The Community Benefits toolkit guides community groups through the process, from initial contact with a developer through to creating a legacy, monitoring and reviewing the project.

An overview of the modules, annexes and tools available in the toolkit is set out in the table below.

You can also access these from the resources index.

Module Objectives Tools, templates and annexes
Overview Key points

  • Sets out the purpose and structure of the CARES community benefits toolkit
  • Provides a provisional road map for those seeking to secure, set up and deliver community benefits.
 Links to:
Understanding community context Key points

  • Sets out key factors influencing how communities respond to a new community benefit opportunity
  • Describes the various stakeholders in a community and their roles
  • Signposts readers to sources of support available to the community.
 Links to:
Securing community benefits Key points

  • Highlights key principles to bear in mind and questions to ask when discussing community benefits
  • Sets out how to develop respectful and accountable relations between the prospective renewable energy business and the communities involved.
  • Provides information on what a written agreement between the prospective renewable energy business and the communities should cover.
 Link to:
Creating a lasting legacy Key points

  • Key principles of creating a lasting legacy.
  • Sets out the value in creating a community action plan
  • Introduces the key elements of, and the practicalities involved in developing, a community action plan
 Contains:

Links to:
Getting the governance right Key points

  • Defines good governance and some key principles to bear in mind when selecting the most appropriate governance arrangements
  • Outlines the most common legal structures used for community benefit governance in Scotland, some of their main features and key considerations in using them
  • Considers some key procedures for ensuring good governance in setting up and operating a community benefits, such as how to recruit those who will sit on the group (or groups) overseeing delivery
  • Presents some options for administrative arrangements, and factors in deciding on the most appropriate one.
 Contains:

  • Guide to options for recruiting decision making group.

Links to:
Monitoring, reporting, evaluating Key points

  • Highlights some important mechanisms for enabling accountability and transparency
  • Sets out key steps in establishing a monitoring framework that can capture information on spend, impact and learning
  • Considers how to review the impact of the funding distributed and adjust the community action plan and strategy where necessary, so as to ensure its ongoing effectiveness
  • Provides guidance on planning for effective reporting to key stakeholders.
 Contains:

  • Example Fund Reports