RuralDimensions

25/04/2026

Di at SCOTO has been producing some podcasts to celebrate and this one is from Ballantrae on the South Ayrshire coast - have a listen! 🎧❤️

- PODCAST

For our first podcast of the day, we're speaking to Judie McCourt of Ballantrae Development Trust about how the pub, The Kings Arms - Ballantrae's Community Pub and Hub, and tourism can empower the local community.

👂 You can listen here > https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vg8GCdnG4SMjoKMtBXOVm?si=e_NhEyJ-Tu-SWi34IQtHwQ

The Ballantrae Trust RuralDimensions Loch Ness Hub & Travel Discover Cullen Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Scottish Rural Action Plunkett UK Development Trusts Association Scotland

25/04/2026

The perfect thing to be doing on !
In the area?

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The perfect day for the Girvan Big Beach Clean… it’s not too late to pop down and join in.

25/04/2026

A very happy Community Tourism Day 2026!

25/04/2026

So today is Community Tourism Day and I am celebrating in Helsinki where I have been for the last few days for a CityDNA conference - and where I am exploring as a temporary local over the weekend

Proud to be part of SCOTO and this is to say a huge thank you to every one I know and have yet to meet who is engaged in community tourism in it's many different guises!

Today is your day!

11/03/2026

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💫 COMMUNITY TOURISM UK

Last week in Glasgow, organisations from across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland came together at the SCOTO Gathering 2026 to launch Community Tourism UK - a new UK-wide movement to put local communities at the heart of tourism

Community Tourism UK builds on work that began at a landmark conference in York in 2025, hosted by Good Organisation CIC. Since then, the Good Organisation (Social Ventures) CIC with the SCOTO Network, the Foundational Economy Alliance Wales Ltd, The People's Economy and now Fáilte Feirste Thiar /Visit West Belfast, have been working collectively to shape a shared vision for a more equitable and regenerative visitor economy.

At the SCOTO Gathering, delegates were invited to sign the Community Tourism UK Declaration, committing to tourism that prioritises resident wellbeing, protects culture and nature, and gives communities a real voice in how tourism develops.

Now it's your turn 👉 Find out more and sign the declaration: www.communitytourism.uk



Good Organisation Social Ventures Scottish Tourism Alliance VisitScotland Wales VisitEngland Highlands and Islands Enterprise South of Scotland Destination Alliance South of Scotland Enterprise Scottish National Rural Network Fáilte Feirste Thiar

03/03/2026

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Glasgow Thursday and Friday !!

Scottish Community Tourism Gathering March 2026 - GLASGOW

29/01/2026

What's in your diary on 5th March this year ? If it's a blank add this !!
Or maybe you are already coming ❤️

Am so excited about how this has shaped up - 5th and 6th March

So much support from Visit Glasgow Scottish Community Alliance Good Organisation Social Ventures Fáilte Feirste Thiar @

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✨ New for 2026 | SCOTO Gathering – Day One Knowledge Exchange✨

For the first time, the SCOTO Gathering will have a Knowledge Exchange.

Delivered in partnership with the Good Organisation Social Ventures, Foundational Economy Alliance Wales Ltd, and People's Economy these sessions are aimed at industry, agency and academic partners from across the UK. Together, we’ll explore current academic and community-driven research and thinking on what community tourism in the UK needs to focus on.

🔎 Six key themes will shape the conversations with current research from across the UK and overseas, presented under each followed by facilitated discussions on what matters most in the UK:

🗣️ Tourism as a Shared Benefit (York)
🗣️ Respect for Culture & Heritage (North Wales)
🗣️ Communities at the Centre (Scotland)
🗣️ Strengthening Nature and Society (Greenland)
🗣️ Tourism as a Force for Peace and Understanding (Brazil and Algeria)
🗣️ Innovation and Digital Transformation (Scotland)

From this foundation we will co-design the framework for a UK Community Tourism Alliance

🧱 Background
SCOTO has been meeting regularly with The Good Organisation (York) and the Foundational Economy Alliance (Wales) since July 2025, when we first came together at the Tourism: Our Voice conference in York. Organised by The Good Organisation, the conference focused on community voice and involvement in tourism and sparked this ongoing collaboration.

Since then, partners have continued to meet to explore the need for a UK Community Tourism Alliance — a national voice for community tourism with a shared commitment to champion community tourism as a widely understood concept that people recognise, appreciate, and buy into. Early in 2026 Northern Ireland joined the conversation. To structure our knowledge exchange, we have adopted the six themes in the European Travel Commission’s Reykjavik Declaration 2025.

👉 Join the conversation here: https://www.scoto.co.uk/networking-events/2026-scoto-gathering/



UHI NWH Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park University of Glasgow VisitScotland Kathi Kamleitner RuralDimensions Loch Ness Hub & Travel Scottish National Rural Network South of Scotland Destination Alliance Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community Community Enterprise Community Land Scotland Scottish Tourism Alliance Highlands and Islands Enterprise Social Enterprise Academy

21/01/2026

This is going to be amazing food for thought and on so many fronts ! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

✨ New for 2026 | SCOTO Gathering – Day One Knowledge Exchange✨

For the first time, the SCOTO Gathering will have a Knowledge Exchange.

Delivered in partnership with the Good Organisation Social Ventures, Foundational Economy Alliance Wales Ltd, and People's Economy these sessions are aimed at industry, agency and academic partners from across the UK. Together, we’ll explore current academic and community-driven research and thinking on what community tourism in the UK needs to focus on.

🔎 Six key themes will shape the conversations with current research from across the UK and overseas, presented under each followed by facilitated discussions on what matters most in the UK:

🗣️ Tourism as a Shared Benefit (York)
🗣️ Respect for Culture & Heritage (North Wales)
🗣️ Communities at the Centre (Scotland)
🗣️ Strengthening Nature and Society (Greenland)
🗣️ Tourism as a Force for Peace and Understanding (Brazil and Algeria)
🗣️ Innovation and Digital Transformation (Scotland)

From this foundation we will co-design the framework for a UK Community Tourism Alliance

🧱 Background
SCOTO has been meeting regularly with The Good Organisation (York) and the Foundational Economy Alliance (Wales) since July 2025, when we first came together at the Tourism: Our Voice conference in York. Organised by The Good Organisation, the conference focused on community voice and involvement in tourism and sparked this ongoing collaboration.

Since then, partners have continued to meet to explore the need for a UK Community Tourism Alliance — a national voice for community tourism with a shared commitment to champion community tourism as a widely understood concept that people recognise, appreciate, and buy into. Early in 2026 Northern Ireland joined the conversation. To structure our knowledge exchange, we have adopted the six themes in the European Travel Commission’s Reykjavik Declaration 2025.

👉 Join the conversation here: https://www.scoto.co.uk/networking-events/2026-scoto-gathering/



UHI NWH Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park University of Glasgow VisitScotland Kathi Kamleitner RuralDimensions Loch Ness Hub & Travel Scottish National Rural Network South of Scotland Destination Alliance Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community Community Enterprise Community Land Scotland Scottish Tourism Alliance Highlands and Islands Enterprise Social Enterprise Academy

20/01/2026

One of six options for a community tourism learning exchange in Visit Glasgow ! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

🏛️ Learning Exchange 3 | SCOTO Gathering - Thursday 5 March

Glasgow Cathedral Precinct

As part of Day 1 of the SCOTO Gathering, our third Learning Exchange invites delegates into the heart of Glasgow’s medieval past — exploring how communities are actively championing the city’s most iconic heritage sites.

The Glasgow Cathedral Learning Exchange will focus on the vital role that “Friends of” groups play in stewarding, protecting and advocating for historic places.

🚻 Delegates will enjoy guided access to historic landmarks and take part in conversations about community-led care, governance, volunteering, and long-term sustainability of heritage sites – and we’re sure toilets will come up in conversations too!

📍 Sites include:
• Glasgow Cathedral
• St Mungo Museum
• Glasgow Necropolis
• Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum

This exchange is ideal for anyone interested in heritage, community stewardship, and place-based tourism.

💙 Don't forget there are bursaries available to community-run organisations to support travel and accommodation!

🔔 Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so book early here:https://www.scoto.co.uk/networking-events/2026-scoto-gathering/

Thanks to the Glasgow Convention Bureau, Destination Glasgow and Scottish Community Alliance for supporting the Gathering.

RuralDimensions The Scottish Fisheries Museum Elgin Museum Glenesk Folk Museum Dundonald Castle & Visitor Centre Scottish Community Heritage Alliance Duncarron Medieval Village Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre Gairloch Museum The Falconer Museum Applecross Heritage Centre The Chapter House Museum & Dunkeld Community Archive Portsoy Salmon Bothy Grantown Museum Kinloch Historical Society

16/01/2026

The canal district is just one of the learning exchanges SCOTO has this March

Can't recommend a visit to Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow enough !

Date for the diary !! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

DAY 1 LEARNING EXCHANGES - SCOTO GATHERING 5&6 March 2026

🏙️ Following on from yesterday’s post on our first Learning Exchange, we’re delighted to share more about the Canal District Learning Exchange at the SCOTO Gathering.

SCOTO participants choosing this exchange will explore the redevelopment of Glasgow’s canal corridor and see first-hand how community-driven spaces are shaping a more inclusive, active and connected neighbourhood.

From watersports and outdoor activity to social enterprises and shared community spaces, this exchange highlights how collaboration, wellbeing and local leadership are bringing new life to unique places along the canal.

Visits include Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Civic House Gathering Ground CIC and Lambhill Stables - all offering inspiring examples of community-led regeneration and place-based tourism in action.

💙 And a reminder: thanks to the Scottish Community Alliance, travel and accommodation bursaries are available to support community organisations and enterprises to take part in the Learning Exchanges.

For SCOTO Gathering INFO HERE:https://www.scoto.co.uk/networking-events/2026-scoto-gathering/

🙏 Massive thank you to Glasgow Convention Bureau and Destination Glasgow for organising and supporting our Learning Exchanges this year!

RuralDimensions Fiona Drane Marketing Scottish National Rural Network Glasgow Live Cullen Sea School South of Scotland Destination Alliance South of Scotland Enterprise Highlands and Islands Enterprise Stronsay Scottish Tourism Alliance Scottish Islands Federation Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Scottish Canals

13/01/2026

Book early to get one of the learning exchange bursaries !

Six great options to explore in the city

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🚆🛌As in previous years, SCOTO is delighted that the Scottish Community Alliance is offering a number of travel and accommodation bursaries to support community tourism organisations and enterprises attending the Learning Exchanges on Day 1 of the SCOTO Gathering.

The bursary application form will appear during checkout when you purchase your Learning Exchange ticket.

Our thanks once again to the Scottish Community Alliance for their continued support of the SCOTO Gathering.





RuralDimensions Scottish National Rural Network Fiona Drane Marketing Scottish Rural Action Scottish Tourism Alliance Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community Historic Environment Scotland Scottish Community Heritage Alliance SCVO Scottish Islands Federation Social Enterprise Academy Social Enterprise Scotland Volunteer Glasgow

12/01/2026

Job Vacancy | Youth Worker (Part-Time)

Full job description, person specification and application instructions:https://cyp.org.uk/JobDescription-YouthWorker2026.pdf

➡️ Youth Worker
Minimum 3 days per week (20hrs) | £14.50 per hour | Fixed-Term (1 Year)

As a youth worker with CYP, your primary role will be contributing to the planning, delivery and evaluation of CYP’s youth provision. This includes youth groups, employability support and our partnership work with McLaren High School. Typical work days will be Mondays - Wednesdays, with occasional variations for pre-planned weekend or holiday provision.

Closing Date for Applications: January 30th

Please follow the instructions on the job description to apply. If you have any questions or require any further information prior to applying, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us directly.