Scottish Government

Dr Sarah Skerratt, Marsaili MacLeod, Clare Hall,
Ron Duncan, Mike Strachan and Janice Harris.

SAC
with
Professor Malcolm Moseley ( CCRI)
Professor Jane Farmer ( UHI)

Scottish Government Social Research
2008

ISSN 0950 2254
ISBN 978 0 7559 7381 1(Web only publication)

This document is also available in pdf format (870k)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements
List of tables
List of boxes
List of figures

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND AND APPROACH
Background
Aims and objectives of the project
Community facilities in rural life: findings from a review of literature and data
Policy context in Scotland in relation to rural community facilities
Methods

2. FINDINGS: CONDITION, USES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Introduction
Physical condition of RCFs
Governance and management
Economic sustainability
The nature of use and RCF users
Regional variation in survey findings

3. FINDINGS: SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR FACILITIES
Introduction
Committees' use and experience of support
Advice and support services available
RCF funding landscape

4. CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE FOR SCOTLAND'S RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Future needs and options
Sustainability and community facilities in rural Scotland
Key policy and practice issues

REFERENCES

APPENDICES
Acronyms
Research methods overview
Postal survey
Case studies
Desired changes to surveyed RCFs

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.