In 2019/20 we worked with 24 communities across ten local authority areas in Scotland, including nine islands.

We supported the development of 14 Rural and Island Housing Fund projects and facilitated two housing-related Community Learning Exchanged with funding from the Scottish Community Alliance, as well as pioneering Housing Fairs in Strathblane and Blairgowrie to support communities exploring housing options.

Some communities we are currently working with

• Uist
• Achnamara
• Braemar
• Bunessan, Isle of Mull
• Easdale Island
• Ettrick
• Isle of Luing
• Strathblane
• Tarland
• Forres

Smart Clachan

We are leading the development of an ambitious new initiative to tackle the interlinked issues of depopulation, demographic change and the climate crisis in Uist. In partnership with community landowner Stòras Uibhist and with funding from Emsée Fairbairn Foundation, Rural Housing Scotland plan to develop Smart Clachan which will incorporate cooperative community-led housing, workspaces, growing space and the use of renewable energy.

Wider work

Alongside our work with communities, we met with Cabinet Secretaries in charge of housing and rural policy and provided input to policy development on empty homes, rural homelessness, planning, short term lets, depopulation, rural economic development, land reform, island and rural proofing.