Facilitating local resilience : case studies of place-based approaches in rural Scotland

• This report explores the extent to which place-based approaches can deliver positive economic and social outcomes in Scotland’s rural areas and small towns. We studied five case studies of place-based approaches in rural Scotland:1. Tackling the climate emergency in Callander2. Strengthening Communities in the Western Isles3. A Heart for Duns: the changing role of a local development trust4. Partnership working for place-based policy: lessons from Initiative at the Edge5. Land reform policy and transformational community changePlace-based approaches in rural Scotland have enabled community capacity building, community ownership/management of land and assets, and partnership-working to deliver local outcomes and services. A flexible national and regional place-based policy framework can be supportive of local place-based approaches, but should acknowledge different local circumstances, assets and needs, and the lived experiences of local people.Place-based approaches require financial and other development support/advice in the early stages. This might be particularly in relation to locally-led community planning to address place-based needs, acquiring local community assets and creating links between local actors and broader regional/national policy processes. More flexible place-based policy frameworks should be developed at national and regional level which facilitate cross-sectoral working, break down silos and encourage collaboration between different actors and governance levels (including communities and local authorities).The research identifies four recommendations to enhance rural place-based approaches:1. Long-term, flexible investment in place-based approaches is needed to ensure the delivery of solutions rooted in community needs and local action.2. Communities need to be able to operate with a degree of autonomy to increase competence, capacity and confidence at the local level.3. This local autonomy needs support from national/regional levels over the long-term, by transferring resources, ensuring that the voices and experiences of communities are heard, and working in (equal) partnership across governance levels.4. There is a need for mechanisms by which the key features and requirements of national and regional policy are translated into something tangible and relevant at the local level.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi -- Kulturgeografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography -- Human Geography (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap -- Studier av offentlig förvaltning (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science -- Public Administration Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

place-based policy

place-based approach

resilience

community

climate change

Local (economic

social

environmental) development

local business

local development

Bottom-up processes

rural policy

partnership working

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)