a family-friendly showcase of rural and island businesses and industries.

⭐It is a marketplace for rural produce and services.

⭐It is a platform for every politician and policy maker from the Scottish Government and the UK Government to meet with rural and island interest groups.

BUT….it is dominated by the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food & drink and energy sectors – sectors which tend to define ‘rural’ in decision makers’ minds.

…until recently….

Led by organisations like Scottish Rural Action, InspirAlba, Community Enterprise, SRITC, SCOTO and the Scottish Community Alliance, a radical revolution is taking place designed to shake up the institutional foundations of the RHS…and it is everything our organisations stand for – empowerment, vision, inclusivity, creativity, diversity and drive.

Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy generation and food & drink are core to our rural and island areas…but like everything, they rely on COMMUNITIES, and we are putting COMMUNITY at the heart of the RHS.

Supported by Scottish Rural Network and the Scottish Government, we are creating a vibrant space for a host of partner organisations – the Aberdeenshire Youth Forum; Ceidlith Caleerie; Climate Café®; Fife Youth Local Action Group; Forth Environment Link; Forth Valley and Lomond Youth Local Action Group; Greenpower; GrowBiz Scotland; Imagine If… Space CIC; Open Aye; Scottish Islands Federation; Scottish Men’s Sheds Association; Sealladh Folk Band; Social Enterprise Scotland, the Walking Theatre Company, and Youth Scotland.

Please consider joining next year! In the meantime, our 2025 RHS blog can be found here

This paper presents the Scottish Food Coalition’s six manifesto asks for the 2026 Scottish Election and relate directly to the outcomes of the new National Good Food Nation Plan as laid before Parliament on 30 June 2025. Each ask is underpinned by robust research and evidence which is referenced at the end of the document.