Have your say on the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Bill.

Have you heard of the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation by the Scottish Government?

Do you want to know more about the consultation and have your say on the proposals? This is your chance to join the conversation and dive into the future of heating in Scotland at our workshop.

Wednesday 21st February

7pm - 8:30pm

Online (Teams)

The Scottish Government currently are consulting on their new Heat in Buildings Bill. The points made in the workshop will be conveyed back to the Scottish Government which would help in the development of the bill.

Your voice matters!

A further link to the Consultation can be found here: https://consult.gov.scot/.../proposals-for-a-heat-in.../

Come along to our Climate Café in Inverness - a space, for people to get together to talk and act on climate change!

THEME: Local Climate Action with a special Climate Action: Highlands & Islands film screening.

Produced by the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub and created with film-maker Cameron J Mackay Productions, Climate Action: Highlands & Islands showcases our bold and resourceful communities across the Highlands and Islands taking action to combat the climate emergency.

Join us for a screening of this inspiration film, followed by a Climate Café to discuss what action we can take in our local communities.

Hot drinks will be provided between 6.00 - 6:30pm. Film starts at 6:30pm. Running time is 28 minutes and there will be 1 hour 30 minutes for open discussion after the screening. Feel free to bring food and snacks to the event as we are only serving hot drinks. You may also wish to bring a cushion and/or blankets as it may be more comfortable for sitting on the chairs and benches in the café.

What is a Climate Café? A Climate Café is a community-led, informal, inclusive and inspiring space to get together, share ideas, information and get involved in climate action locally.

What is it like to go along to a Climate Café? Climate Cafés are relaxed and informal, so you should be able to just drop in, have a cuppa, and a chat – just like any café! It is a space where everyone gets to contribute and the conversation moves through the topics people are interested in. Expect the chat to be wide ranging, with a positive focus on what we can do!

What happened at the last Climate Café in Inverness? Find out here.

Who are my local Climate Café Inverness co-ordinators? Clare from Velocity Café & Bicycle Workshop

Climate Café Inverness is registered with the Climate Café Hub. Wherever you see the Climate Café logo, you will know that our Climate Café is signed up to a shared ethos of being open, welcoming and inclusive to everyone.

This event is supported by funding provided by the Highland Community Waste Partnership.

Photography: We will also take photographs and short videos during the session for sharing on social media and reporting purposes. If you are not comfortable having your photograph taken, please let us know.

For any questions or accessibility requirements, please email HCWP@velocitylove.co.uk

We are very proud to present a real labour of love in our Climate Action: Highlands & Islands film created with film-maker Cameron J Mackay Productions and produced by the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub.

Across the Highlands and Islands, bold and resourceful communities are taking action to combat the climate emergency. Meet the inspirational characters behind this innovative sustainability work and take a journey from Fort William’s up cycling enterprises to Shetland’s Polycrub community growing infrastructure.

This film tells the story of a selection of the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub’s inspiring members as they showcase why the region is such a special place for taking action on climate change.

Join us for a very special screening of the film at Eden Court in Inverness on Thursday 7th December where we will be holding a small drinks reception for attendees from 6pm with a viewing of the film commencing just before 7pm.

Following the film we will have a Panel discussion with very special invited guests who the audience are invited to ask their questions to and discuss the film and the climate actions needed in the Highlands, Northern Isles and across Scotland to mitigate against and adapt to the current climate emergency with particular focus on how to approach this from community level.

All welcome and tickets are free of charge.

The Highlands & Islands Climate Hub is delighted to offer once again to our Members and Community Organisations throughout Highland & the Northern Isles our very popular Funding Masterclass Workshop. Led by Hub Manager, Joan Lawrie, the workshop takes you through all of the elements of funding including:

• Trends in Funding

• Where to find Funding opportunities

• What documentation you need to have to hand when writing Funding applications

• How to write an application for Funding

• Monitoring and reporting on Funding awards

If you are new to sourcing and writing funding applications or just need a refresher this workshop is essential at taking you through all of the elements needed to be a successful fundraiser for your community projects.

Joan has a significant funding success track record through her previous work with Thurso Community Development Trust and shares insights and experiences throughout this interactive workshop.

Spaces are limited as the session works best with a small informal group to maximise what attendees are looking to get out of the session so please book now if you are interested in attending.

All are welcome but priority will be given to those in Highland, Orkney & Shetland.

Booking Link: Funding Masterclass Tickets, Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

The Highlands & Islands Climate Hub is holding an online event to share with Members and community groups throughout Highland further information about the currently open in the region SSE Sustainable Development Fund.

Join Lindsay Dougan, SSE Senior Community Investment Manager as she explains more about the aims of the SSE Sustainable Development Fund for Highland in the 2023/24 round of applications.

Hosted by Hub Manager, Joan Lawrie we'll have a follow up Q&A session where you can have your questions answered about the fund and receive any general funding application tips needed.

Note: Neither Lindsay or Joan will be able to answer any application specific questions but this event does give you the opportunity to meet the team behind the fund and ask general questions about the fund, what they are looking for and general application guidance.

All are welcome.

Booking Link: Meet the Funder - SSE Sustainable Development Fund Tickets, Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

You can find more information about the currently open SSE Sustainable Development Fund for Highland here: Sustainable development fund | SSE Renewables

The Highlands & Islands Climate Hub is holding an online event to share information about funding available from community groups and how to access it.

During the online event, we will explain our role in supporting community groups with climate action projects. The Hub has funding available for community groups to enable them to set up projects, buy sustainable resources, and offer training.

The event will be held by Luci and Joan, staff members of the Hub, and will include two short presentations from community groups that have previously received funding from us, to share how they have used the funding and how it has benefited them.

All are welcome! This event would be particularly useful for any community group that may be interested in the funding that the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub has to offer.

The event will be 1 hour 30 minutes in length, with time for questions. Follow the link to the Our Funding page on our website to find out more details and how to apply.

Booking Link: Highlands & Islands Climate Hub Funding Information Online Event Tickets, Fri 10 Nov 2023 at 15:00 | Eventbrite

Ardgay’s October market has a theme of Harvest Festival / Apples. They will have free apple pressing and a demo of Apple Cider Vinegar making.

And of course refreshments!

They’ll also have all there usual recyling community stalls:

• Garden/cook books

• Seeds/plants/garden produce

• Bric-a-brac

• wonderful local hand made crafts

• Local food stalls

A celebration of local produce & Support local food producers.

Find out how to:

• preserve fruit

• vegetables

• Herbs

• Use up food waste

• Live sustainably

You will be able to watch a series of demonstrations and to sample and purchase food from a wide range of local providers. 

Stallholders confirmed to attend are: 

• Black Isle Brewery

• Black Isle Dairy

• Black Isle Turkeys

• The Cheese House

• Culisse Highland Rapeseed Oil

• Clachuile Fruit and Veg

• Fraoch Cottage

• The Chocolate Place

• Loch Ewe Brewery

• Loch Ewe Salt and Seaweed

• Patisserie Alice

• Easter Balmungie Farm

• Highland Prime

•  Highland Microgreens

• Unravel Teas

• Glen Ord Distillery

• Pro Fish

• Highland Community Waste Partnership

• Xoko Bakehouse

• Dingwall+District Beekeepers’ Association

• Vandyke Brothers Coffee

• The Highland Coffee Pod 

The demonstrators will explore slow cooked lamb (UHI); ways with root vegetables (Storehouse); how to make the best coffee with the equipment available (Vandyke Brothers Coffee); how to prepare a seafood platter (Profish); and ways of preserving food (Penny and Martin).

Admission will be £3 for adults (cash only) and children will be free. Join, for what promises to be an exciting addition to Black Isle activities!

Super Simple Audio Editing workshop on Tuesday, 19 of September, 10am-12pm is the the second of four planned for this Autumn and it will cover:

• an introduction to using Descript

• for editing audio - it's as easy and fun as editing a text doc!

• making it sound good

• adding intro, outros, and music

• hands on practice in editing

• exporting your finished audio and transcript

• collaboration

• an opportunity to network with others

• contributing your recorded interview to Everyday Changemaker series and joining SCCAN Storytelling Collective

BEFORE YOU COME ALONG: It’s recommended you complete Stories for Change Part 1: Super Simple Audio Recording but it's not essential. Bring your own recordings to edit and register for a Descript account.

Booking Link - Stories for Change 2/4: Super Simple Audio Editing Tickets, Tue 19 Sep 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

Are you ready to join forces with like-minded individuals and organisations working towards a sustainable future?

Come to the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) Northern Gathering in Inverness!
At this event, we will come together to celebrate our achievements, share ideas and stories, and renew our vision for Scotland.

This is not just a conference, it's an interactive experience where you can contribute, network and learn.
There will also be a locally produced and sustainable lunch. We will cater for diverse dietary requirements.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with other members, and to learn about the latest developments in community action against climate change.

Please bring pop-ups and literature to share with participants.

Email info@sccan.scot if a travel bursary would support you to be there.

Crèche is also being organised, so please book childcare places too!
We can't wait to see you at the event and work together to make the future brighter for all.

Book Here!

Next training |  September | INVERNESS

• 15 September, 10:30am-5:30pm (in person, Inverness)

• 18 September 5.30-8pm (online)

Apply here  https://airtable.com/shrCNTMZNLFakSzl8]  and will schedule a chat with you.

Interested in facilitating but can’t make those dates? Fill in the form and someone will get in touch for a chat! More on facilitation here.

You will work with volunteer hosts who will invite 6-12 friends, family, colleagues, or people from a community group to attend a Climate Conversation in their own home, online, or in a local venue.

At these events you will present to them about climate change and the urgency for action (using prepared scripts), and facilitate a discussion that leads to commitment and empowerment to take more effective action.

This could be for you if you have a….

Passion for solving climate change.
Positive Attitude.
Connection with local groups (and if you haven’t, this can be a great way to link up with people).

And you are…..

Able to foster a welcoming and positive atmosphere.
Confident with leading a group discussion independently.

Perhaps you…
Enjoy working with, supporting and empowering people.

And have…
Engaging communication skills.
Professional administration and organisation skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Imparting the urgency and scale of climate change to the people invited by the host

• Inspiring attendees to commit to taking effective action on climate change

• Inviting more people to join as hosts and facilitators

• Keeping records of your Conversations

• Evaluating Conversations that you facilitate and providing feedback for improvement to the community of volunteer facilitators

• Participation in some of the Ongoing Facilitator Trainings (offered monthly)
  
  Questions? Email Kirsty at c4c@sccan.scot

Come to Nairn Book and Arts Festival Free Family Event on Sunday the 3rd of September starting at 10.30am beginning with a parade at Cumming Street car park, Nairn Links followed by different events at the putting green next to James's cafe.

Events include getting creative with Elena by transforming junk and natural resources into a piece of art whilst also getting tips on recycling and sustainability at home, from 12 noon to 2 pm, by James Cafe at Putting Green, Nairn.