June Newsletter
Welcome to another jam-packed Highlands & Islands Climate Hub Newsletter! This one features a lot of greenery, as in May our month-long theme was Green Health. From Green Health Week, to Kyle & Lochalsh Climate Feis, Orkney Nature Festival & the Inverness Festival of Walking & Wheeling we had some spectacular green celebrations!
June will be directed by our theme of Upcycling, so expect lots of that coming your way! But for now, stick the kettle on & get comfy as we get you up to speed.
You’ll be noticing a wee change in layout to our Newsletter, we’ve moved location! This new style of Newsletter gives us unlimited space, so we can include more exciting news & share more of your successes.
Hub Highlights - top moments of the month from the Team!
First Gathering of the National Hub Network
Joan, Marion & Ashleigh had the privilege of representing the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub at the very first Gathering of all the Climate Hubs in Scotland. The day offered a great opportunity to meet with other Hubs to discuss our work & share some wisdom of what we’ve learnt along the way, aswell as discuss collaborative opportunities as to how we can best utilise the network!
It was also a rather special day for us, as back in 2021 when our Hub was established, we were one of only 2, but now there are 22 Hubs all across Scotland! At the Gathering there was representation from every Hub with over 80 people in attendance, marking a significant point for the Climate Action Hub Network. Here’s to the continuation of our support for our Members’ valuable work!
Tuminds Training Day!
Our Members enjoyed Social Media Training sessions back in April with Tuminds, but this time it was our turn! We had a really fruitful learning day with Rene, he gave us some really valuable insights into our Marketing & Communications strategy. We all took a lot away & really enjoyed it - as you can tell from our smiles! Thanks Rene!
It's always a pleasure to have a Hub Team Day, as we enjoy the rare chance for all of our Team to meet up in person! And of course chat all things Hub and what is coming next for our Members.
Mhairi is down with the kids!
Mhairi brought community climate action to Kinlochleven Primary School. She shared with the pupils all the ways communities across the Highlands are taking Climate Action, and then they made some fabulous posters to encourage people to keep up the good work!
Mhairi became very popular with the pupils after letting them watch a film - part of Climate Action Highlands & Islands! How inspiring is this poster? Keep up the good work folks!
Celebrating the Highland Charter for Climate, Nature & Health
Bethany celebrated the launch of the rejuvenated Highland Charter for Climate, Nature & Health in style at the Inverness Botanics. The day was a chance for us and our partners on the Charter - Highland Adapts, Think Health Think Nature & Highland Environment Forum - to share the Charter’s values & gather our first signatures!
Are you committed to bettering the climate, nature & health in the Highlands? Pledge your support for the Charter by signing!
Luci celebrates the rare Blue Butterfly
Luci snapped these shots when Caithness gathered to celebrate the small Blue Butterfly at Castletown Heritage Centre. She enjoyed a day filled with interesting learning & fun outdoor activities for all of the family! While no Blue Butterflies were spotted on the day, the first sighting of the year in Caithness happened the next day.
Hub News
Catch up with us in June!
Join us for our inaugural monthly networking session! It’s an exciting one, as we will be joined by Climate Outreach for a session focused on community engagement. Climate Outreach will draw on their recent ‘Britain Talks Climate’ report, which includes a specific section on Scotland detailing perceptions around Climate Change in our population.
We’d love to see you there to collectively learn, and have a general catch up & chat with you all to hear about your progress this year!
Our Community Development Officers will be hosting Skillshare sessions throughout the year. These sessions will invite Guest Speakers to join us to share their insights & experience on specific topics to share wisdom across the region. Have your say on which time of day these sessions being at is the best suit.
Join our Team!
Take the chance to join our friendly Team - we are recruiting for 3 Community Development Officers to enhance our community support. Are you proactive, have great interpersonal skills, & a passion for what communities can achieve? We hope to see an application from you before the closing date of 10th June (all 3 roles now share that closing date).
Climate Hustings
With the General Election approaching, we are offering support to our Members, in particular community groups who may have questions around how their operations continue in the pre-election period. Find advice from the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) below.
Climate will inevitability be a major discussion topic in election campaigns, and we are offering our members support to host fair & inclusive Climate Hustings. Do you want to hear your local candidates’ take on the climate crisis? Consider hosting a Climate Hustings, and please do reach out to us for support.
Funding News
Highlands & Islands Climate Festival
The news, that’s got us all excited at the Hub is. . . funding for the Highlands & Islands Climate Festival 2024 is now open! 🎉
This year we are offering 2 funding packages for community groups.
£150 Event Contributions for pre-existing or new events to take place during September as part of the Festival.
Bespoke Requests - do you have a creative event idea that may cost £150+? We’d love to hear your proposal & projected cost, and we will do our best to source Sponsorship!
Applications for bespoke larger proposals close on Friday 14th June, and the £150 Grant Fund closes on Friday 28th June.
Community Climate Action Fund
We have a date, and it’s soon! Our Climate Action Fund opens on Monday 3rd June, yes Monday coming!
This year our fund will be open ALL YEAR (well nearly) on a rolling basis with decisions made each month. We’ve got grants of up to £500 up for offer, for new community organisation or new climate action projects.
Find out how to apply & get all the T&Cs on Monday!
Hub Resources
Food Hygiene Training
We are offering fully funded Level 2 Food Hygiene for Catering courses to our members! If you are involved in a a refill shop, community fridge, or working with food in any capacity we would love to support your work with this training. Apply here.
Past Event Recordings
Meet the Funders - Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation Fund & Pebble Trust (Mar 2024)
Campaigning for Change with Less Waste Laura (April 2024)
Our Members
Celebrations
Inverness Festival of Walking & Wheeling
The Inverness Festival of Walking & Wheeling was a terrific success! Over 30 partners came together to stage more than 30 events over the course of 8 days. The main themes celebrated were active travel paths, mutual respect between walkers & riders, and Inverness tourism.
We were delighted that our Climate Action Fund supported the Festival’s development by funding 300 bicycle bells which went to city primary schools and the development of the 'Loop of Health, History and Hope' Map. The map was specially commissioned, and features 20 waypoints marked by QR codes which led to online videos showing drone footage of each location.
Probably the most-eye-catching element of our festival was bright orange ice cream tricycle which appeared at various events, handing out free tubs of ice cream!
Grantown Remakery visited by royals!
One of our members, Grantown Remakery, hosted the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as part of a royal visit to Grantown on Spey. Grantown Remakery is a social enterprise that refurbishes, repairs, and upcycles old furniture whilst supporting young people with skills development. The royal couple showed great enthusiasm and interest for the project, with lots of questions and discussion. Grantown Remakery have achieved so much since the project began in 2019, including recently securing £17.5k from the Circular Communities Share & Repair Tourism Fund for developing a circular economy and more sustainable practices with tourism providers in the local community. Well done Pete, George, Tomas and all the team!
Photo credit: Grantown Remakery
Thurso joins Scottish Water Top-Up-Tap Network!
Scottish Water has paid a visit to Thurso to install a To-Up-Tap at the beachfront! The point provides the community with a place to refill their water bottles, in aim to cut down on the need for plastic bottles. Well done to our member Thurso Community Development Trust for helping make this happen!
Photo Credit: John o’ Groat Journal & Caithness Courier
News
Celebrating Green Health Week at Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust!
To celebrate Green Health Week, Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust
invited the children from Ladybird Playgroup for a spot of Seed Bomb making. The workshop took place at the Trust’s education centre, situated behind their Polytunnel in Ardgay.
The children had great fun making the Bombs which they then took home to throw in their own gardens where, as a result, they will soon see the growth of some beautiful wildflowers. The session finished with some lovely cooling ice lollies.
Highland Community Waste Partnership May Update!
The Highland Community Waste Partnership is now in its third and final year! At our annual in-person partnership meeting last month, we reflected on everything accomplished so far, as we work to embed waste reduction and sustainable consumption in our communities. We’re now starting to think about the legacy of the project, making sure that the learning and relationships built are not lost, and planning some celebration activity too!
We are currently promoting a number of exciting initiatives, including the Zero Waste Food Challenge for households and #ConsciousConsumption initiatives for businesses.
In addition to our cup recycling pilot, businesses can now join our #ChooseToReuse campaign and express an interest in our upcoming returnable packaging scheme.
May also saw the launch of six local Community Refill Schemes in collaboration with City to Sea, aiming to promote the handy Refill app that connects consumers to businesses where they can use reusables and shop packaging-free.
Planet Sutherland is growing!
Planet Sutherland has been working with various local groups to increase food growing in the area. Their Community Garden table at Ardgay Market was a huge success as was their Garden Swap event on May 19th. Lots of swaps and shares of plants and, knowledge. There are at least 40 more tomatoes growing with them now!
Planet Sutherland gives a special shoutout to the Sutherland Think Health Think Nature workshops, as they were fab!
And, of course, Planet Sutherland are proud signatories of the Highland Charter for Climate, Nature & Health.
Feature on the hit BBC show, The Repair Shop!
Calling Repair Enthusiasts in the Highlands!
The Repair Revolution is taking the region by storm as Repair Cafes save items & grant them new lives.
Take the opportunity to feature on BBC's 'The Repair Shop' show! They are seeking to celebrate a Highland Repair Hero while restoring historical treasures & reviving personal items.
Whether you have a special item yourself, or want to nominate a project or individual, they want to hear from you.
Events
Highland Pride Walking Book Group
Join Velocity Café & Bicycle Workshop and partners for a one-off special Highland Pride Walking Book Group event. Part of Highland Pride 2024, the event is an opportunity for people to meet and discuss a book that involves both LGBTQ+ and environmental topics. The event involves a walk along the banks of the River Ness from Eden Court to Inverness Botanic Gardens, followed by an informal and inclusive book group discussion around the chosen book The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. High Life Highland Libraries have kindly provided a set of books, which participants can order from their local High Life Highland library.
Climate Action Kickstarter in Badenoch
Badenoch Climate Action is hosting a Climate Action Kickstarter event!
People across the Badenoch area want to take positive action on the climate emergency, individually and collectively. Many ideas have already been generated from previous events, from setting up a local repair café, to more effective lobbying of our elected representatives or helping people see ‘green’ retro-fit home improvements locally.
Rachel Avery, a BCA member, is facilitating an ‘Open Space’ style meeting in Kingussie on 27 June. The event will help gather more ideas, and then facilitate productive, positive conversations about how best to progress the actions people present at the meeting.
If you live locally then please do join – and help share the word!
DTAS Facilities Management Network
Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) have recently set up a Facilities Management Network. This is for people managing community facilities to share information and peer-to-peer support. If you'd like to join, email Andrew Aldous at Andrew@dtascot.org.uk.
Join Us!
If you are passionate about climate action, and want access to our funding, support & collaborative environment, why not join us a Member?
Membership is free and open to organisations and individuals.
We look forward to working with you soon!