Development Trusts Association Scotland - the national body for development trusts in Scotland -

*News Briefing*
last updated 3rd Feb 2010
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BUILDING DESIGN PROJECTS STUDY TOUR - 20TH MARCH
DTA Scotland and the GlassHouse (a national community-led design body) are organising a FREE study tour to two inspiring community buildings in Glasgow. This one day event is for development trusts that are at an early stage in developing a new building, or improving an exitsing one, in their neighbourhood. For more details click here
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Muirton Park Community Development Trust, based in Perth, are recruiting a Climate Challenge Project Co-ordinator, while Cumbrae Community Development Company are seeking a Local Development Officer. For more information click here
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A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY!
The 2010 DTA Scotland Annual Conference will be held on 13-14th June, at the MacDonald Highland Resort in Aviemore. This is the main opportunity in the year for new and existing development trusts to get together at a national level, share information and expertise and generally inspire each other, so make sure you don’t miss out by putting the dates in your diary now. A full programme will be made available within the next few weeks.
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NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ASSET TRANSFER
In an effort to capture the experience of local authority asset transfer activity in Scotland to date, DTAS has now interviewed all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and is currently gathering information from development trusts and other community organisations across the country. This information will be collated in a report which will be disseminated at a national symposium on asset transfer to be held on 13th April at COSLA, Roseberry House, Edinburgh. This event is for elected members, council officials and community organsiations. We hope to see as many development trusts as possible in attendance. For details of the event e-mail assets@dtascot.org.uk
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DTAS RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON SECURE LOW CARBON ELECTRCITY NETWORK
DTAS responded to the recent UK Department for Energy & Climate Change consultation on the development of a secure, low carbon electricity network for the UK. Many DTAS members are operating or looking to develop renewable energy schemes, and such a network could underpin the significant expansion of community renewable energy generation. To read the DTAS response click here
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LAND REFORM CAMPAIGN
Over 30 people attended the first in a series of 4 seminars being organised around various aspects of land reform, which took place in the Tolbooth, Stirling, on 13th October 2009. The seminars form part of a campaign to: raise various issues of concern around the operation and scope of the Community Right to Buy legislation; support and extend the community ownership of land, and; press for a review of progress on land reform in Scotland. To find out more click here
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UPDATED DTAS GUIDES ON LEGAL STRUCTURES
DTAS' lawyers have recently updated our guide to setting up an effective legal structure for a development trust (our Start-up Toolkit) as well as our guide to setting up a trading subsidiary. Revisions to both guides and model sets of Memorandum & Articles of Association ensure compliance with the Companies Act 2006 provisions which came into effect on 1st October 2009. For information on how to obtain a copy of either guide, click here
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INSPIRING CHANGE - NEW DTAS PUBLICATION
Inspiring Change is a new learning resource from DTA Scotland for communities who are
motivated and ready to take action but need inspiration and information to take their first steps towards making their ideas a reality. The inspiration comes from charting the birth and early years of Comrie Development Trust. The resource includes a booklet, DVD and timeline wallchart and is free to community organsiations. For information on how to obtain your copy, click here
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KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS EXCHANGE FUND
The Knowledge & Skills Exchange Fund provides awards of up to Ł1000 to facilitate learning and the exchange of knowledge and ideas between enterprising community organisations. The funding has been secured by Local People Leading from Scottish Government and is available to all full and provisional members of DTAS and members of other community sector networks within the LPL coalition. It can be used to pay for visits to established community organisations or for hosting visits from one or more organisations.
For further information or application materials contact Aileen on 0131 2202456 or e-mail aileen@dtascot.org.uk
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MEMBERS' E-BULLETIN
Click here for most recent edition
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