News

Partnership Programme Democratic Finance Scotland Launches

October 30, 2024

A partnership programme between DTAS and Scottish Communities Finance Ltd (SCF), the programme aims to support communities to be ‘agents of change’ by unlocking local wealth and local control through democratic finance sources and tools.

 

Support will be offered to explore local, citizen driven sources of income such as community shares, community bonds, one off community lotteries and local legacy giving etc, to encourage a move away from grant dependency.

What do they mean by democratic finance?

Democratic

  • Money is raised collectively from within a community
  • Money is invested into democratically controlled organisations
  • Investment and membership opportunities are open to all
  • Communities acting independently on their own behalf
  • Community assets and services are mutually owned and run

Finance

  • Organisations have a greater blend of income and are less grant dependent
  • Communities have networks of ‘Citizen Investors’
  • Money is repayable to local people and local organisations
  • Money is retained and circulated locally, boosting long term community wealth
  • Investment opportunities are affordable and fair, and best suited to community and social enterprises

What support is available?

The team at Democratic Finance Scotland will provide practical, hands-on support to democratic, community led organisations to build their financial resilience and control.  Support will be offered to explore local, citizen driven sources of income such as community shares, community bonds, one off community lotteries and local legacy giving etc, to encourage a move away from grant dependency. There will also be a focus on funding and investment opportunities from the renewables transition with a focus on ensuring a JUST transition benefiting communities across all Scotland.

Democratic Finance Scotland is open to community and social enterprises either with, or with a desire to adopt:

  • A democratic, fair and open governance structure
  • An enterprising, empowering and sustainable approach
  • A grassroots focus on securing, boosting and retaining local wealth.

Find out more at www.democraticfinance.scot