Lead Partner: Southern Uplands Partnership
Description
The project is operating simultaneously in "communities on the edge" of participating large private landowning estates in South Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.
The COTE project aims to help local communities secure and create local jobs that help them meet their needs in an environmentally sensitive way, over the long term. Since the early 1900's the bond between large private estates and local communities has gradually weakened. Many rural communities need new enterprises to help provide a better local balance in terms of the services available and their population's age structure. More sustainable local trading can also contribute to making communities more resilient to external pressures such as global affairs, property markets and fuel price fluctuations. Large private estates have many resources, some of which are under-used. Natural resources can be used to support jobs but it is wise to avoid degrading these resources in the process. Value added social enterprises - Sustainable Enterprises - are those which not only have a positive effect on the local community - by reinvesting profit - but ensure that they avoid environmental degradation. Social Enterprises need to be nurtured and sustainability characteristics must be consciously identified, advocated and built in.
This work will provide Carnegie with a fully evaluated and documented model of asset-based rural community development.
Contact Details
John GoldCommunities on the Edge Project The Southern Uplands Partnership Douglas and Angus Estates Office Newmains Home Farm Douglas T:07824480514E: johngold@sup.org.ukWebsite: http://www.sup.org.uk/