About Us

Our mission is to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement and empower its communities.

The Scottish Civic Trust was set up in 1967, to help people connect to their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. 

We are fortunate to own our own eighteenth century townhouse in Glasgow, where we have maintained our offices since 1995. We have a small staff compliment that works hard to achieve our objectives, working under the guidance of our Board. Everything we do centres around the following core values:

We are robust and independent in advocating for Scotland’s places and spaces
We are positive about the future of the built environment
We lead thinking on Scotland’s civic spaces
We collaborate across the heritage sector and beyond to develop ideas that tackle exclusion
We support community groups looking after their locality

We are proud to represent Scotland’s civic sector and strive to ensure our amenity groups are active, empowered, and educated to make a difference in their locality.

Press releases

MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE WINS SCOTTISH BUILT ENVIRONMENT AWARD

The winning and commended projects for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects, were... read more

26.05.2022 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Credit: Arms and Legs
NORTH LEWIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMENDED IN SCOTTISH BUILT ENVIRONMENT...

The winning and commended projects for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects, were... read more

26.05.2022 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Credit: Fiona MacLennan
GAIRLOCH REGENERATION PROJECT COMMENDED IN SCOTTISH BUILT ENVIRONMENT...

The winning and commended projects for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects, were... read more

26.05.2022 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Credit: Rupert Shanks Photography
WINNERS OF YOUNG PEOPLES' SCOTTISH BUILT ENVIRONMENT PHOTOGRAPHY...

The Scottish Civic Trust My Place Photography Competition is an annual competition that encourages young people aged 4-18 to use photography to... read more

26.05.2022 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Primary-age winner: Ruby Ionides, North Walls Community School, Orkney
Rural community centre and Scotland's first community-owned pub win...

The winning and commended projects for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards 2021 were announced at a ceremony at South Block, Glasgow on 29th... read more

01.11.2021 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Ochiltree Community Hub is the overall winner of the My Place Awards 2021. Credit: Ochiltree Community Hub.
Young people across Scotland document the impact of climate change

Hundreds of young people aged 4-18 have participated in a photography competition to document the impact of climate change on their local spaces... read more

01.11.2021 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Scotland’s largest free festival of places, history and culture to...

2021 marks the 32nd year of Doors Open Days, a festival that sees organisations and volunteers offer free access to hundreds of sites and events... read more

16.08.2021 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Susan O
Scotland's largest free festival of places, history and culture to...

Doors Open Days will return in September with a programme of in-person and online events and activities. 2021 marks the 32nd year of Doors... read more

08.07.2021 • By Scottish Civic Trust

A visitor taking part in Doors Open Days 2019. Credit: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
New Award to Celebrate Sustainable Built Environment Projects in Scotland

Built environment projects that demonstrate excellence in continued and adaptive reuse will be celebrated by a new Sustainability Award for the... read more

25.03.2021 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Bridgend Farmhouse, My Place Awards 2020 Highly Commended project, is an inspiring example of a sustainably-renovated farmhouse.
Campaign launched to protect historic Tobacco Merchant’s House

Campaign launched to protect historic Tobacco Merchant’s House Scottish Civic Trust, the national body for Scotland’s civic movement, has... read more

12.10.2020 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Tobacco Merchant
STRONTIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL WINS SCOTTISH BUILT ENVIRONMENT AWARD

The winning, highly commended and commended projects for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards 2020 were announced on 8th October.... read more

08.10.2020 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Falls of Shin Visitor Attraction - My Place Awards Commended 2020
Scottish Civic Trust welcomes new trustees

Scottish Civic Trust welcomes three new trustees, Ian Leith, John Mason and Jane Masters Scottish Civic Trust is pleased to announce that... read more

29.06.2020 • By Scottish Civic Trust

New Scottish Civic Trust Trustee, Ian Leith
Doors Open Days Goes Digital!

DOORS OPEN DAYS GOES DIGITAL! Doors Open Days is going digital this year! Scotland’s biggest free festival of architecture will present... read more

04.06.2020 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Paisley Abbey. Credit: Smart History. Doors Open Days has been working with Smart History to create digital tours of sites across Scotland.
Winners of national young people's photography competition announced

YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS SCOTLAND WIN SCOTTISH CIVIC TRUST MY PLACE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2020 The winning, highly commended and commended... read more

30.04.2020 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Secondary Winner - Carla Mulholland, Preston Lodge High School, East Lothian
Winning a national design award just got easier - new twist on the...

My Place Awards – Celebrating innovative place-making and dedicated communities The My Place awards, run by the Scottish Civic Trust, are a... read more

25.11.2019 • By Scottish Civic Trust

Representatives from the community of Bellsbank accept the 2019 My Place Awards on behalf of their town. Standing with members of the judging panel.

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