The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and Community Development Lens (CoDeL), with financial support from the Williamson Trust, brought together a diverse group of people with rich experience of research practices in August 2025, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gàidhlig college in Skye.

The diverse programme of presentations, discussions and facilitated sessions created a space for the participants to engage with each other to reflect on different types of research, especially community-rooted research. They recognised the extent to which many communities are already delivering such research that draws on knowledge and voices of local people.


Published on 20 April 2026, the report presents the main learning outcomes from the two-day event. A diverse set of recommendations emerged around themes such as research methodology and ethics, funding models and new structures for research that empower communities to lead and shape the generation of knowledge. It is community research, rooted in local place, experience and knowledge, that can underpin more relevant, tailored and impactful policy across the multiple and diverse contexts found within Scotland.

Download the Valuing Local Communities in Research and Policymaking report here (2MB, PDF)

Download Report