The annual report provides an overview of the work undertaken to deliver on our strategic priorities and mission to improve the lives of people across Scotland. Last year Inspiring Scotland managed 16 funding programmes delivering to our strategic priorities ‘Improving Life Chances for Children and Young People’ and ‘Flourishing Lives’. We managed over £46m of
Read More
Earlier this month, some of the Inspiring Scotland Thrive Outdoors team, alongside partners hosted a workshop at the Power of Sport and Physical Activity Conference. The conference, held at Easterhouse Community Hub, marked 10 years since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and looked to celebrate the power of sport and physical activity for people to
Read More
The Thrive Outdoors team has today (Monday 12 February 2024) launched a new website to showcase the work of the fund and share resources with the play and outdoor sector. The new site will be a hub for outdoor play champions, offering support, guidance and resources – a one-stop-shop for practitioners, education professionals and childminders
Read More
A programme to increase children’s physical activity levels and improve their physical literacy through outdoor play is expanding across three communities in North Ayrshire. With investment from the Scottish Government’s Active Scotland Division, North Ayrshire Council, and support from Inspiring Scotland and Actify, charity partner Scottish Sports Futures will bring the Active Play programme into
Read More
We are pleased to share our Annual Report 22/23 providing an overview of the work undertaken to deliver on our strategic priorities and mission to improve the lives of people across Scotland. We supported over 700 organisations across 16 funding programmes worth over £50m. As well as new funding opportunities being created, nine of our
Read More
As the clocks go back and the night draws in, it got me thinking about my childhood, and the unwritten rule that when the streetlights came on, we all knew it was time to go home and play time was over. Now, as a parent myself, these universal ‘rules’ have changed. The surge in technology
Read More
Minister for Children, young people and keeping the Promise, Natalie Don visited Kirlandneuk Community Centre this week to celebrate the extension of the Outdoor Community Play, which will enable 14,000 children and families across Scotland to access outdoor community play on their doorstep. Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Inspiring Scotland, the extension
Read More
After five years in the making, the Inspiring Scotland Thrive Outdoors fund team gathered in Glasgow last month for the International Play Association (IPA) Triennial World Conference 2023. Hosted at Glasgow Caledonian University, the conference brought together 550 delegates from more than 40 countries including New Zealand, Hong Kong and the rest of the
Read More
The first ever Thrive Outdoors Leadership Programme finished last week with all 21 graduates coming together to celebrate. Funded by a number of investors including Scottish Government and developed by Inspiring Scotland, the bespoke six-month programme supported emerging leaders for the outdoor community play and outdoor ELC sectors, meeting for sessions every three weeks. As
Read More
At Inspiring Scotland, we are very aware of the pressure that the increased cost-of living is having on people and the funded charities we support. Throughout Autumn 2022 our fund teams gathered and shared information from portfolio partners about: How concerned they are about cost-of-living crisis for people they support, their organisations, their staff and
Read More
A programme to improve the health and wellbeing of children through inclusive outdoor play is expanding into three communities in the Highlands. With investment from the Scottish Government Active Scotland Division and support from Inspiring Scotland, CALA Childcare will bring the Active Play programme into early years, school and communities across Inverness, Ullapool and Aviemore,
Read More
Scottish play charities will share a £550,000 funding boost to help get children and families out to play in their local communities. Creative outdoor play sessions, active play, and nature spaces for local communities are just some of the brilliant initiatives being supported by the Scottish Government Outdoor Community Play Fund aimed at improving the
Read More
Thrive Outdoors is mapping the outdoor play sector in Scotland, aiming to find out where outdoor play is happening, how outdoor play organisations are run and the challenges these organisations face. Extensive research highlights the social, physical and emotional benefits of outdoor play for children and young people. But the Covid-19 pandemic has meant more
Read More
The new Outdoor Community Play Fund was announced by Children’s Minister, Clare Haughey on Tuesday 12th April 2022. This funding will support charities providing outdoor community play opportunities for children and families experiencing disadvantage, as defined by SIMD. Up to £15,000 can be applied for by registered Scottish charities meeting the criteria. Funded by Scottish Government,
Read More
25 Charities across Scotland will share £500,000 of funding to develop and deliver more free outdoor play opportunities in local communities, aimed at improving children’s health and wellbeing. Creative outdoor play sessions, an outdoor playgroup for children and their dads, nature play spaces for local communities and gardening sessions are just some of the
Read More
Outdoor activity plays a major role in supporting our health and wellbeing – something that has become increasingly clear over the past year. For children and young people, playing outdoors has an even greater impact – enhancing and supporting learning and development. Scotland has become the first part of the UK to directly incorporate Children’s
Read More
**PLEASE NOTE: Applications for this fund have now closed. To find out more about Thrive Outdoors and how we can help you, please visit this page. New £1 million children’s winter clothing fund. New funding of £1 million will mean more children can reap the benefits of outdoor play and learning, whatever the
Read More
Momentum continues to build in embedding play and learning outdoors as a fundamental part of growing up in Scotland. COSLA, the national association of Scottish councils is the latest major new signatory to sign the national statement which is a commitment to making play and learning outdoors an everyday activity for all children in Scotland.
Read More
The national position statement on outdoor play and learning hits its 2 year anniversary this month – and the number of signatories signing up to this collective ambition has more than doubled. Two of the latest signatories, Scottish wildlife Trust and Clackmannanshire Council join over 100 organisations who recognise playing and learning outdoors as an
Read More
Please note, this funding round (2020) is now closed, but you can find more information about the current fund here. Inspiring Scotland is seeking applications for the Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund, funded by the Scottish Government and set up to support children’s health and wellbeing through outdoor play. The Scottish Government is providing £380,000
Read More
The first outdoor nursery directly supported by the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland through its Thrive Outdoors programme has opened at Abriachan Forest near Inverness. Joining local children and parents at the nursery’s first day was Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd, who cut a bespoke ceremonial ribbon made from greenery. Also there
Read More
Thousands of children will be out playing in their communities across Scotland this summer after local charities received funding to run Play Rangers in their neighbourhood. 15 charities have received money to increase outdoor play opportunities through Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors community play programme, which is funded by Scottish Government. Thrive Outdoors supports Scotland’s children
Read More
Scottish wildlife filmmaker and television presenter Gordon Buchanan – best known for his close encounter with a curious polar bear on BBC’s The Polar Bear Family and Me – has added his name to a growing list of people and organisations committed to getting kids out to play. The raft of pledges will be announced
Read More
50 people and organisations sign up to national pledge on outdoor play and learning Playing and learning outdoors will be a fundamental part of growing up in Scotland, following a national commitment from 50 people and organisations across the country. Alongside the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland, bodies as diverse as the Royal Zoological Society
Read More
Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors team has begun work with eight local authorities to encourage and support greater use of outdoor play and learning in the early years. Inspiring Scotland was awarded funding from Scottish Government earlier in 2018 to increase the delivery of outdoor play and learning opportunities as part of the expansion of the
Read More
Inspiring Scotland has partnered with Care Inspectorate to produce a How-to guide for establishing outdoor nurseries in Scotland. Karen Quinn and Donna Conroy from Care Inspectorate will work alongside Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors team for the rest of the year and will support development of the guide, focusing on how to ensure safe, high-quality
Read More
Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, has announced the number of hours nursery children spend outdoors is set to increase, and Inspiring Scotland will play a key role in encouraging and supporting greater use of outdoor learning in the early years. Ms Todd made the announcement during a visit to City of Edinburgh
Read MoreOutdoor play and learning was given a boost when Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney officially launched the Welly Wanderers outdoor nursery in Glasgow’s Castlemilk woods on World Children’s Day, 20 November 2017. The Welly Wanderers is one of three outdoor nurseries being established in Glasgow under a partnership
Read MoreInspiring Scotland supports Scottish Government in its commitment to improving the quality of Early Learning and Childcare through the publication of it’s Quality Action Plan. Through the work of the go2play fund, Inspiring Scotland has championed and encouraged play-based outdoor learning in Scotland’s communities, schools and natural spaces since 2010. We are pleased to see
Read MoreLeaders of Scottish bodies from health, education and natural heritage have backed the #AwayandPlay campaign highlighting the benefits of outdoor free play for young people and children. Senior figures including the Deputy Chief Medical officer and representatives from bodies such as Glasgow City Council, Historic Environment Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Care Inspectorate, Scottish Natural Heritage
Read MoreIconic Beano comic character, Dennis the Menace, joined Mark McDonald MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Childcare and Early Years, to launch a new campaign highlighting the benefits to children of free and creative play. The year-long campaign, “Away and Play”, is powered by Inspiring Scotland. It will highlight the benefits of free and unstructured play
Read MoreWe work with experts from the voluntary, public, private and academic sectors. Get in touch if you want to help us build a better Scotland.
Contact usA note on privacy
Inspiring Scotland will only use the personal details you provide here to respond to your enquiry and will not use them for any purpose, unless you give permission and agreed during any follow-up discussions.
Your details will be held on the server of our third party website provider host for 3 months but not for longer than is necessary, and will not be added to any marketing databases. By completing this form you are agreeing to the terms of Inspiring Scotland’s Privacy Statement
Notifications