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. Use the tabs to view both webinars and Q&A sessions.
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.
Introduction to community engagement
Thursday 8 October 2026 | 1pm – 2pm
This introductory webinar will explore the basics of community engagement, from thinking about who you want to involve and what you want to find out to choosing suitable engagement methods. If you want more meaningful information (not just more meetings), this is a session you won’t want to miss.
Local Place Plans – Knowing the essentials
Wednesday 14 October | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Would you like to have more influence over the future of your community? A Local Place Plan is a community-led plan that sets out local priorities for how an area should develop and change. This session will explain what Local Place Plans are, what they can achieve and what is involved in preparing one.
Understanding consents for renewable energy planning
Thursday 5 November 2026 | 6pm – 7pm
Renewable energy developments can bring opportunities and changes to island communities. But how are proposals considered? This session will help you understand the process, the roles of different organisations and the opportunities for island communities.
How to benefit from renewable energy as a community
Thursday 19 November | 1pm – 2pm
This session discusses how you and your community can approach developers and planners to benefit from renewable energy in your area.
A renewable energy proposal is coming forward in your area, so what happens next? Some communities have found ways to make renewable energy developments work for them. This session will explain how you and your community could benefit too.
Digital tools for community engagement
Thursday 10 December 2026 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Digital tools can help you involve more people, collect clearer information and make it easier for communities to take part.
This online session will introduce practical digital tools for community engagement, including Community Map Scotland and Placecheck. We will explore how interactive maps and other simple tools can support your project or community-led plan.
Q&A: Planning and policy
Thursday 1 October | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
This is the first session of the Your Island, Your Questions monthly open forum meetings. It is an interactive session and an opportunity to get to know each other and ask questions about the Scottish planning system.
Q&A: Community engagement methods
Thursday 29 October | 1pm – 2pm
This session will give you the chance to hear how other island communities are involving people, what challenges they have faced and what they have learned along the way. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to Planning Aid Scotland’s engagement specialists, who bring decades of experience in community engagement and participation.
Q&A: Local Place Plans
Thursday 12 November | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
This session will focus on Local Place Plans. You will have the opportunity to hear how other island communities are developing their Local Place Plans, what challenges they have faced and what they have learned along the way. Bring your questions and experiences of local place planning in your community.
Q&A: Planning, renewable energy and community benefit
Thursday 26 November | 1pm – 2pm
Explore what renewable energy development could mean for your area and get answers to the questions that matter most to you.
Find out how and when communities can get involved in the planning process, how to engage effectively with developers, and what community benefit could look like in practice.
Q&A: Digital tools for engagement
Thursday 17 December | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
This session is an opportunity to ask questions about digital engagement tools, including Community Map Scotland and Placecheck, discuss ways to make digital engagement accessible and inclusive, and explore how digital tools can support community projects and community-led plans.
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
Want to know more about mentoring? Read our short explainer document with a case study on the positive impact mentoring has made for communities in Shetland.
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.
Planning: The Secret Job That Shapes Every Place
This information sheet provides an introduction to planning for young people – What is a planner? What is a place? Why do we need planners? What do planners do?
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.