Welcoming Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust to our membership group

3 Oct

To celebrate Scottish Climate Week between 26th September and 1st October, the North Highlands and Islands Climate Hub team paid a visit to countless communities from Inverness to Shetland to see firsthand the incredible climate action taking place and to welcome new members to the Hub.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the North Highlands and Islands Climate Hub offers support to community groups to take climate action. With headquarters in Thurso and Development Officers embedded throughout the widespread region, the team are passionate about communities progressing their climate and community focused goals and wider Scottish Government net zero aspirations.

To allow the Hub and the community groups they work with to have the most amplified voice to local and national government, they created a free membership which community groups are welcome and encouraged to join. Membership offers specific support from dedicated Development Officers in various areas including funding alerts and training opportunities. Membership also provides the Hub with concrete evidence of what is happening within communities and how Scottish Government can adapt and create policy to best offer support.

Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust were officially welcomed to the membership group during Scottish Climate Week and the Hub team visited The Barn in Argay to personally present them with their membership certificate. The Hub team also borrowed the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust community asset, an electric car to visit communities taking climate action in Ullapool.

David Watson, Development Manager of Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust said:

“KoSDT are delighted to sign up to become a member of the NHI Climate Hub CIC. Climate change and the need to ensure a just transition to Net Zero is one of the biggest priorities we need to address if we want our rural communities to be sustainable and thrive in the future.
We all have a part to play to address the current climate emergency but many people are unsure how. The NHI Climate Hub CIC will support our communities to positively contribute to the challenge through providing advice and guidance on how community led climate action can help us to secure a sustainable future for the communities of the Highland and Islands.”

North Highlands and Islands Climate Hub Project Manager Joan Lawrie said:

“We are so pleased to be welcoming members to the Hub. My team have been working hard to represent our large geographical area and support as many groups as possible. After the success of both the Highland and Orkney Climate Festival which took place earlier in 2022, we are excited to now solidify partnerships with community groups by offering membership. Members will receive a range of benefits including invites to monthly networking events, information sharing sessions and they will have access to our team of knowledgeable and passionate Development Officers who will support them to apply for funding, take part in accredited training and provide access to our own North Highlands and Islands Climate Action Fund.
It was lovely to visit The Barn in Ardgay and to sit down with David and Beth at Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust. We so enjoyed using the electric vehicle to visit more climate conscious communities too. We hope to champion this kind of partnership working going forward and are grateful to Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust for their support.”

In addition to creating a network of likeminded organisations, any interested members will be invited to join the North Highlands and Islands Climate Hub board of trustees which will allow them to have input into the shaping of the organization.