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Thrive Outdoors blog series: researching the magic of the Botanics’ Wee Garden

This month for the fourth instalment of our Botanics Blog we spoke with Selvarani Selvaraja, a medical doctor from Malaysia, currently pursuing MSc Education (Early Childhood and Froebel) at The University of Edinburgh. Selvarani has been involved in this project as part of the research team, led by Dr. Lynn McNair, Head of Cowgate Under Fives Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Lecturer in Early Childhood Practice and Froebel / Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. In this blog Selvaraja explains what she has observed from a research point of view on the Botanics outdoor nursery journey.  

Bringing outdoor early childhood education to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh has been an exciting journey thus far, observing young children engaging in nature has been both fulfilling and experiential. The evolving dynamics amongst children and adults in the Wee Garden (the Botanic Garden’s outdoor nursery space), is indeed intriguing. The benefits children reap through actively learning in nature is tremendous. This has become a greater priority as the issue of climate change looms ahead of us. Children engaging in nature creates an awareness of self in relationship with their surroundings. The right pedagogy, guiding young minds in a nurturing space, prepares them for the task ahead of them, learning to live harmoniously with every being on earth.  

 The nurturing space in this context is our Wee Garden. A green space nestled within the bustling city of Edinburgh, the Botanics brings people together to foster inclusive communities. As such, community engagement is vital in building connections between people, plants and each other. Hence, providing an outdoor learning space for young children in the Botanical Gardens promotes inclusivity, recognises young minds as part of the community and nurtures the love for nature in them.  

 It offers a space for children to move freely, to run and to play, in their own time at their own pace, all within the Wee Garden site. Frolicking in the mud, finding fairies under the tree, making leaf necklaces, all in a space  that they can call their own. The Botanical Gardens are no longer for ‘display’ purposes only but also for direct engagement with early childhood nature education, which can only be seen as a positive path towards inclusivity. As an example, on a cool autumn morning, a group of children were throwing dry leaves up in the air in the main garden space, and watched in glee as the leaves scattered down aided by the gust of wind.  Visitors to RBGE, including an elderly couple observed in awe as the scene of play unfolded before their eyes. They were smiling and seemed to be enjoying the whole scenario of the children’s nature play as they continued their walk. Therefore, we can see that the role of Botanics as a nurturing nature space to provide young minds a learning opportunity, can also promote the visibility and inclusivity of children; re-affirming their role as a part of a larger community.

Perception and belief of a holistic pedagogical practice by the adults and educators in the outdoor space, plays a vital role in determining the quality of nature play. A Froebelian pedagogical approach towards outdoor learning, places utmost importance on ‘freedom with guidance’ based interaction with the children. By this we mean, enabling the child’s individual enquiry while gently expanding their horizons. 

Engagement with nature through the Frobelian lens has always honoured direct experience and a sense of ‘being’ in the surroundings. Children learn in nature rather than simpy about nature. A child needs opportunities to experiment, explore and discover with sensitive, attuned adults who support children but do not take over their play. Children choose where they want to go and for how long, away from constant adult interruption. Respect is given to free play motivated by the children. This differs greatly from the segmented curriculum of dividing learning into subjects, heavily influenced by adult-led instructions. A Froebelian  approach enables children to make connections within their learning.   

 In the Wee Garden, most children find their own way to invest their time in play. For instance, during one of the observation sessions, two children aged 4 and 5, named O and L (for narration purposes), started cutting apples (that had fallen into the garden overnight) with razor shells. They put the cut bits into a pot in the mud kitchen and pretended to cook apple soup. They were engaging in this activity for more than 15 minutes of uninterrupted free play whilst having a conversation on what the soup was going to taste like. At this point, a well-meaning adult decided to intervene and invited the children to make a leaf boat. O and L just looked up briefly from the cutting chore and shrugged their shoulders softly, indicating their disinterest in the leaf boat activity and continued their apple cutting task for another 15 minutes. This was a groundbreaking moment of realisation for the adults where the children created their own learning environment through uninterrupted free play; reminding us that the role of adult should be attuned to the children’s needs, offering guidance where necessary, otherwise observing from afar. 

 

Image: making apple soup

This Frobelian quote,

‘It seems to me that such continuous guidance on the part of the adult must take away the spontaneity in childish play’ (Froebel in Liebschner, 2001:68) best describes the holistic approach of the Froebelian pedagogy, which has become more relevant in influencing the perception and belief of the adults in the outdoor learning space. 

Through the lens of Froebelian pedagogy we can provide an enriching learning experience for children by enabling their unity and connection to nature, which opens up tremendous benefits in children’s development.  

Bringing outdoor early childhood education into the Botanics is a journey of discovery, one that develops through a nurturing space, such as our ‘Wee Garden’. The research so far has demonstrated that the pedagogy and practice of the adults in the space can expand, or limit, the imagination and creativity of the learning taking place there. We must strive to create an outdoor learning and play environment in which children are the leaders of their space, in turn fostering a deeper connection with nature in years to come.  

Further reading 

Stay tuned as we continue this blog series sharing the next part of this exciting journey on Friday the 21st of January!

Enjoy this blog? Then keep an eye for the next blog in this series where both the up’s and downs of piloting a new outdoor ELC in a botanical garden will be shared as well as the key learnings along the way!

 Join in the conversation or just chat with us at:

Celebrating 5 years of intandem

Inspiring Scotland’s Head of Development and Partnership, Julia Abel, reflects upon the impact of intandem mentoring as the programme celebrates its fifth birthday.

We all need consistent, trusting relationships. For young people who have care experience, these relationships can sometimes be lacking. The long-term presence of a trusted, supportive adult can make all the difference to the trajectory of their lives.

We’re celebrating five years of intandem, Scotland’s national mentoring programme. Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Inspiring Scotland, the programme connects young people and volunteer mentors to establish meaningful, supportive and long-lasting relationships.

Since 2016, intandem has supported young people who are looked after at home on a Compulsory Supervision Order (CSO). While being in care is often linked to social disadvantage, children and young people looked after at home have the poorest outcomes of all young people in Scotland, through no fault of their own. intandem supports these young people to develop positive relationships with a trusted adult role-model. Weekly mentoring provides space for these relationships to flourish.

intandem is a community-based mentoring programme, with meetings taking place outside of the school environment. Over the last five years, intandem has trained 733 volunteers and coordinated 450 matches. With over 3,500 children and young people in Scotland currently living at home under a CSO, it is vital that we continue to invest in them with mentoring support, so these children don’t fall through the cracks.

We know intandem works. The average match lasts 17 months, providing young people with stability and long-term support. Mentored young people consistently report a range of positive outcomes, including increased self-esteem (62%), increased community engagement (64%) and improved friendships (64%).  With Covid-19 prompting an increase in feelings of anxiety and isolation, it’s more crucial than ever that all young people have the opportunity to form meaningful relationships.

With intandem, inspiring Scotland is committed to helping Scotland #KeepThePromise, a pledge to embed the voices of care-experienced young people when making decisions about the Scottish care system. As part of this commitment, intandem facilitates a Young Person’s Forum, where care-experienced young people can speak on the issues closest to them. intandem staff are also currently working with a care-experienced individual, to help shape the work of intandem as we look to the future.

intandem is made possible by the commitment of its funder, Scottish Government. It also depends on the dedication of volunteers and the commitment of the programme’s twelve charity partners, who work tirelessly to coordinate matches across Scotland. These charities are committed to matching more young people with mentors, to ensure every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

intandem has a bold and ambitious vision – that Scotland’s children, young people and families can stay together to build and maintain positive, loving relationships. intandem is currently embedded in 19 Local Authorities and aspires to expand even further. By continuing to grow, intandem can help Scotland #KeepThePromise to all care-experienced infants, children, young people, adults and their families – that every child grows up loved, safe and respected, able to realise their full potential.

 

Thrive Outdoors Blog Series: Nurseries experience so far

This month for the third installment of our Botanics Blog we caught up with Edzell Nursery and Outdoor Nursery Edinburgh (ONE), the two nurseries involved in the project, to see how the experience has been so far.

Edzell Nursery is based within a church hall at Goldenacre very close to the Botanic Gardens. Being based in a church hall means they share the space with other users and are a ‘packaway’ nursery; although they do have access to outdoor space onsite.

In contrast, ONE is based on the southside of the city near Cameron Toll and daily use of local greenspace is a defining and integral part of their service.

Have you noticed a difference in how the children use the outdoor space, at the nursery, at home, at the Botanics? What have you noticed? Is the play richer?

ONE:

The children that attend our nursery are used to outdoor spaces. We are out exploring every day and I think that this has helped them to be able to engage with meaningful learning at the unique space of the Botanics rather than be overwhelmed of being in an outdoor environment.

Edzell:

Amongst the children, there is a greater awareness of nature, the small details and seasonal changes. They will talk about what they did in ‘The Wee Garden’, which is our dedicated space at the Botanics, in discussions back at Edzell or in conversations with adults and children who didn’t go to the Botanics that day.

They also make the distinction between the Wee Garden and other parts of the Botanics and this shows that they have an understanding of how to interact and respect the different spaces. The children are also more at ease outdoors, for example, they are now more aware of how to keep themselves dry and warm and will always pull their waterproofs over their wellies and even let their parents know why this is necessary.

Do you see a difference in the children’s confidence coming to the Botanics?

ONE:

Yes, although we usually spend lots of time outdoors, this is a different space with different experiences and expectations. The children have grown in confidence in what they can expect and what is expected of them. The difference between the spaces – the Wee Garden and the main publicly accessible Gardens – has also meant the children have developed an understanding and confidence in accessing different kinds of spaces.

Edzell:

Yes, absolutely. Children like routine and at the start, they didn’t know the route, nor what to expect at the Botanics. However now: they know the walk; their space at the Botanics; and they’re confident using this space and the resources. This confidence means they use the space differently each time whilst still returning to familiar activities. The children have built stamina and have become more resilient to the changes in weather.  Often the walk, which can take up to 30 minutes, is as much a part of the experience as actually being at the Botanics and it’s sometimes what they speak most about at home. Also, they’re less bothered about being dirty and have gone from being somewhat hesitant about using the toilet tent to it just being part of the outdoor experience. This experience of being in the Botanics, is helping to build their resilience, their confidence to deal with change, and to think independently.

What are you enjoying about working with the Botanics in this new project? What are the barriers and challenges?

Edzell:

Being surrounded by nature is a big plus as we all love the outdoors and are enjoying incorporating it into the children’s daily routine. Unlike the children at ONE nursery, our children are somewhat new to this. It has been great to watch how they’ve adapted to their ‘Wee Garden’, the outdoor learning and experiences and how much they enjoy just rediscovering the space each time. Although the mud has been a big hit with the children who love to immerse themselves in it and enjoy the sensory experience, it has been one of the biggest challenges. It was expected the Botanics site would be muddy but the extent of the wetness could not have been foreseen! However, like everything it’s never about the situation but how you handle it and everyone involved coming together to react positively to the challenges means solutions are found and things keep working.

ONE:

It is just a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience the outdoors in a different type of setting and one where all the plants and trees are cared for and special. Our biggest challenge is the traveling to the Botanics. We take two buses from the nursery, which the children really enjoy, but sometimes the traffic can slow us down.

 

What interested you in working in partnership with the Botanics initially?

ONE

The Botanics is such a unique space and one of the real treasures in Edinburgh. We thought it would only enhance the children’s learning opportunities. As I say, to be in a space surrounded by trees and plants that are cared for and nurtured by people who really care about the natural world is a really important  for children. It is such a positive environment to be able to experience. 

Edzell:

At Edzell, we’ve always considered the Botanics as part of our community neighbourhood. Its proximity meant the children could easily walk to and from the nursery and as such, an annual visit has always been made to “Grandpa’s Garden” within the Botanics.  When the opportunity arose to have a more formal relationship through taking part in this project, we were excited by the prospect of the children being able to combine their day-to-day experience at Edzell with its large hall and garden with an immersive outdoor learning experience in a location close to us.

Best moment so far?

Edzell:

Ah, there are so many that the team can speak of! Visiting the veggie garden where the children were so fascinated by the growing vegetables and fruits. The delight on their faces as they saw a little frog and a whole crowd gathered to watch it hop around and climb the walls of the shelter. The excitement as the children hid in the long grass. The concentration when they are weaving with the willow and the pride when they succeed. Observing them as they watch the waterfall just outside ‘The Wee Garden’ and climb the fence trying to reach it with the sticks. Children venturing by themselves to the woodland part and exploring it, uninterrupted by adults.

My personal favourite was when I looked up and observed a magical scene with the children and teachers happily enjoying the space, each other, and their activity and one little boy lying relaxed in the grass. He was looking up at the clouds and moving a blade of grass back and forth across his face. What sheer joy!

ONE:

The biggest muddy puddle EVER!!!

What do you see are the benefits of working with the botanical gardens compared with other green spaces?

ONE:

We use local publicly accessible greenspaces everyday and one of the main differences is that The Botanics is very focused on caring for individual plants and their environments. AND everything is labelled so if a child asks about a certain type of tree or plant, we can quickly find information and answer the questions! It’s a greenspace that is exceptionally well cared for and this is very obvious from the moment you enter the space and we feel it is important for children to learn about caring for the environment and learning about planting.

Edzell:

‘The Wee Garden’ is their space and they have a freedom to create. dig, build etc within this environment. Once they go into the Big Garden (the wider Botanical gardens) for walks etc, there are different rules and boundaries that they have to respect. It is good for them to understand these differences and learn how to respect nature and care for the environment within two very different spaces which are juxtaposed. They have a chance to learn about plants and trees from different parts of the world and to learn about biodiversity. They get to watch and interact with the staff from the Botanics and will happily ask them questions about their jobs and learn from experts. The Botanics offers a diversity and a community feel that they aren’t able to get in other green spaces. Since Edzell is a local nursery, the children live in the area so many visit the Botanics with their families. They now can pass on the knowledge they have learnt to their families, and when they visit, they take pride in showing them their space.

Image credit: All photos from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 

Enjoy this blog? Then keep an eye for the next blog coming on Friday the 17th of December ,where both the up’s and downs of piloting a new outdoor ELC in a botanical garden will be shared as well as the key learnings along the way!

 Join in the conversation, add your pictures, or just chat with us at:

  • Facebook @ThriveOutdoorsScot,
  • Twitter @Thrive_Outdoors
  • Instagram @thrive_outdoors

COP26, Inspiring Scotland and Climate Justice 

COP26 has dominated discussion, media and Glasgow city centre, but how will these international negotiations impact people and places in Scotland? Catriona Patterson, who works on our Creative Communities and Rural Communities Ideas into Action funds, discusses what went on in Glasgow and how it connects to Inspiring Scotland’s vision for everyone in Scotland to have a happy, healthy life, free from poverty and disadvantage.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference brought together an estimated 30,000 politicians, decision makers, organisations, businesses and members of the public to discuss and agree climate action and binding international commitments to address our climate emergency.

COP26 seeks to build on a legacy of negotiations and agreements that have been ongoing since 1995. It is the first major opportunity for nation states to increase their commitments to address climate change since the celebrated 2015 ‘Paris Agreement’, which was the first legally binding international treaty that sought to limit global average temperature rise to ‘well below 2 degrees Celsius’. This summit has been delayed by a year (due to the Covid-19 pandemic), but climate science and the increasing instances of floods, heatwaves and storms have demonstrated the urgent need for increased ambition, commitment and cooperation to reduce this warming even further.

Although these commitments are made at an international and UK level, they have wide-reaching consequences for Scotland and our society. Scotland already has some of the most ambitious climate change targets in the world, aiming to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030, and reach ‘net zero’ emissions by 2045 (eliminating emissions from transport, energy and waste, and increasing the storage of carbon through forestry, peatlands and other nature-based solutions), and our legislation reflects and contributes to this global effort.

“The scale, scope and speed of the transformation that is required and to which Scotland is committed brings significant challenges, but anything less would be to fail our people and planet.”  Scottish Government 

Climate Justice 

COP26 is also notable for its focus on climate justice: the acknowledgement that climate change exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities.

“Climate justice recognises humanity’s responsibility for the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the poorest and most vulnerable people in society by critically addressing inequality and promoting transformative approaches to address the root causes of climate change.” Professor Tahseen Jafry, Centre for Climate Justice, Glasgow Caledonian University

At COP26, climate justice was discussed at an international scale – with indigenous groups, small island nation states and developing countries at the forefront of the rising sea levels, deforestation and unlivable temperatures which will forever change their way of life. However, climate justice is also an issue within Scotland: we know already that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our society will be the most effected by climate impacts, and may be the least able to adapt to the consequences. For example:

  • Poorer households will be less able to afford increasing energy and insurance costs
  • The decline of oil and gas industries will disproportionately affect people in North-East Scotland
  • Today’s children and young people will have their human rights impacted by a changing physical environment which threatens their quality of life

The good news is that in addressing climate change we  also have an opportunity to create a fairer, more equitable society. The Scottish Government and organisations in the public, private and third sector (including many amazing charities) are already responding to these challenges through the Sustainable Development Goals, our National Performance Framework, a wellbeing economy approach and a commitment to a just and green recovery from Covid-19. For example:

  • Increasing energy efficiency could also help to reduce fuel poverty in Scotland’s poorest communities
  • Skills, training and education in green industries can provide secure and Fair Work employment for new generations in urban and rural areas
  • Increasing local food production can reduce food poverty and benefit public health

How Inspiring Scotland’s work connects with climate justice

I’m new to Inspiring Scotland, but I already see so many connections between the discussions and stories of success at COP26 and the incredible work undertaken by charities in portfolios across our funds. As a funder and facilitator, there are a number of ways we can support people to respond to the challenges of climate change:

  • Empower communities to design their own solutions. The is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to climate change, with different places experiencing different impacts. Our Rural Communities Ideas into Action fund, Island Communities fund and Link Up fund all invest in people and connections to design grassroots and local solutions for a local context.
  • Enable people to build stronger connections with nature and develop the resilience to respond to changes in our environment. Reconnecting with our physical environment is one of the ways we can personally cope with the wellbeing challenges of climate change. Our Thrive Outdoors programme connects play, learning and the great outdoors for a generation of children in Scotland.
  • Focus on women, disabled people and youth for the protection of human rights. Climate change disproportionally affects the most vulnerable in society, and the poorest – often resulting in higher risks and greater burdens. In creating an inclusive Scotland through the Equalities and Human Rights fund, eradicating violence against women and girls through Delivering Equally Safe, and enabling participation through the Support in the Right Direction programme, we seek to tackle the root causes of this inequity.

Aligning our efforts in a way that benefits people, communities and the planet provides huge opportunities for good. Although we recognise there will be challenges along the way, we are committed to striving for a Scotland where climate justice is achieved. 

Fixed-fee risk management support for charities

In conversation with charities, our Specialist Volunteer team has uncovered that risk management is a key area that charities request support with.

Often times an organisation’s risk register doesn’t solely focus on risk – also incorporating impacts (outcomes) and issues. It’s important to take a step back and really identify what risks your organisation potentially faces to become more proactive in protecting your organisation from future risk.

Inspiring Scotland has discovered a special service offered to help charities identify risk. Risk management business RSM offers fixed-fee support, designed to fully understand a charity’s activities, consider the main areas of risk and help provide you and the organisation with a cost-effective and proportionate approach to better manage your risks.

“Ask yourself, do you get that high level of assurance that the things that keep you awake are being managed effectively. Are you the reactive organisation that is blindsided first by the cause and then by the outcomes; Are you now firefighting your way through, sometimes successfully but other times unsuccessfully?”

Identifying quality opportunities for charities is part of our commitment to strengthening the sector. All third sector organisations in Scotland are welcome to reach out – your organisation does not currently need to be receiving funding from Inspiring Scotland

Find out more about this service.

Creative Communities Programme Case Studies

 

We are sharing a number of case studies from our charity partners projects who were or currently are part of the Creative Communities Programme. These case studies highlight the brilliant work of our charity partners and the impact these projects had on their local communities. Each project had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic. However it was amazing to see how each of the charity partners adapted by moving sessions online and what really shines through in all these case studies is the creativity of all involved!

Read our case study on Tullochan.

Read our case study on Create Inspire.

Read our case study on GoodTrees Neighbourhood Centre.

Read our case study on Lyth Arts Centre. 

 

 

 

 

A day in the life of… Thrive Outdoors Fund Manager

Welcome to our first ever ‘Day in the Life Of’ feature, in which Thrive Outdoors Fund Manager, Melodie Crumlin, talks about her first six weeks with Inspiring Scotland

What has a typical day looked like for you?

The work itself has varied from day to day. Some days have been spent connecting with the wider sector and others, reading and researching, and other days have been spent strategising and forward planning.  The best days have involved visiting grassroots play charities, seeing all the different settings in action and listening to the voices of children and play rangers/the sector. Oh, and getting involved in some play, too! We have strong communication across our Thrive Outdoors and wider Inspiring Scotland team. We start our week with a catch up which involves sharing and planning, and we meet fortnightly as a very large team sharing insights and knowledge, as well as hearing from some of our charities or sector leaders.

What do you enjoy most about working with Inspiring Scotland ?

Like a lot of people within Inspiring Scotland, I feel passionate about what our organisation stands for and I like the fact that day in, day out I am contributing to our shared goals. Inspiring Scotland supports the voluntary sector in a way that amplifies and strengthens its impact, in turn having a transformative effect on the lives of those living in Scotland who otherwise may struggle to make the best of their lives due to circumstances, poverty, or other disadvantages.

What excites you most about the work of the Thrive Outdoors team?

Everything!! I’m in a fortunate position that our team is getting to support and champion the health and well being of children and Scotland through outdoor play. We know that Outdoor Play is needed now more than ever. It really can address the impact of so many challenges in our post-Covid society by bringing children and families together to reconnect, giving them a renewed sense of their communities, building relationships, improving physical, mental health and wellbeing, and increasing the primary care giver involvement in the lives of their child(ren) and local neighbourhood.

Find out more information on the work of Thrive Outdoors  here. 

Autism Advisory Forum- learning from those with lived experience

Inspiring Scotland supports charity partners working across a number of thematic funds. Part of our work ensuring individuals can lead full and fulfilling lives focuses on making Scotland a more accessible, inclusive and understanding place for autistic people to learn, work and live. Hearing from people with lived experience is central to this work and we spoke with Chris from the Increasing Understanding of Autism team to find out more.

‘Nothing About Us, Without Us!’ is a key message for the autistic community. It means that autistic people should have a respected and equal voice in decisions that affect them – from choices about care, to government policy and so much more. It is this message that guides the Increasing Understanding of Autism programme; our work is governed by the lived experiences of autistic people in Scotland, through the Steering Committee and the Autism Advisory Forum.

The Autism Advisory Forum is made up of over 150 autistic adults from across Scotland. We are steadily working on increasing the representation of diverse groups of autistic people within the forum too, to mirror the wider autistic community in Scotland, particularly engaging with more men, LGBTQ+ people, people of colour and people with additional support needs. The forum launched in 2019, alongside the start of the Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme, and has been developing ever since. Over the summer  and July, 80 new members signed up to the Forum, doubling its size. We are really excited to be able to engage with autistic people on a much larger scale, to get a greater insight into the needs of the community & make our work more representative of autistic people’s experiences.

The Autism Advisory Forum feeds into all aspects of the Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme’s work. Prior to the pandemic, we hosted four regional Advisory Forum meetings facilitated by local autistic led organisations in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We have now combined these regional groups into one large forum, and engage with forum members through zoom meetings and surveys. We recently asked Advisory Forum members to share their opinions on projects that applied for phase 2 funding. 50 members of the forum shared their views, and we took their scores to the steering committee who agreed to fund the 10 projects that the forum members had scored the highest, enabling autistic people to have a direct say on an issue that affected them.

We have also consulted with the forum members to develop the ‘Different Minds. One Scotland’ campaign through phase one, creating a website full of autistic-led content and a highly successful advertising campaign that reflected their lived experiences. We are now working with small groups of forum members to develop the plan for phase two of the campaign, creating new mythbusting videos, written content and a brand new advert.

Accessibility is a key part of the Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme, we are aiming to make Scotland a more accessible, inclusive, and understanding place for autistic people to learn, work and live; this includes participation in the Autism Advisory Forum. We recently ran a recruitment project for the forum and worked to make it as accessible as possible, including creating easy read documents and working with a wide range of organisations to share the call for new forum members, so we could reach as many different autistic people as possible. This included the charities supported by Inspiring Scotland’s autism and learning disabilities funds, Autistic People’s Organisations and charities who support other diverse groups in Scotland. Forum members also have multiple ways to feed back into the programme, be that through surveys, forum meetings or one-to-one sessions. We are continuing to make the Forum more accessible in any way we can, and we are really looking forward to seeing how the forum grows.

The quotes below from members of the Autism Advisory Forum highlight the importance of the forum for those with lived experience:

“I am one of the autistic community involved in the selection of ideas/proposals. I thank Inspiring Scotland for the lengths they have gone to in encouraging the participation of a range of autistic individuals like me, enabling us to be heard, valued and our views acted upon (and that the forums also supported those who could not communicate within the meetings themselves).-Jeanie 

 

“I am absolutely delighted to have been accepted onto the Autism Advisory Forum as part of the Increasing Autism Understanding programme. As an autistic woman I am excited and proud to have the opportunity to participate in the shaping of this crucial work!” – Aimee

 

“It’s important to feel heard and seen in representations of autism and the forum has provided that space and been a respectful and inclusive environment.” – Forum Member

Looking to the future, we hope that we can grow the Autism Advisory Forum further and create more opportunities for autistic people to be changemakers and innovators. The Forum is a key part of our work and it enables and empowers autistic people to directly make change on the issues that affect them. We look forward to continuing this programme, to build a Scotland that understands, values, and celebrates autism and other forms of neurodiversity.

 

About the Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme.

The Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme is a direct response to the Scottish Government’s 2017 Engagement Exercise, which emphasised the need to raise understanding of autism amongst the non-autistic population. The programme, which is managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of Scottish Government consists of a marketing campaign; Different Minds. One Scotland, and funded charity projects. The programme is directed by autistic people’s lived experiences and the funded charities are partners in this programme, helping to influence the direction of the national marketing campaign and promote the campaign at a local level.

 

 

 

 

 

Empowering Scotland’s communities through Link Up

To mark this year’s Challenge Poverty Week, Inspiring Scotland is reflecting on nearly ten years of running Link Up, a programme that has enabled grassroots change at the heart of some of Scotland’s most challenged communities.

Too many people are locked in the grip of poverty. We know that one in five working age adults and one in four children in Scotland are living in poverty. Of these children, more than half live in a household where someone is in employment. Evidence shows that children who grow up poor are more likely to be poor as adults, creating an intergenerational cycle of poverty that can be incredibly difficult to break free from. Despite efforts to eradicate poverty in Scotland, this cycle is likely to continue until we, as a society, invest in the interlinking factors that prevent people from thriving.

Link Up believes that the ingredients for lasting change lie in our communities, in the passions, strengths, skills, knowledge and interests of local people. When people are connected and energised, radical change can and does happen.

Embedded in the community, Link Up workers collaborate with local people, identifying activities that inspire community members. These activities offer more opportunities; opportunities for people to forge new social connections and build relationships which in turn create positive, caring environments. Within these environments, individuals can grow the confidence and skills needed to drive positive change for themselves, their families and communities.

Since 2012, Link Up has worked with over 27,000 people facing the harshest realities of poverty and disadvantage across Scotland and helping us develop a strong understanding of how to really drive community-led, positive change, once the foundations for human development – self-esteem, confidence and positive relationships – are in place.

Everyone can contribute

We take a whole community approach, working with everyone and anyone, irrespective of age, background, or other factors. A community’s diversity is one of its strengths. We don’t see people as problems to be fixed or victims to be saved. Instead, we seek to uncover people’s strengths, interests and dreams, and then harness their positive contribution. This in itself is incredibly powerful. By emphasising people’s potential, not their problems, we boost their sense of self and self-esteem from the outset.

They / we / I can!

Everyone has something valuable to give. Whatever that may be, and however long it takes to (re)discover it, we enable individuals to rekindle that sense of possibility within them, encouraging them to pursue whatever it is they wish to contribute, and supporting them to take forward their aspirations – individually and collectively. By believing in people and bringing them together to take forward positive collective action, communities are strengthened, and individuals are given the tools they need to feel proud of themselves and their achievements.

Strength in numbers

Humans are social beings, and loneliness and isolation are major barriers that can prevent people living full, enjoyable lives. When people are brought together with no externally driven agenda other than sharing their skills and interests and having fun together, great things happen. Support networks grow organically and individuals feel they can move forward and spread their wings. By nurturing these relationships and supporting groups to achieve their vision, we begin to see feedback loops, which developing a sense of trust, belonging and shared purpose that helps positive community relationships flourish.

Changemakers

We mentioned the “foundations for human development” before, and it may seem that focusing on self-esteem, confidence, and relationships is too simple an approach when addressing an issue as complex and multi-faceted as poverty. However, if these foundations are well built, with a deliberate focus and skilled workers who are well supported and empowered, they can have a profound impact, helping people turn their lives around. People no longer feel like the passive recipients of external help; instead, they become active agents in their own lives and changemakers within their communities.

If we continue to view people purely as service users, where external parties decide on the solutions, then people will continue to live their lives trapped in the cycle of poverty. If instead, we can shift our perspective and allow people to be seen, heard and valued for their whole selves, and support them to take positive steps forward, we can take steps towards combatting the effects of poverty in Scottish society.

Find out more about Link Up.

£1.3 million fund opens to support health and wellbeing of Island Communities

Please note applications closed on the 20th of September 2021. 

The Scottish Government’s Healthy Islands Fund – a £1.3 million fund supporting projects focused on health and wellbeing on Scottish islands opens today 23 August 2021.

Successful projects will include community-led wellness initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles on the islands, supporting the delivery of Strategic Objective 7 the National Islands Plan which aims to improve and promote health, social care and wellbeing.

Applications are invited from voluntary or community organisations and public sector organisations for capital projects (up to £100k) and revenue funding (up to £5k). This can be for a standalone project or part of a larger project plan and funding must be used to deliver the project by end of March 2022.

The fund is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by Inspiring Scotland.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mairi Gougeon said:

“I am pleased to see this new fund open today to support the delivery of our National Islands Plan. The Healthy Islands Fund, which is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by Inspiring Scotland, aims to provide islanders with opportunities and services to support their health and wellbeing in a post-pandemic recovery. This might include for example, the provision of sporting equipment, training for clubs or the delivery of much needed mental health services.

“We are providing £1.3 million for this fund, and I am looking forward to seeing how it can influence healthier lifestyles on our islands and support communities to recover from the pandemic.”

Celia Tennant, CEO of Inspiring Scotland, said:

“The Scottish Government’s new Healthy Islands Fund will support our island communities in engaging in healthy lifestyle choices in turn supporting their physical and mental wellbeing. This new funding stream will build on the work of the Scottish Government’s Island Communities Fund helping our islands to build back greener, healthier and happier post COVID-19.”

The Healthy Islands fund is part of Scottish Government’s wider £30 million Islands Programme.

Applications are now closed,

 

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