Community groups, local people and key stakeholders are coming together to think big, work out what’s most needed, and make it happen. Working with the Community Councils, the Area Partnership and East Lothian Council and other allies we will bring additional resources, enthusiasm and energy to help shape a new and better normal for everyone.

We mustn't forget people's immediate needs and priorities, but we must also make time to imagine the kind of future want for our communities and our world. If we don't, we'll always be responding to problems instead of creating a future where all can thrive.

Let's ask "What if…?"

Let's imagine a future full of possibility, let's imagine a future where no one is left out, where Dunbar, East Linton and the local villages are home to thriving people, where nature thrives on the land and in the sea. Imagine a future where we have this, while also respecting the wellbeing of all people, and the health of the whole planet.

• What if we were a Good Food Community? In which no one goes hungry, everyone has access to good, healthy food and access to land – if they want it… See Local Good Food Alliance

• What if we were a Good Enterprise Community? In which everyday necessities are produced and available locally, everyone has access to meaningful and rewarding work, where new and existing businesses are inspired and supported to be part of the solution…

• What if we were a Good for Nature Community? In which we value and restore our local environment – and measure our progress by the number and diversity of birds, insects and other wildlife…

• What if we were a Good Energy Community? In which new housing costs nothing to heat, older housing has been made warm and comfortable and locally owned renewable energy supplies our needs…

• What if we were a Good Community? In which we are connected to our neighbours, our streets have become places for social interaction and for children to play, in which everyone has the chance to learn and share new skills, in which caring and sharing are the norm… See Local Community Halls Network

• What if… We reached out to other communities in Scotland and beyond, to learn from them and to share our experience? We worked together to influence local and national governments to go further and faster to build the new system that we and the rest of the world so urgently need?

An action network, not a talking shop

Exactly how the What If Network develops, what we do and how, will depend on what members want, the changing COVID-19 restrictions, our success with fundraising and so on. However we plan to work in two overlapping phases: developing plans and and then making them happen.

Engaging and listening

Currently the main areas of activity include:

• Ola Wojtkiewicz, engagement manager, is having one to one meetings with What If members, other local groups and stakeholders to learn what’s needed and how the What If Network could help.
• Using social media and other means to let people know about the essential work that local groups are doing, and encourage them to get involved.

Ola Wojtkiewicz, What If? community engagement manager

• Developing a series of online activities and safe, in person, events and meetings to learn what matters to people, imagine the future we want, and to generate and test ideas about possible new projects and developments.

Turning ideas into action

Making plans is (relatively) easy. But they’re useless unless turned into effective action and bring about worthwhile change. It won’t necessarily be quick and it will take hard work. A key element of this will be securing funding to extend and grow existing projects and to develop new ones.

By working together, sharing members’ experience, contacts and other resources, the What If Network will: