At DTAS, our mission is to support communities to thrive through our community-led network and national place-based sustainable action.

We recently launched our manifesto based around five pillars for change. This is for all political parties, policymakers and citizens who want to see communities empowered to shape their own futures. The full manifesto sets out practical, systemic reforms and actions that can be embraced by any political party or government committed to stronger communities and a healthy and wealthy Scotland.

Our five pillars for change are:

• A sustainable and supportive environment for communities
• Developing local democracy
• An inclusive, sustainable, wellbeing economy
• Land reform and community ownership
• A just transition and climate action

Read the full manifesto here – DTAS Manifesto_Final

Development trusts sit at the heart of communities across Scotland, responding to market failures, protecting vital assets and sustaining places where community life can flourish. Yet many remain under increasing pressure, navigating rising costs, insecure funding and growing expectations.

In 2025, an opportunity from Foundation Scotland prompted us to reflect on what meaningful support for development trusts should look like. One think was clear to us, short-term funding cannot address long-term organisational challenges.

Working closely with members, partners and staff, DTAS developed the Recovery and Resilience Programme, a holistic funding programme built around six pillars of organisational resilience. Launched in October 2025, the programme combines tailored support, training and grants of up to £100,000, providing a clear pathway for participating organisations to build long-term resilience.

This programme is open only for DTAS full and provisional members. Read more about the programme’s development in the below report:

Our Journey as a Funder – Recovery and Resilience Programme Report

It’s October 10^th and World Mental Health Day!

At DTAS, workplace wellbeing is imperative to our culture and the way we work. We’ve spent almost 4 years developing our understanding of the needs of our staff and how we can support them to provide an effective service for our members.

We recognise that looking after your wellbeing at work can feel really difficult at times, especially working in the third sector with the world everchanging. This World Mental Health Day, we wanted to learn from our staff and share their stories with the intention of inspiring others to take steps to look after their wellbeing at work.

So, we asked our staff the following questions:

• Do you have specific techniques for keeping yourself well at work?
• Do you support your colleagues with their wellbeing in a specific way?

Here are some of the great stories we received:

It’s so inspiring to hear that staff are supported by one-another and feel confident and comfortable to implement techniques that best suit their needs.

Our Wellbeing & Inclusion Coordinator, Amy, is always keen to hear stories from others on how they look after their wellbeing at work. So whether you’re a DTAS member or not, get in touch and tell Amy your tips and techniques at amy@dtascot.org.uk.

So, what else are we doing this autumn and winter to get us through those cold and dark months. A couple of key things to highlight are:

• We’ve reintroduced the DTAS Move Club. This is a way for us to make the most of the daylight as the nights get darker! There are two ways to get involved in this:
  • Once a week, some of us head off for a leisurely lunch time walk from the office to chat and hopefully enjoy some sunshine.
  • For those not in the office, they can share a story time/photo of their move club activity wherever they are based into our internal messaging system. We’ve received some beautiful sunny photos of the Highlands in the past!

• We are continuing to run our internal Wellbeing Focus Group and EDI Group.
  • These are staff led initiatives where we facilitate a safe space to come together and talk about important topics that we think DTAS could focus on.

• We are creating specific wellbeing focused resources, such as our formal Wellbeing Induction. This resource is useful for new staff members but is also a valuable tool for existing staff as it collates everything workplace wellbeing related into one easy read, visual document.

Don’t forget that we have our Workplace Wellbeing Support Service!

Facilitated by our Wellbeing & Inclusion Coordinator, Amy, the service provides tailored support to DTAS members and is available to development trusts that would like to focus on promoting the positive wellbeing of their staff team.

If you are a DTAS member and this is something you think you could benefit from, please visit our website for more information – Member Support – DTAS

Q3 2025

According to internal research over 100 DTAS members are involved in addressing housing issues in their communities, with projects in various stages of planning, development, and delivery. To support members involved in community led housing, and those thinking about this critical issue DTAS has joined the Community Led Housing Alliance.  

The Alliance is being coordinated by Scotland’s community housing enablers – South of Scotland Community Housing and Communities Housing Trust – with the support of Community Land Scotland and Development Trusts Association Scotland and funding from the Nationwide Foundation. 

Membership of the Alliance is free and open to any community organisation in Scotland with an interest in housing, from those having initial conversations about local housing issues to those who have already delivered a housing project. 

Over the course of the coming months, members will take part through in-person events in various parts of the country, online gatherings and other means. Together, we will: 

• Develop a shared vision for community led housing in Scotland. Where should we be five years from now? 

• Evidence why community led housing matters, what communities have achieved so far, and what they could achieve in the next five years with the right support; 

• Develop shared proposals for how community organisations can best be supported to meet local housing needs and, in doing so, advance the development of their community and place, and; 

• Campaign for the adoption of our proposals by Scotland’s main political parties, and sustained and enhanced support from the next Scottish Government and Parliament. 

We know that this issue matters to you and encourage you to join the Alliance and help develop its voice, evidence the potential and benefits of community led housing, and produce shared proposals for Scotland’s politicians, Parliament and Government. 

Click here to join the alliance.

A new report reveals a disconnect between the work Development Trusts are doing and the recognition they receive for it

Development Trusts across Scotland are quietly delivering Community Learning and Development (CLD) work—they don’t always realise it. The findings from the research done by the Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) and CLD Standards Council Scotland, which surveyed 59 DTAS members to understand how they engage with CLD.

The Numbers Tell a Story

The findings reveal both the scale of unrecognised work and the desire for change:

• 52% of Development Trusts are already running CLD activities, even without labelling them as such
• 92% feel their CLD work doesn’t get the recognition it deserves
• 78% hadn’t heard of the CLD Standards Council before this survey
• Just 5% have staff registered with the CLD Standards Council
• No DTAS members currently hold the CLD Standard Mark

When projected across DTAS’s full membership, this suggests around 52% Development Trusts are delivering CLD work, with roughly 93% wanting better recognition for their efforts.

What’s Actually Happening on the Ground

The disconnect isn’t about a lack of activity—it’s about recognition and connection. Development Trusts are running digital skills workshops, youth volunteering programmes, community-led planning initiatives, and managing local assets for public benefit. These activities align with CLD’s three core areas: adult learning, youth work, and community development.

For example, The Langholm Initiative’s Tarras Valley project, which focuses on outdoor youth education through leadership and confidence-building programmes, is clearly labelled as youth work and is recognised as such. Or Appin Community Development Trust, which operates community transport and care services that support adult learning and community development, though they don’t currently classify these as CLD activities.

The Third Sector Recognition Gap

Perhaps most telling is that 92% of respondents believe their CLD work should be better recognised. As one Trust put it: “Development Trusts are filling the void left by shrinking local authority CLD services. That contribution should be visible.”

This isn’t just about validation—it’s about ensuring the third sector gets proper recognition for its role in delivering CLD across Scotland. When community organisations can’t articulate their CLD impact, this can lead to challenges with:

• Securing funding
• Policy development
• Partnership opportunities
• Professional development

How Development Trusts Can Start Getting Recognition

Step 1: Look at Your Work Through a CLD Lens

Many Development Trusts are already delivering CLD without realising it:

• Digital literacy programmes
• Employability training
• Youth development activities
• Community capacity building
• Asset-based community development
• Family learning initiatives

Step 2: Learn the Language

Start using Community Learning and Development terminology when describing your work. This helps funders and partners recognise your contribution to Scotland’s CLD landscape.

Step 3: Connect with CLD Professionals

Reach out to your local authority CLD team and the CLD Standards Council. These should be natural partners in strengthening community learning across your local area.

Step 4: Document Your Impact

Begin measuring learning outcomes, not just activities:

• How many people gained new skills?
• What confidence changes occurred?
• Which community assets were strengthened?

Step 5: Explore Formal Recognition

Consider CLD Standards Council membership for relevant staff and investigate the CLD Standards Mark for your organisation. This formal recognition opens doors to new opportunities for individuals, but also for your local community.

What Others Could Do

For Funders and Policymakers:

• Include third sector organisations in CLD mapping and planning
• Ensure funding criteria acknowledge the full range of CLD providers
• Support professional development for community sector practitioners

For CLD Professionals:

• Reach out to Development Trusts in your area
• Share resources and expertise to strengthen community-led CLD work
• Advocate for third sector inclusion in formal CLD networks

Voices from the Sector

The research captured reflections from Trust representatives about the current situation:

“Most Trusts deliver CLD work without labelling it as such. DTAS could help by identifying these efforts and promoting them collectively.”

“The sector lacks cohesion. Many Trusts don’t view CLD as part of their mission, and the gap between statutory and community-led CLD leads to inefficiency. We need better alignment.”

One CLD-qualified Trust manager noted: “I’m working to help our staff recognise the CLD aspects of their work, though it’s an ongoing process.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if my Development Trust is doing CLD work?

If you’re running skills training, youth programmes, or community development activities that help people learn and grow, you’re likely doing CLD work. The three core areas are adult learning, youth work, and community development.

Q: What are the benefits of formal CLD recognition?

Access to new funding streams, professional development opportunities, stronger partnerships with statutory providers, and increased credibility with funders and policymakers.

Q: Do we need CLD qualifications to do this work?

Not necessarily, but formal qualifications help with recognition and can improve practice. Many excellent CLD practitioners develop expertise through experience and professional development.

What Happens Next

The overwhelming consensus for greater recognition creates a clear need for action. DTAS and the CLD Standards Council have started to develop a roadmap for strengthening engagement with Development Trusts and developing practical guidance for gaining recognition for the work they’re already doing.

The message from the sector is clear: it’s time to bring Development Trusts’ CLD work out of the shadows and give it the recognition and support it deserves.

As one respondent summarised: “Recognising our CLD work might help secure core funding, especially as local authority CLD services decline.”

The research shows that Development Trusts aren’t just willing partners in Scotland’s CLD landscape—they’re already essential players delivering Community Learning and Development across communities nationwide.

Read the full “Community Learning and Development (CLD) in Development Trusts” research report for detailed findings and recommendations.

The Development Trusts Association Scotland is a member of the Scottish Community Coalition on Energy (alongside Community Energy Scotland and Community Land Scotland) which seeks to secure a Fair Energy Deal for Scottish communities.

The group is advocating to maximise the positive impacts of the renewables revolution by creating more opportunities for community-owned energy and putting Community Wealth Building principles at the heart of wider energy policy and economic transformation.

With the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections on the horizon, we are calling on parties to commit to enabling and supporting increased community ownership and shared ownership of new and existing electricity and heat infrastructure, and fair distribution of the wealth that is being generated and consolidated through renewables.

As such, as part of the SCCE, we are publishing our manifesto recommendations which are informed by the needs of our members, to overcome barriers and unlock benefits for the climate, communities and local economies across the country.

Read the full manifesto here: Recommended manifesto policies – Scottish Community Coalition on Energy