About Us

THE SCOTTISH COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE CAMPAIGNS FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE, ITS COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES

The SCA is Scotland’s only truly inclusive rural lobbying organisation. We recognise that rural Scotland is an interwoven tapestry of cultural, economic, environmental and community issues, and that to champion just one strand would lead to the unravelling of the whole. We campaign for and promote a wide range of interlinked rural livelihood issues and country sports.

Therefore we have to work with key decision-makers to ensure that all aspects of our countryside are enhanced, not diminished. We also have to ensure that the people living in rural communities are adequately supported. Without people in our rural communities, there will be no countryside, no tourism, and no huge contribution the Scotland's economy

The SCA ensures that the voice of the countryside is heard by the public and key decision makers. It is in everyone’s interest that Scotland’s countryside thrives and offers opportunities to everyone, regardless of where they live.

So the SCA:

• Promotes policies and legislation which respect and safeguard all aspects of the rural way of life, especially country sports.
• Uses research to prove the benefits and investment of country sports into the Scottish economy and environment.
• Is seen by decision-makers as a major source of information on how the countryside contributes to Scotland's wealth, culture, and quality of life.
• Organises community projects to help rural communities and promote concrete solutions to rural problems.
• Educates the public and the urban majority through projects funded by the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust

How do we do this?

The SCA is a campaigning organisation. Within our campaigns we lobby politicians, we educate the public, we raise awareness and we support the Scottish countryside and the rural economy.

We have part funded new research into the UK wide value of the shooting sports to the economy, from which Scottish data will be extracted and actively promoted to MSPs at Holyrood. We are also proud to be members of the Country Sports Tourism Group, which aims to increase the £200m per annum generated by country sports tourism in Scotland to an even higher figure.

We are at the forefront of promoting Scottish wild game as a healthy, natural and free range meat, thus increasing the public’s understanding of the shooting sports by showing them the produce.

The SCA annual conference raises rural issues up the political agenda by bringing policy makers and practitioners together to debate the future of rural Scotland.

Scotland’s Countryside Festival, which we lend considerable backing to, is much more than just a game fair and is at the forefront of bringing town and country together.

And on the educational front, the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust (SCAET) has many innovative projects aimed at reconnecting Scotland with her countryside.