Your Island, Your Support
The Island Communities Place Programme can support your community to understand the planning system, take part in local decision-making, and shape the future of your area.
Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Planning Aid Scotland, it is open to all Scottish island communities.
On this page you can:
What is the Island Communities Place Programme?
The Island Communities Place Programme is a training and capacity building programme providing placemaking and planning support for island communities.
Through webinars, one-to-one mentoring and online resources, the programme equips your community to understand the planning system, take part in local decision-making, and shape the future of your area.
- Explore how planning can help protect and improve your local area
- Get help with community-led plans such as Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans
- Find effective ways to engage with your community, including collecting the views of children and young people
- Learn about the processes relating to renewable energy developments and how to have your say
Who is involved?
The programme is delivered by Planning Aid Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government. It will deliver actions from the new National Islands Plan which aims to address the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s islands.
Online training
Booking for training sessions will open from August onwards.
The sessions are free, online and open to all Scottish island communities. You can book your place through Eventbrite. Follow the Planning Aid Scotland page to get notifications.
We want to make the sessions as accessible as possible. Please get in touch (anne@pas.org.uk) if the times do not suit or if there are other adaptations that would help you to attend.
One-to-one mentoring
Sign up for a chance to get bespoke one-to-one mentoring support for you and your community.
- We will match you with one of our volunteers who are planners and placemaking professionals
- They will provide monthly support to help you engage with your community and deliver a Community Action Plan or Local Place Plan
Email anne@pas.org.uk to arrange a meeting.
Peer support network
Your Island, Your Questions
These monthly open forum meetings focus on a different topic each time, covering community engagement, community-led plans and renewable energy. Moderated by Planning Aid Scotland staff and volunteers, they are an opportunity to get expert advice, share experiences and learn from one another.
Use the link below to register on Eventbrite.
Your Island, Your Forum
Join the dedicated Facebook group to connect with other island communities, ask your questions and learn from one another. This is a great place to share what has worked well in your area, work through any challenges and get inspiration.
Use the link below to join the group.
Resource Hub
A digital library providing practical templates, guides, case studies and best practice examples to support community-led planning. Use the tabs to navigate through the resources.
If there are other resources you think we should include, please get in touch (anne@pas.org.uk).
SP=EED Framework
SP=EED is a framework to support better engagement in planning and placemaking, devised and produced by Planning Aid Scotland.
Renewable Energy Developments
This information sheet is designed to help anyone involved with, or affected by, a proposal for onshore renewable energy-related developments.
Guide for Community Delivery of LPPs
Planning Aid Scotland’s Guide explains the role of Local Place Plans (LPPs) in the Scottish planning system and offers a framework to support you with developing and delivering your plan.
Project Management Tool
This simple tool is designed to help a steering group organise and structure their thoughts as they embark on developing a Local Place Plan.
Want to partner with us?
We are looking for organisational partners to collaborate with. Collaboration could look like:
- Helping to signpost communities
- Developing new resources
- Or if you have any ideas, let us know!
Please get in touch (anne@pas.org.uk) if you would like to get involved.