Firstport

Communities Scotland Thistle House 91 Haymarket Terrace EDINBURGH EH12 5HE Tel: 0131 313 0044 Fax: 0131 313 2680

Communities Scotland is the arm of the Executive with responsibility for Regeneration in Scotland. As part of this remit, they have recently set up the new Social Economy Unit, based in Edinburgh. As well as the Unit, there are 7 Social Justice Managers located at offices throughout the country who co-ordinate the work of the Unit in these areas. The Social Economy Unit's responsibilities include: -Deliver Futurebuilders Scotland -Oversee delivery of the Wider Role Fund for registered social landlords and any policy developments on community assets -Be a centre for research and intelligence about the social economy in Scotland, and -Help inform Scottish Executive policy on the social economy after Futurebuilders Scotland funding ends in March 2007. Local Social Economy Partnerships Futurebuilders Scotland sets out that there should be Local Social Economy Partnerships (LSEPs) to cover all local authority areas in Scotland. In some places these LSEPs already exist, others are in the process of being set up. The make up of each LSEP will include Communities Scotland, Scottish Enterprise or HIE, the Local Authority and the local council for voluntary services as the core partners. LSEP’s role is to: -Ensure partnership arrangements complement the existing support networks and agencies, and Communities Planning Partnerships. -Provide a protocol or action plan clarifying how partnerships will support the social economy. -Agree a remit that supports Futurebuilders Scotland priorities. -Support Futurebuilders Scotland applicants. LSEPs are to be self financing through partners. They may have access to limited Seedcorn Funds for filling in business support gaps and grass roots networking where the need is clearly demonstrated. LSEPs will continue to exist past the end of Futurebuilders Scotland funding.

1. Thistle House
2. 91 Haymarket Terrace
3. Edinburgh
4. EH12 5HE

• Tel: 0131 313 0044
• Fax: 0131 313 2680
• Website: www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/Web/Site/Whatwedo/FB_home.asp

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