Held in Livingston, the event provided insight into the impressive successes delivered through the Scottish Procurement Alliance’s Community Benefit Fund (CBF), which has distributed £910,000 worth of funding in seven years achieving an additional £1.1 million in match funding.

Lesley Anderson, regional director of SPA said: “The success of our Community Benefit Fund over the past seven years is a testament to the power of collaborative effort in driving positive change.

“By providing £910,000 in funding and leveraging an additional £1.1m in match funding, we’ve been able to make a significant impact on Scottish communities.

“This AGM has not only showcased our collective achievements with the help of our Committee partners and Lintel Trust but it also highlighted the incredible work being done by our public sector partners across Scotland.”

Since 2017, the CBF has played a significant role in community support, providing over £2m in grants and match funding to 103 community groups and charities. These efforts have positively impacted the lives of at least 27,931 people, generating over £5.1m in social value.

Reflecting on achievements over the past seven years, the AGM was attended by organisations at the forefront of community development including LHC Procurement Group, Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC), South Ayrshire Council, Hawthorn Housing Cooperative and South Lanarkshire Council.

Each organisation shared insights into their projects, as well as how they achieved success and their future ambitions, providing a holistic view of the journey from implementing community benefits to now.

Lesley added: “What truly stands out from our AGM is the breadth and depth of impact our Community Benefit Fund has had. From supporting 103 community groups and charities to positively affecting the lives of nearly 28,000 people, we’ve seen firsthand how targeted funding can create ripple effects of positive change.

“As we look to the future, we’re excited to build on this foundation, continuing to innovate and collaborate with our partners to address local needs and create even greater social value across Scotland.”

The AGM also highlighted key initiatives in product development and community impact, a variety of organisations shared insights into their projects and explored how they’ve achieved success alongside their future ambitions.

Discussing the role of product innovation and future project opportunities, LHC Procurement Group showcased the transition from the Rebate Programme to the CBF, outlining LHC’s Social Value Strategy to enhance the impact of its work and to enable even more opportunities for community improvement.

1st Step Development Ventures showcased successful community-led projects, while representatives from South Ayrshire Council, Hawthorn Housing Cooperative, and South Lanarkshire Council shared stories of tackling local issues with SPA and Lintel Trust support.

Among the attendees were David Allan, deputy director of the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC), who outlined SCDC’s priorities with a focus on Community-Led Action Research.

Key figures from LHC Procurement Group also joined, including Clive Feeney, former SPA regional director and now group chief executive officer of LHC Procurement Group, along with Shona Snow, director of product innovation, and George Stevens, director of communities.