While the LPL Campaign is about the empowerment of individual communities, it also seeks to strengthen the identity and the voice of the community sector as a whole. The community sector is not distinct from the rest of the third sector by the range of its activities. The distinction is one of geography and ownership. The defining characteristic of community sector organisations is that they operate in a specific geographical community - created, sustained and owned by local people. For this reason the bulk of the sector is made up of small local groups - often `below the radar` of national networks - invisible to outsiders.

Specific activities like recycling - childcare - woodlands - transport etc have created their own national intermediaries to connect and support a membership of community groups. Similarly particular structures like Development Trusts - Housing Associations - Credit Unions etc have formed national umbrella organisations for their members. Community Councils have a national network in Scotland - as do Councils of Voluntary Service. Through these various networks, the more organised activity of the community sector becomes visible and therefore ` connectable`.

List A below comprises Scottish national networks whose members are local community organisations - the visible community sector. Even if this list was complete it would only scope the visible part of a much bigger iceberg. It would only ever be a snapshot - a freeze frame. Reality on the ground never stops changing.

List B below comprises other networks and agencies, without community membership, which support the community sector.



LIST A

ABCUL Credit Unions
The top information and news site about credit unions in England, Scotland and Wales and the home site of the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd, the main trade association for credit unions.
www.abcul.org

Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC)
The ASCC was established in 1993 to promote the role, effectiveness and status of Community Councils in Scotland and to encourage the exchange of information between Community Councils
www.ascc.org.uk

Befriending Network Scotland
Purpose is to provide information, training and support to encourage befriending projects to exchange experience and to develop good practice. Their main aim is to promote befriending as an important means of support in communities throughout the country.
www.befriending.co.uk

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS)
CAS membership is made up of independent, local charities. The aims of the Scottish CAB service are to provide information to citizens about their rights and available services, and to influence social policy
www.cas.org.uk

Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS)
CRNS is a membership organisation established to provide support and information for community led groups involved in recycling, reuse, composting, reduction & waste education activities.
www.crns.org.uk

Community Transport Association (Cta UK)
The CTA is a UK- wide organisation and reflects the different needs throughout the English Regions, London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
www.cta.org

Community Woodlands Association (CWA)
CWA supports and promotes the development of community woodlands throughout Scotland, both in the corridors of power, and on the ground.
www.community-woods.org.uk

Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations Scotland (CEMVO Scotland)
CEMVO Scotland aims to build the capacity of the country's minority ethnic voluntary and community sector. CEMVO Scotland has developed a network of over 600 minority ethnic voluntary organisations and plays an active role in strengthening them through an array of activities and programmes.
www.cemvo.org.uk/scotland

Cultivating Communities
Cultivating communities is a Soil Association project which aims to support community supported agriculture throughout the UK.
www.www.cuco.org.uk

Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS)
DTAS is the national body for the fast growing network of development trusts in Scotland. Development trusts are independent, under community control, and draw together the energy, committment and creativity of local people to tackle local issues through enterprise and the ownership of local assets.
www.dtas.org.uk

Employers in Voluntary Housing (EVH)
EVH is a support network for people working in the voluntary housing and sector. It provides personnel and human resource management services.
www.evh.org.uk

Glasgow & West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSFHA)
GWSFHA exists to promote the growth of community controlled housing associations across the West of Scotland, with a specific focus on Glasgow.
www.gwsf.org.uk

Highlands and Islands community Energy Company (HICEC)
Is a not for profit distributing company and their aim is for all communities across the highlands and Islands to be able to generate and use renewable energy for their long term and collective benefit.
http://www.hie.co.uk/community-energy.html

Neighbourhood Networks
Neighbourhood networks is a person-centred Scottish charity launched in 2001 to provide living support networks for people labelled with support needs living in Scotland.
www.neighbourhoodnetworks.org

RTO Network
Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Registered Tenants Organisations (RTO) are given formal recognition by their landlords. Provided they satisfy certain criteria, groups are entitled to be registered as tenant organisations and have the right to be provided with a wide range of information, as well as the right to be consulted on aspects of housing policy which might affect them as tenants. There are now over 600 RTOs across Scotland.
www.rto.org

Rural Housing Service (RHS)
RHS provides advice and information on housing issues and aims to help communities create new housing opportunities for local people.
www.ruralhousingscotland.org

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance. Its vision is to support successful housing and community development in Scotland."
www.sfha.co.uk

Scottish Community Land Network (SCN)
SCN promotes and inspires communities by providing them with information, resources, shared experience and networking opportunities.
www.communityland.org.uk

Single Parent Action Network (SPAN)
SPAN is a broad umbrella organisation representing the diversity of one parent families across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Membership includes single-parent self-help groups, individual single parent, large charitable organisations and various support groups concerned with supporting one parent families.
www.singleparents.org.uk

The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) is a charity that supports, promotes and represents city farms and community gardens throughout the UK. Their members range from organic community orchards to pockets of urban space saved from development; from allotments to well-established city farms.
www.farmgarden.org.uk

The Food Poverty Network
The Food Poverty network provides a forum, information, advice and a database for project workers, researchers and campaign groups tackling food poverty throughout the UK.
www.sustainweb.org

Voluntary Arts Network Scotland
Voluntary Arts Scotland promotes participation in the arts and crafts by supporting the development of the voluntary arts sector. They offer help to organisations, groups and individuals engaged in voluntary arts.
www.voluntaryarts.org



LIST B

Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)
The CIH is the professional body for people working in housing across the UK. Its purpose is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well being of communities.
www.cih.org.uk

Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS)
The CDAS is an independent national network of organisations that have the promotion of community development as part of their goals.
www.communitydevelopmentalliancescotland.org

Community Food and Health
Its aim is to make accessible a healthy and acceptable diet for individuals, families and communities throughout Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Exec Health department and based within the Scottish consumer council. Advised by a steering group made up of a range of groups and agencies, which advises on the nature and direction of the work.
www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk

Community Voices Network (CVN)
CVN is a network that is funded by Communities Scotland, which aims to help people from the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland to "get their voices heard" and play a bigger role in the decisions which will affect the regeneration of their communities.
www.community-voices.org.uk

Equality Network
The Equality Network campaigns for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. It creates ways for people to contribute to making Scotland a place in which everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can live free from hatred, prejudice and discrimination
www.equality-network.org

Faith Based Regeneration Network (FBRN)
To enable faith based practitioners to learn and gain inspiration from each other, across different faith traditions in the UK and to establish a common voice to communicate with government and other relevant authorities about regeneration and community development issues.
www.fbrn.org.uk

Friends of the Earth Scotland
National network, campaigning for environmental justice.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk

Greenspace Scotland
Greenspace Scotland is charged with developing and supporting a Scotland-wide network of greenspace partnerships and organisations to create, improve and manage local urban greenspaces.
www.greenspacescotalnd.org.uk

Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network (HIE)
HIE provides business support services, delivery of training and learning programmes, assistance for community and cultural projects and measures for environmental renewal. These activities are primarily delivered by nine Local Enterprise Companies (LECs)
www.hie.co.uk

Parent Network Scotland (PNS)
PNS delivers courses and workshops in parenting skills to parents and professionals. They provide information, work in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies and inform national and local policies on family issues
www.parentnetworkscotland.org.uk

Scottish Business in the Community (SBC)
SBC is a not-for-profit company whose aim is to support, broker and challenge businesses to continually improve their positive impact on society to ensure a successful, sustainable economy.
www.sbcscot.com

Scottish Civic Forum (SCF)
The SCF is a membership organisation committed to building a new culture of active citizenship, in which the people of Scotland have a genuine opportunity to be involved in influencing the government policies that affect their lives.
www.civicforum.org.uk

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
The SCVO is the national body representing the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector
www.scvo.org.uk

Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC)
SSEC is a collective lobbying and campaigns voice for social enterprise in Scotland. It is a membership-led organisation representing the needs and interests of social enterprise to politicians, policy makers and opinion formers.
www.ssec.org.uk

Scottish Community Development Network
The Scottish Community Development Network is a member led organisation, for community workers / community development workers, paid or unpaid, full or part time, from the community, voluntary or public sectors, who support the principles and practice of community development.
www.scdn.org.uk

Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF)
The Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) is the independent regeneration and inclusion network for Scotland. Its main purpose is to inform improved regeneration policy and practice.
www.scotregen.co.uk

Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland (Senscot)
Senscot supports and connects social enterpreneurs throughout Scotland, and promotes the work of social enterprise and the development of new services. Senscot believes that social entrepreneurs and their enterprises have the potential to transform society for the better.
www.senscot.net

The Poverty Alliance
The Poverty Alliance aims to combat poverty by effecting change in the policies, practices and beliefs of communities, policy makers, professionals and the general public.
www.povertyalliance.org

Volunteer Centre Network in Scotland
VCN is a network that aims to create a Scotland where everyone who wants to volunteer can do so. The network is made up of 32 volunteer centres across Scotland.
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk

Youthlink Scotland
Youthlink Scotland leads the youth work sector in Scotland. It champions the role and value of the sector and challenges government to invest in the development of dynamic and accessible youth work opportunities.
www.youthlink.co.uk