Joining the Dots: How Dundee Changemakers Helped Organisations Share More Than Resources
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
When Dundee Changemakers Hub launched the Dundee Dots pilot, the aim was simple: to explore whether community organisations could support one another in new ways that didn't rely solely on money.
Over 16 weeks, 13 organisations from across Dundee took part in an experiment using an alternative mutual-credit exchange system. Instead of paying for support in pounds, participants exchanged skills, services, space and surplus resources using "Dots", creating new opportunities to collaborate while making hidden assets more visible.
The pilot generated more than 40 exchanges across 16 weeks. Organisations shared everything from meeting spaces, workshop facilitation and First Aid training to design support, transport, surplus food, equipment and creative expertise. Along the way, they also built new relationships, discovered organisations they hadn't worked with before and recognised the value of skills and resources they had previously taken for granted.
As the pilot developed, one lesson became increasingly clear: while the Dots system helped spark exchanges, the real value lay in the trust and relationships that grew between participants. Regular check-ins, networking events and facilitated conversations helped organisations connect, opening the door to collaborations that will continue long after the pilot has ended.
The project also highlighted the wider benefits of sharing. Reusing existing resources reduced waste, helped organisations make the most of limited budgets and demonstrated how circular approaches can strengthen both communities and the environment.
The pilot was about asking whether a different way of working was possible, and learning what helps collaboration flourish, not about creating a perfect alternative currency. Participants identified the importance of simple systems, dedicated coordination and regular opportunities to build relationships, providing valuable insights for future development.
As one participant reflected, Dundee Dots offered "a way of making us richer without having to do a funding application."
We're proud that Dundee Changemakers Hub was able to support this innovative pilot and create a space where organisations could experiment, learn and work differently together. Dundee Dots has shown that when communities are given the opportunity to connect, share and trust one another, the value created extends far beyond financial exchange.
