The programme is delivered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS). It builds on over 20 years of grass roots community work, including the delivery of the successful Community Shares Scotland programme, and the knowledge and experience that this brings.
So far, we have created a network of over 18,000 citizen investors, raising over £20 million in the process and creating 75 democratic, community led businesses.
However there are still significant barriers to increasing community-led wealth and control, and this is what Democratic Finance Scotland seeks to address.
Democratic Finance Key Principles
The Democratic Finance Scotland programme is rooted in the following:
Democratic
- Money is raised collectively from within a community
- Money is invested into democratically controlled organisations
- Investment and membership opportunities are open to all
- Communities acting independently on their own behalf
- Community assets and services are mutually owned and run
Finance
- Organisations have a greater blend of income and are less grant dependent
- Communities have networks of ‘Citizen Investors’
- Money is repayable to local people and local organisations
- Money is retained and circulated locally, boosting long term community wealth
- Investment opportunities are affordable and fair, and best suited to community and social enterprises
We will support communities to increase knowledge and use of democratic finance models that propel a shift from the current extractive economic system to one that captures and boosts wealth within communities.
We need a new system that is rooted in local control, equity and democratic accountability. We must move away from piecemeal grant funding towards local investment and ownership opportunities that serve citizens, fosters community development and sustainable economic resilience.
About DTAS
DTAS was established in 2003 and is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO no SC034231). It is a membership organisation, providing support to over 350 development trust members across rural, island and urban Scotland. The development trust approach seeks to address social, economic and environmental challenges at a local level. Development Trusts are place-based, community-led and community-owned enterprises. They provide inspiration and evidence that positive change can be achieved through local control and ownership, regenerating local areas through asset ownership, social enterprise and community empowerment.
The team
Morven Lyon
Head of Democratic Finance at Development Trusts Association Scotland
Morven Lyon, has over 12 years’ experience working in programme management and delivery in the Third Sector – with a specific focus on community business and community-led finance models. She is one of Scotland’s leading experts in the community shares finance model and the Community Benefit Society governance structure.
Katie Little Sadler
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland
Isla McCulloch
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland
Isla McCulloch is a specialist in community shares and can support with every stage of a community share offer. She is a Fully Licensed Community Shares Practitioner and can award the Community Shares Standard Mark to offers that meet national standards of best practice. With a detailed knowledge of co-operative and community benefit society structures, she can provide ongoing advice and support on governance, membership and financial matters. She has worked in social investment and community development for over a decade and joins DTAS after 5 years leading on the community shares standards work at Co-operatives UK.
Laura Bedford
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland
Laura has more than a decade’s experience in policy in the Scottish Government focusing on social enterprise and community wealth building. She joined DTAS four years ago to move from policy to practice, and support development trusts across Argyll & Bute and Stirling as part of the Member Support team. She moved to the Democratic Finance team at the start of 2025, where she focuses on finance and governance for groups doing community share offers, policy and consultations and researching new areas of Democratic Finance.
Pamela Barnes
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland
Contact the team
