Connected Communities Anthology
- Written by: Rachel Cairns — Development Officer - Lived Experience and Engagement
- Published: 18th June 2026
As part of our 20 year anniversary, the Integration Team highlight the importance of our Connected Communities series.
The autism think tank Autistic Knowledge Development is the epitome of “it’s not about us, without us.”
Led entirely by autistic people its aim is to bring more autistic people to the forefront of anything related to them and to improve the life opportunities of autistic people. Ultimately, they support the autism community to change the experience of autistic people in the future.
It’s this type of work that the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland’s (the ALLIANCE) Connected Communities series aims to share to showcase how working together supports people and communities.
Autistic Knowledge Development is just one of the Connected Communities series highlighting successful integrated working within health and social care in Scotland and reflecting the diverse range of areas covered by third sector organisations in Scotland.
These include chronic pain, community football, housing, nature connection, neurodiversity, mental health, additional support needs and more. The series is a collection of stories recognising, celebrating and learning from the achievements and successes of third sector organisations.
The Integration Team at the ALLIANCE launched the Connected Communities Anthology, bringing together the case studies in the series. The aim of this project is:
- to spotlight the invaluable contribution of organisations
- to showcase examples of innovation and transformation
- to share the invaluable benefits of partnership working, collaboration, and authentic relationships
- to highlight community involvement, compassionate leadership and the role of lived experience.
The anthology, and the Connected Communities series as a whole, aims to highlight that when the third sector is valued as an equal partner across all sectors, Scotland can become healthier and everyone can enjoy their right to live well with dignity, fairness and respect.
If your organisation would like to share its work through the Connected Communities case study series, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch to tell us about your work and how you are making a difference in communities across Scotland.
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