News & Blogs

The latest stories from Inspiring Scotland and our partner charities.

Inspiring Volunteers

This National Volunteers Week, Inspiring Scotland CEO Celia Tennant shines a light on and thanks our volunteers, in their many and varied roles. When the pandemic struck, the reaction from people across the country to support others through volunteering was humbling. So many people felt compelled to use their time and skills to help individuals,

Matt Baker guests blogs on Creative Communities programme after attending its showcase earlier this Month.

Artist and founder of the Stove Network, Matt Baker guests blogs on Creative Communities programme after attending its showcase earlier this Month. Firstly, I’d like to congratulate everyone who took part in the Creative Communities programme – from those who first thought up the idea and made it possible – to everyone who has been

Social media top tips for the third sector

Social media can be a fantastic resource for charities in particular when communicating your cause and key messages. The world of communications has shifted quite dramatically over the last 2 years due to the pandemic and this is where the importance of social media comes in! We asked Amy part of Inspiring Scotland’s Communications

10 ‘Beautifully Ambitious’ Years of Link Up

Andrew Magowan, Link Up Programme Manager shares his reflections on Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up Programme turning 10. My colleague described our plans for the celebration as “beautifully ambitious”. True, but the phrase is also a great way to capture the essence of Link Up since its launch in 2012. Link Up was never really a

Highlights from our work in 2020/21

At our core, Inspiring Scotland is all about providing support to organisations to enable social impact, and this past year was no exception. In a year of such challenge, we had to adapt to continue providing robust support to over 450 organisations across Scotland – responding to new challenges within our portfolios and sharing learnings

New Trustees join Inspiring Scotland

Inspiring Scotland, has appointed Joyce White, Chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Council, and Emma Congreve, Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute, to serve on its Board of Directors. These appointments will support Inspiring Scotland to take forward its new strategic plan, which will see the organisation further its commitment to driving social

Creative Communities: V&A Dundee host film premiere

Artists and participants of the £2million Creative Communities programme gathered for the first time at V&A Dundee for the premiere of their film highlighting the power of creativity to support wellbeing during the last year. Creative Communities is a Scottish Government initiative aiming to connect communities by providing creative opportunities in communities where social or

Investment secured to launch outdoor nurseries in Scotland

Inspiring Scotland has secured social investment funding to launch outdoor nurseries in Scotland. Inspiring Scotland’s newly launched not for profit trading subsidiary – Willow Den – will offer Early Learning and Childcare in exclusively outdoor settings for children in Scotland aged 3 to 5 years old. The funding package includes £225,000 loan funding from Social

Every one can benefit from using nature to support mental health

Inspiring Scotland works with some of the most innovative charities in Scotland today. This Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on the power of nature – so we’re sharing our key learnings from the projects we work with on how to use nature to improve mental health and wellbeing of new parents, children, young people,

COSLA the latest signature to Scotland’s National Position Statement on Outdoor Play

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.

Inspiring Scotland appointed Fund Manager for Scottish Government Equality and Human Rights Funds

Following a tender exercise, Inspiring Scotland has been appointed as Fund Manager for Scottish Government’s Equality and Human Rights Funds. This work will start in November 2020 and involves supporting Scottish Government to develop the new Equality and Human Rights funding streams – Delivering Equally Safe (DES) and the Supporting Equality and Human Rights Fund

New perinatal and infant mental health fund launched

Inspiring Scotland are delighted to support the Scottish Government to launch the new Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Third Sector Fund. Directed at improving mental health care for new mums, infants and families, the fund will open to applications on the 5th May 2020 and run between August 2020 and March 2023, subject to annual

A message on COVID-19

We are living in uncertain and unprecedented times and we appreciate this will be a very challenging time for us all. We are acutely aware of the impact COVID-19 may have on people and communities across Scotland. At times like this the role of charities and community groups is more vital than ever. I would

People are at the heart of sustainable charities

All charities have the people they serve at the heart of everything they do, writes Performance Advisor Kirsty Gilchrist. It is a core principle of our sector. But people are also at the heart of how they do it. Without the energy, compassion and expertise of staff, charities could not do the extraordinary work they

Strategic support for Macrobert Arts Centre

Kathryn Welsh, Operations Director at the Macrobert Arts Centre We approached Inspiring Scotland in the hope of finding some pro bono support to help our senior team to navigate a challenging time in our organisational development. Following a funding cut in the new year, we’d been reflecting on our priorities for the year ahead and

In a just society, we must all challenge poverty

Improving the lives of the people of Scotland is what gets us out of bed in the morning. We set ourselves against poverty and disadvantage, and rightly so. Inspiring Scotland exists to help essential charities become extraordinary charities, so that they can support more of the people who need it, and help us all progress

Working together for wellbeing

I firmly believe that the wellbeing of people is paramount. It directs the work we do at Inspiring Scotland, as well as the work I do personally as a member of several community and advisory groups. It directs the work I do as a sports coach for children and young people. That’s why I was

Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support Fund

THIS FUND IS NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS. A Scottish Government fund to support organisations offering emotional and practical support to survivors of childhood abuse is now accepting applications. The new £10 million fund aims to help organisations improve access to services which can reduce the impact of inequalities and disadvantage experienced as a result of childhood

Celia Tennant: Our response to the incorporation of the UNCRC in Scots law

At Inspiring Scotland, we firmly believe that the health, happiness and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount. It is a shared responsibility of civil society – people and organisations across the public, private and third sectors – to protect children and young people. To support them to grow up with the means

TV presenter signs up to outdoor play pledge and Out to Play guide launched

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

Young people’s talent on display at ten-year celebration event

Success of Inspiring Scotland helping 35,000 young people celebrated by Scottish Government The achievements of the young people of Scotland were celebrated as Inspiring Scotland marked 10 years of our flagship 14:19 Fund. Scottish Government, an investor in the fund throughout its 10 years, hailed the success of the partnership as the fund is on

Scotland commits to life-enhancing outdoor play

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

How to overcome a social media crisis

We can all remember times when companies have got it badly wrong. As social media continues to become the essential medium through which organisations engage with the public, social media blunders have become all too frequent. Not every company error makes headline news and, if it does, it’s often forgotten about amidst the next day’s

Inspiring Scotland confirmed as SiRD2021 delivery partner

Following a successful tender, Inspiring Scotland has been engaged as Scottish Government’s delivery partner for the Support in the Right Direction 2021 (SiRD 2021) programme. As fund managers, Inspiring Scotland will support 30 projects across Scotland to deliver independent support to people and carers accessing social care. SiRD 2021-funded projects are locally based throughout Scotland.

Sit Up Awards help to highlight the compassionate humanity at the centre of complex issues

I am passionate about the potential of people and communities to create lasting positive change. I wouldn’t be able to do the work I do – as chief executive of Inspiring Scotland and as an active member of several community and social advisory groups – if I didn’t believe it wholeheartedly. Over the last few

Care Inspectorate partners with Inspiring Scotland for outdoor nurseries guide

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

10 charities to form £1.3m Building Brighter Futures Fund

Ten charities that support disadvantaged young people across Scotland are to benefit from a share of a £1.3 million Building Brighter Futures Fund (BBFF). BBFF is managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of Hub Community Foundation. The BBFF was set up to create long-term training and job opportunities for

Inspiring Scotland marks its 10th birthday

Today Monday 29 January 2018 marks 10 years since Inspiring Scotland launched its first fund with the target of helping 35,000 disadvantaged young people into destinations of education, training and employment. The youth employment-focused 14:19 Fund is on track to meet its ambitious target by the end of 2018 and has so far helped 27,897 young

A. Sinclair Dunlop appointed Chair of Board

To coincide with our 10th anniversary, leading third sector funder, Inspiring Scotland has appointed Sinclair Dunlop of Epidarex Capital as Chair of its Board of Trustees. Mr. Dunlop succeeds Professor Niall Lothian OBE who led the Board since Inspiring Scotland was founded in 2008. Today, Monday the 29th of January 2018, marks 10 years since

Thank you for our first 10 years

The 29th of January 2018 marks 10 years since Inspiring Scotland was founded. The story of our first 10 years is a story about people, a lot of people, the relationships we have built with one another, and the impact we have been able to create together. We started with the ambition of tackling the

There is so much to play for when we encourage young children to enjoy the outdoors

By Juliet Robertson, Outdoor learning and play specialist, Creative STAR Learning The image of children splashing in muddy puddles or running, carefree through the woods, giggling in the way only happy children can, might seem like a nostalgic rural idyll to city dwellers in this age of social media and easy-access tech. But it doesn’t have

Outdoor nurseries launched by Deputy First Minister in Castlemilk

Outdoor 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

Callander Youth Hostel leader named Social Enterprise Champion

Chris Martin, Managing Director of Inspiring Scotland-supported charity Callander Youth Project Trust (CYPT), has been named Social Enterprise Champion by Social Enterprise Scotland. CYPT runs the Callander Youth Hostel and Bridgend café in Callander as a social enterprise offering training and employment for young people in the hospitality industry. Chris, pictured above with Angela Constance MSP,

Inspiring Scotland supports Scottish Government’s Early Learning & Childcare Quality Action Plan

Inspiring 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

Health, education and natural heritage leaders back #AwayandPlay campaign

Leaders 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

Minister for Childcare and Early Years launches #AwayandPlay to help Scotland’s kids get the best start in life

Iconic 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

Resilience in the charity sector is more important than ever

Resilience is more important now than ever for the charity sector – but it is just the beginning of the journey we need to take, says Julia Abel, Head of Funds. Being resilient to shocks and change is more important for the charity sector now than it has ever been. I need hardly utter why;

Youth employment fund delivers record year.

Last year the 14:19 Fund helped over 5,000 young people into a positive destination of employment, education or training. This is more young people than previous years and brings the total young people who have secured a positive destination to 26,000. These results have been delivered by the portfolio of 20 Scottish charities who have

Together, we are Inspiring Scotland

Our vision for Scotland is achievable, says Chief Executive Celia Tennant. A Scotland without poverty or disadvantage – that is our vision. It is not going to be easy to achieve. But we know from experience when people, communities, charities and government all work together, remarkable things can be accomplished. We want to tackle some

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