Community Wealth Building

The concept of Community Wealth Building and its application is fundamental to transitioning to a wellbeing economy delivering sustainable economic, social, and environmental development that enhances the prosperity of all of Scotland’s people and places on an equitable basis.

What is Community Wealth Building?

Community Wealth Building (CWB) an approach designed to tackle long-standing economic challenges and transform Scotland’s local and regional economies by considering the ways in which the public sector, in partnership with the private, third and community sectors, can ensure more wealth is generated, circulated and retained in communities and localities.

Our priorities are to:

1.

influence the development of the Community Wealth Building Bill in the best interest of our communities

2.

continue to showcase the existing and continuing impact our communities have in the creation of community wealth in their local areas

3.

work in partnership with members, Scottish Government and stakeholders to contribute to the successful implementation of the Community Wealth Building Bill across Scotland

Why is it one of our priorities?

Communities throughout Scotland need to be front and centre in shaping what community wealth building looks like within their localities, and – critically – drawing substantial benefits from CWB in practice that will sustain them and their places, both now and for the generations to come.

See our response to the consultation on Building Community Wealth in Scotland in April 2023.

What is currently happening?

The Scottish Government have committed to a Community Wealth Building Bill in the recent Programme for Government 2024-25.  Within this, it is highlighted ‘The Bill will seek to address economic and wealth inequality by supporting the retention of more wealth in local and regional economies.  It will seek to ensure consistent implementation of the Community Wealth Building model of economic development across Scotland.”

Further Reading

Community wealth building – Cities and regions – gov.scot 

Programme for Government 2024-25: Serving Scotland – gov.scot