The launch comes close on the heels of the recent stage 1 debate around The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, which took place in November. The bill seeks to reduce economic inequality by ensuring a consistent public sector-led approach to help local areas generate, retain and circulate wealth.

DTAS states that communities are already driving significant change across the country – powering local energy projects, preserving vital assets, addressing rural depopulation, and building a fairer local economy. However, a lack of long-term investment is holding them back from playing a far greater role in creating resilient local economies.

Last year alone, its Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) was accessed 340 times by communities looking to take on buildings and land. Its Democratic Finance Scotland programme helped communities raise a total of £1,040,400 in community shares – a figure which could grow substantially with the right policy and financial support.

The manifesto addresses key national challenges and calls for change across five core pillars:

• A sustainable and supportive environment for communities
• Developing local democracy
• An inclusive, sustainable, wellbeing economy
• Land reform and community ownership
• A just transition and climate action

Among its proposed actions, it calls for the creation of a community wealth fund (alongside Scottish Community Coalition on Energy), reforms to land policy, long-term funding for local initiatives, greater investment in democratic finance and fair procurement.

It also highlights Scotland’s democratic deficit, calling for a reform of local democracy structures that builds on existing development trust networks to ensure communities have real power, not just a voice.

Pauline Smith, CEO at DTAS, said: “Communities across Scotland are already leading the way in tackling major challenges – from climate change to depopulation – but short-term policy and centralised control is limiting their impact.

“This manifesto is our call to the Scottish Government and policymakers for change, to give communities real decision-making powers and sustained investment so they can deliver strong local economies that work for future generations.

“Placing authority, budgets and control at a community level will play a central role in strengthening Scotland’s democracy and building resilience across the country.”

Representing nearly 400 development trusts across Scotland and supporting an additional 800 community enterprises through its Democratic Finance Scotland and COSS programmes, DTAS empowers communities to take ownership of local assets, build sustainable enterprises and influence policy. The organisation provides advice, training, advocacy and resources to strengthen community empowerment and drive local regeneration.