Useful links

Association Of Scottish Community Councils

News and advice relevant to the work of community councils, and links to community councils across Scotland.

Children In Scotland

Children in Scotland is the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.

Communities Scotland

A Scottish Executive agency, which aims to regenerate disadvantaged communities and help deliver better housing.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the prime distributor of public support for the arts in the country.

Community Relations Unit

Aims to increase cross-community contact and co-operation in Northern Ireland.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland department whose aims include the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries.

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland

Responsible in Northern Ireland for arts and creativity, museums and libraries, architecture, sport, inland waterways and language diversity.

Department of Education, Northern Ireland

The department responsible for education provision in Northern Ireland.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

A department of the Northern Ireland executive.

Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland department covering environmental protection, land use planning and local government reform.

Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland

Department that prioritises the use of funds available to the Northern Ireland government.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland

The department's mission is to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland.

Department for Employment & Learning, Northern Ireland

Devolved department for skills, jobs, further education and higher education.

Department for Regional Development, Northern Ireland

Maintains a range of essential infrastructure services and shapes the region's long-term strategic development.

Department for Social Development, Northern Ireland

Covers urban regeneration, community and voluntary sector development, social legislation, housing, social security benefits, pensions and child support.

Industrial Research and Technology Unit

Working from offices in Lisburn, IRTU offers industry and academia a wide range of financial and other support for science and technology in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Restored in 2007, the prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities and has full legislative and executive authority.

Northern Ireland Executive

Northern Ireland government.

Northern Ireland Office

Representing central government in the province.

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

The representative voice of Scottish local government. Acts as an employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

Euro Info Centre for Scottish Enterprise

European issues and opportunities affecting Scottish startups. Operates as part of the Business Gateway.

Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland safeguards the nation's built heritage and promotes its understanding and enjoyment.

HomePoint Guide to Housing Options in Scotland

Informaiton on housing association and council homes, and provision for special needs groups.

Scottish Council Foundation

Scottish public sector think tank.

Scottish Local Government Information Network

Access Scottish local government and other related websites.

Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament's website.

SportScotland

The national agency for sport in Scotland. Working with our partners, our core responsibility is to develop sport and physical recreation in Scotland.

Sustainable Development in Scotland

Scottish Executive information on sustainable development

AccountAbility

AccountAbility is an international, not-for-profit, professional institute dedicated to the promotion of social, ethical and overall organisational accountability.

Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from government and the National Lottery.

Beacon Council Scheme

Kitemark identifying excellence and innovation in local government. Allows authorities to learn from each others' successes.

British Waterways

Organisation responsible for maintaining 2,000 miles (3,220km) of the inland waterway network.

European Services Strategy Unit

A unit in the Sustainable Cities Research Institute, Northumbria University, committed to social justice through the provision of good quality public services.

Commission for Racial Equality

A publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Will be replaced in October 2007 with the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Big Lottery Fund

The largest distributor of National Lottery funds.

Community Planning Website

Aims to help residents get involved with professionals in shaping their local environment.

Natural England

Government agency aiming to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.

Crime Reduction Website

Provides information and resources for people working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Department of Trade and Industry

Promotes enterprise, business growth, export and inward investment.

Education Action Zone

Government programme to tackle a range of problems including low educational achievement, truancy, exclusion and youth crime in deprived urban areas.

Accenture

Delivering strategy and planning, voter registration and election management services to local, state and national governments around the world.

Local Government Employers

Works with local authorities, regional employers and other bodies on issues of pay, pensions and employment contracts.

European Foundation for Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Set up to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions, through research and advice.

Grants Online

Grants Online is a network of professionals with a background in economic development, regeneration, ICT and External Funding.

London Assembly and the Greater London Authority

The official website for the mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority.

House of Commons Library - Research Papers

Access to the text of research papers which are compiled for the benefit of MPs by the staff of the House of Commons library.

Housing Corporation

Responsible for investing public money in housing associations - and for protecting that investment and ensuring it provides decent homes and services for residents.

Learning and Skills Council (LSC)

Responsible for funding and planning education and training for over-16-year-olds in England.

Learning and Skills Network

LSN is a not-for-profit organisation offering services to policy-makers, practitioners and organisations funding, managing and providing education. Programmes previously delivered by Learning and Skills Development Agency and continuing beyond April 2006 are being delivered by LSN.