Circular Communities Scotland

Today's the day! Our board member Laura Young launches the SAGES - Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society Climate Science Podcast, an exciting new series exploring Scotland’s climate future with leading experts and researchers, supported by the Scottish Government Climate Engagement Fund. With 11 episodes now live, you can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. We're looking forward to listening to Episode 10 'Environmental Justice: How Climate Change Impacts Our Health and Communities'. Want to be in the know when it comes to climate in Scotland? Listen to the Climate Science Podcast now: https://lnkd.in/eE5Whvz7 If you're interested in supporting your local community and supporting a more sustainable Scotland, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dScJHRqX

Looking to grow your project through community partnerships? Join our Share and Repair Network for this online information session, sharing insights on models of growth for charitable projects, with an emphasis on share and repair. Hear from representatives from established and successful projects, The The Edinburgh Tool Library (Charity Reg - SC045162) and Cambridgeshire Repair Cafe Network. Both will talk about how they use a “hub and spokes” model to extend the reach of their work further into their communities by working with local partners. This session is for: Share and repair projects, or any charitable project, which is looking to grow. Climate Hubs, Housing Associations, Local Authorities and any other community organisations who are interested in supporting the growth of the share and repair sector. Register today: https://lnkd.in/entBSXeT Thursday January 30th 2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Struggling with the challenging funding climate as a charity or social enterprise in Scotland? Don't miss the chance to attend this 'Funding Socials: Environmental Focus' event with Social Investment Scotland next Thursday at The Barracks in Stirling to get inspired and discover some fresh ideas to help you boost your income and save costs whilst considering the environment. Learn more and register today: https://lnkd.in/e-xmZgnb

Start the new year off right by being inspired and connecting with your sector at our upcoming events. There’s still time to register for our National Members Forum next week, as well as our Share and Repair Network Information Session on community partnerships, and our Scottish Island Members Forum. · National Members Forum Weds Jan 22, 2025 10:30 am – 12:00 pm (Online) Start the year networking with other Circular Communities Scotland members and learn about your member benefits. Hear from some of our brilliant existing members, including James Bajgar of Music Broth and Marie-Anne Brown of Magpie. · Growth Through Community Partnership; Share & Repair Network Info Session Thurs Jan 30, 202510:00 am – 11:30 am (Online) Learn from successful projects about growing your share or repair initiative through community partnerships with The Edinburgh Tool Library (Charity Reg - SC045162) and Cambridge Carbon Footprint. · Scottish Islands Members Forum Thurs Feb 13, 2025 10:30 am – 12:00 pm (Online) A tailored session for island-based reuse organisations to connect and share experiences. Register for and learn more about our events on the News & Events section of our website: https://lnkd.in/eRFi9uFw

Get to the heart of sharing and repairing in Scotland at this year’s Share and Repair Gathering. Be inspired by brilliant projects that are continuing to shape a new narrative around consumption, network with the best and brightest in the sector, hear from support organisations that can support your share or repair project, and expand your knowledge by learning new, waste saving skills. The Share and Repair Gathering is an informal, vibrant event. Join us on Thursday February 27th 2025 at the Barracks Conference Centre, Stirling. Learn more and register today: https://lnkd.in/eQB5jeFb The event is free for members of the Share and Repair Network and Circular Communities Scotland. If you are not a member, please email Jane Owens jane@circularcommunities.scot to discuss saving a space.

Discover the incredible work that’s gone into developing our Share & Repair Network over the last three years, and the tangible outcomes that have helped this inspiring sector (and its amazing organisations) go from strength to strength in our 2022 – 2025 Share & Repair Network Impact Report. We’re proud to share that the Network has contributed meaningfully to the growth of sharing and repairing in Scotland – which offers alternative options for consumers over buying new, whilst connecting communities, tackling poverty and protecting our planet. Hear from our partners, Chris Hellawell of The Edinburgh Tool Library (Charity Reg - SC045162), Elaine Brown of The Edinburgh Remakery and some of our amazing members including Inverness Tool Library, Linlithgow Community Development Trust, Grow West Fife, Glasgow Repair Café, TRANSITION BLACK ISLE and more. Read our Share & Repair Network Impact Report in full: https://lnkd.in/e-mvD4FW

Want to start the new year feeling inspired and connected? We're pleased to invite all of our members together on Tuesday the 22nd of January 2025 for our National Members Forum. This online forum will hold space for you to network and engage with organisations like yours across the country. You’ll also hear from some other members in our Q&A and have the opportunity to ask questions and share news of your own. All members are welcome and we’d especially encourage new members who joined us during 2024 to attend. You’ll be able to hear more about what your membership entails, and the many benefits associated with membership of a network dedicated to supporting the establishment of a thriving circular economy in Scotland. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eexzs5Up

Read about the vital work of our member Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) in BBC News Scotland, as CEO Steven McCluskey shares how meeting a Syrian refugee, Yaman, 9 years ago sparked the concept for this life changing organisation. Yaman was gifted a free bike from a local bike charity and Steven "noticed how something quite simple - that you or I might take for granted – just made a massive impact on his daily life. It helped him to connect to local services, it promoted his mental health and wellbeing. It enabled him to meet other people." Since 2016, Bikes for Refugees has expanded, setting up community hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, staffed by about 50 volunteers. At the end of last year the charity reached a milestone when it handed over its 3,000th bike. With more than 300 households on their waiting list, Bikes for Refugees can’t meet demand as quickly as they'd like. Steven says New Year donations will be vital in helping them keep up. "The best place to start is our website," he says. "Very simply, we always need new bicycles. We want to get bikes into people's hands as quickly as possible, so the better condition the bikes are in, the better." Read the BBC article in full: https://lnkd.in/e4VR3K3g Visit Bikes for Refugees here: www.bikesforrefugees.scot/ We were delighted to feature Bikes for Refugees as a case study in our 2024 Impact Report. Discover their story and more on our members page: https://lnkd.in/eBwaHkwy

We'll See You in 2025! Our team is taking a well-deserved break over the festive period. We’ll return in the new year, ready to continue supporting our incredible members as we work together toward a more circular economy in Scotland. For any urgent enquiries during this time, please email us at info@circularcommunities.scot. Thank you for an amazing year, we look forward to all we’ll achieve together in 2025. Happy holidays from all of us at Circular Communities Scotland ⭐

One step closer to a circular economy in Scotland! Today The Scottish Government has launched the final version of Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map. We’re delighted that the announcement was made at one of our members, Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Ms. Gillian Martin. She said: “Reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to play in Scotland’s response to tackling the climate crisis. “We must make the circular option, where we value materials and keep them in use for as long as possible, either in their original form or recycled, an easier choice for Scottish households, businesses and the public sector.” On behalf of our members, Circular Communities Scotland welcomes these updates to the Waste Route Map. We look forward to reviewing the amendments in detail and sharing our thoughts on its potential impact for our sector in the New Year. Read about the Waste Route Map on the Scottish Government website: https://lnkd.in/e39k9e74 Zero Waste Scotland Net Zero Scotland