Current Research

We are currently undertaking the following research and would welcome your input. 

Community Wealth Building and the Creative Industries

Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a new people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy and places control and benefits into the hands of local people. We want to understand what organisations in the Creative and Cultural Industries understand about the policy and help them take advantage of the opportunities it can create.

Shetland Funerals Survey

Community Enterprise is working with the Community Development Company of Nesting (CDCN) to explore alternative options for funerals on Shetland.

The survey is open to Shetland residents and people elsewhere in Scotland, the UK and further afield. It will help us understand people's views about end of life planning and their thoughts on alternatives to traditional burial or cremation.

The feasibility study will initially assess the provision of three core services: the building of a facility for water cremation (a process of alkaline hydrolysis also known under the trademark ‘Resomation’), natural burial grounds, and themed funeral and memorial ceremonies. This includes exploring the idea of ceremonies marking Shetland’s Norse heritage, for example, the burning of a scaled-down Viking longboat containing an urn. 

The study could form the basis of one or more innovative social enterprises, addressing the lack of sustainable alternatives to traditional burial on the islands. 

We would be grateful if you could complete the survey and share it with your colleagues and family.