A Practitioner’s Guide: The joy of wintertime outdoor play
Time to embrace winter weather! This week’s guest blog is from Dr Claire Warden from Mindstretchers Academy. In this blog Dr Claire shares how she believes embracing winter can bring about many new opportunities for outdoor play and learning as well as some top tips on keeping warm and dry. An interesting and informative
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Home-Schooling Ideas for Outdoor Learning
Taking home-schooling outdoors! Top Tips for Incorporating Outdoor learning into your home-schooling schedule! Once again we all find ourselves in the midst of another lockdown with the prospect of becoming ‘teacher’ as well as parent again seeming rather daunting to many of us. But fear not the Thrive Outdoors team are on hand with
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Fun in the Snow
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Snow Activities Looking for something fun and outdoors to do with the kids this weekend? A chance to get outdoors and have some fun with these easy and simple snow themed activities.
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Top 20 tips of 2020
It was amazing to see how outdoor play and learning was fully embraced this year in spite of all the challenges. We all realised just how important the outdoors is- not just for our children but for the WHOLE family. As we face yet more restrictions at the start of the new year –
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Leaf printing
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Leaf printing Looking for something fun and outdoors to do with the kids this weekend? A chance to get crafty with materials you have gathered outdoors! Collecting leaves of different shapes and colours is also a great opportunity to learn about
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Play in Primary Schools
It’s a Primary School takeover! This week’s guest blogger is Natalie Campbell, Education and Outreach manager & Forest school manager at Earthtime who shares her top tips for incorporating Play in Primary Schools! Free play at any age or stage allows for opportunities to be creative, test and develop problem solving skills, build relationships
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Pine Cone Bird feeder
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Pine Cone Bird Feeder  Looking for something fun and outdoors to do with the kids this weekend? Gather materials to make a pine cone feeder for your flying friends in the garden!
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Getting started with Bushcraft
Its a Scout leader takeover! This week’s guest blogger is Ignacio Luna Borras – Scout leader and founder of Earth Nature Adventures who shares his hints and tips on getting started with Bushcraft and how it can offer up the opportunity to experience more outdoor learning and the chance to connect more deeply with
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Nature Mandala
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Nature Mandala Looking for something fun and outdoors to do with the kids this weekend? What sort of treasures can you collect to make a stunning nature mandala with!
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Lets talk Cohorts
Are you interested in learning more about what forest school nursery involves? and how it can offer up the opportunity to experience more outdoor play and learning…then our latest blog is for you! This week’s guest blogger is Zoe Sills, Nursery Manager at Earthtime Forest School Nursery. Zoe shares all her hints and tips
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Flexi-schooling Fun
Are you a parent or carer interested in learning more about flexi-schooling and how it can offer up the opportunity to experience outdoor play and learning…then our latest blog is for you! This week’s guest blogger is Gemma Craigie-Sharland, Performance and Impact advisor here at Inspiring Scotland featuring her daughter.Gemma shares more on what
Read MoreIncreasing Understanding of Autism Programme- Progress Report
Read about what funded projects have been doing over the last six months from January-August 2020 with an update on the Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme impact over this time.
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Getting Started
Are you a nursery looking to do more outdoor play but aren’t sure where to start? This week’s guest blogger is Vicki Shiels, manager of the Waterfront Nursery in Edinburgh. The Waterfront team have recently started on an exciting new outdoor adventure and this blog shares some of their first steps and tips to
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Inspiring Scotland Insights November 2020
Inspiring Scotland’s monthly intelligence report, providing an overview of key issues being reported by charities supported across its funds. Initially developed as an internal resource, these reports help to highlight issues as they emerge, predict what is needed in the months ahead, and explore how we can best respond collectively. We also believe this
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Childminder Takeover 1
Are you a childminder looking to do more outdoor play but aren’t sure where to start? Childminder extraordinaire Emma Smith is this week’s guest blogger, revealing her secrets to embracing and enjoying every opportunity to get outside. It’s a childminder takeover!
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Link Up: Transforming Relationships
Annual Publication 2019-2020 Link Up is Inspiring Scotland’s community development and wellbeing programme. It started in 2011 and sits at the heart of our ambition for a Scotland without poverty and disadvantage. It is among the largest and longest-running programmes of its kind in Scotland. Link Up brings people together to create activities and events
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Experiences
The third of a series exploring the Play Pedagogy shared principles;  interactions, spaces and experiences. We know that learning experiences provided in the earliest months and years in a child’s life are critical for their future success in life – here are a few key experiences that can make a big impact on the development
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Spaces
Is going outdoors like stepping into the unknown? Alastair Davidson shares his approach to establishing an outdoor space for use in the early years.
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Inspiring Scotland Insights October 2020
Inspiring Scotland’s monthly intelligence report, providing an overview of key issues being reported by charities supported across its funds. Initially developed as an internal resource, these reports help to highlight issues as they emerge, predict what is needed in the months ahead, and explore how we can best respond collectively. We also believe this
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Interactions
Interactions are where the powers of nature and human nature meet. Dr Lynn McNair of Cowgate Under 5s Centre in Edinburgh talks fish faces, strong air, and enjoying the magic of discovery in this week’s guide exploring child and adult interactions in the outdoor environment.
Read MoreIslands Green Recovery Programme Summary
The Scottish Government recently launched the £2 million Islands Green Recovery Programme/Prògram Ath-Shlà nachaidh Uaine nan Eilean (IGRP). Background The £230 million ‘Restart the Economy’ capital stimulus package was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 16 June 2020. The package was launched to help stimulate Scotland’s economy in light of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Read MoreOur Future Now: Year One Report
The first year report for Our Future Now – Inspiring Scotland’s 10 year youth employability fund to help a generation of young people in Scotland flourish. Through the Our Future Now Fund, Inspiring Scotland has created a vehicle which enables the Third Sector to respond as a collective and at scale, utilising its 10 year
Read MoreInsights: Young People Falling Through the Cracks
Falling Through the Cracks is the first in a series of Insight Reports developed by Inspiring Scotland which we hope will help  inform our collective response to the youth unemployment crisis that has resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the positive response from Government to the Covid-19 youth unemployment crisis, some young people will fall
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Supporting Outdoor Childcare Provision A3 Guide
This printable A3 guide is designed to show the range of possibilities when designing or developing high quality outdoor childcare provision. The guide includes examples of practice combined with site-specific and appropriate design and covers: site & access, shelter, toilets & handwashing, eating, clothing and play material . You may also find the Outdoor ELC
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Foraging
Are you worried you don’t know your edible mushrooms from your less ‘savoury’ kind? Are you just not sure what it is or where to start? We asked a couple of foraging experts, Hamish from Baltic Street Adventure Playground and to Zoe at Earthtime for foraging know-how!
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Different Minds.One Scotland. Toolkit
Different minds. One Scotland. is the first national campaign on autism and was created in response to The Scottish Government Consultation on The Scottish Strategy for Autism, which highlighted the stigma and discrimination that autistic people face.
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Loose Parts Play Toolkit
Welcome to the second edition of the Loose Parts Play Toolkit. In this edition, we have tried to reflect the changing context. Loose parts for play are a more familiar sight, but their introduction is still providing a learning and development experience for adults and organisations, as much as for children. With this in mind,
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Animal antics
We would love to have animals at our setting, we’re just not sure where to start. We asked practitioners who have pets on their site just how they manage…
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Nature scavenger hunt
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Nature scavenger hunt What sort of treasure can you find outdoors?
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Support In The Right Direction Progress Update
This Progress report provides an update on  project activity from October 2019 to 31 March 2020. As the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown started to take effect in the last couple of weeks of the latest report period. In June 2020 we asked projects what the impact of lockdown was on their activities and how
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Unpacking Pedagogy – Part 2
What is pedagogy? It’s in all the documents, but we are not really sure what it is… Pedagogy is defined as the study of the methods and activities of teaching – but how does this relate to your work as an outdoor play practitioner? And how on earth do you pronounce it? Find out more
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Spread your wings
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Spread your wings How many different birds can you find in your local area…
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A Practitioner’s Guide: Unpacking Pedagogy
What is pedagogy? It’s in all the documents, but we are not really sure what it is… Pedagogy is defined as the study of the methods and activities of teaching – but how does this relate to your work as an outdoor play practitioner? And how on earth do you pronounce it? Find out more
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The world’s oldest toy
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. The world’s oldest toy What can you build with twigs and sticks…
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A Practitioners’ Guide: ‘We can’t live without’
What are the top must-have tips for Outdoor ELC? We asked outdoor practitioners from across the country for their ultimate all time TOP TIP. For tips that save your socks and your sanity, look no further!
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Drawing with chalk
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Drawing with chalk Unleash your creative side…
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A practitioner’s guide: Knots and Ropes
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Help! How do tie knots and what rope do I use?” Tying knots can get us into a real tangle. They can look so…complicated. Never fear, our on the ground practitioners tell us that just five knots can cover most situations
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Video – Practitioner Tips: Knots and Ropes by FCDWL
Don’t get in a tangle – learn all about ropes and knots with Si the knot guy from Family & Community Development West Lothian.
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Wild side
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. A walk on the wild side Take a walk with a difference…
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A practitioner’s guide: Tarp Tips
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Tarp is one of the best bits of kit for Outdoor ELC?? What can I do with it??†A tarp is one of the most useful resources in a practitioner’s backpack and is one of our essential pieces of kit for
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Bug Hunting
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Bug Hunting We know about going on a bear hunt. But what about a bug hunt…
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A practitioner’s guide: Five Minute Fires
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Help – Everyone’s talking about fires but how do you actually build one?†For a fire first timer, building a fire outdoors can be scary. The good news is, by following a few simple steps you too can enjoy the benefits
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Cloud Gazing
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Cloud Gazing Take some time out to relax and watch the clouds. Here’s how.
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A practitioner’s guide: What to wear for children
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Help – I’m starting Outdoor Nursery, what should I wear?†Being outside is so exciting, there is just so much to explore! But what should a mud-exploring little adventurer wear for outdoor nursery/forest kindergarten? This guide takes a closer look at
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A practitioner’s guide: Handsfree handwashing
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Help – What is a tippy tap?†How can you make handwashing handsfree? Follow this guide to making your own tippy tap.
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A practitioner’s guide: Outdoor ELC Can’t or won’t?
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. “Help – I know I should be outside, but I’m stuck†Taking the first steps to learning about the outdoors can be a bit daunting and some of us simply haven’t got the ‘outdoors’ bug. This guide is here to help
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A practitioner’s guide to What to Wear
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Help – We have no idea what to wear outdoors The right clothing is key to ensuring that time outdoors with children is as enjoyable as possible. A little planning and thought can prevent us from being distracted and/or miserable due
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A practitioner’s guide to hand drying
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. Help! – How do we dry hands, kill germs and save the planet? Cleanliness of hands after washing is a priority, so how important is hand drying, in achieving clean hands? The transmission of bacteria is more likely to occur from
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A practitioner’s guide to Shelter
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play. One of the most frequently asked questions in outdoor ELC is, what happens when it rains? The perfect solution to any Scottish weather is to get the children motivated and build yourselves a shelter. This guide covers popular techniques from pallet and
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Resource: Covid-19 weekly intelligence gathering
Each week Inspiring Scotland staff produce a Covid-19 intelligence report providing an overview of the key issues being reported by the 300 charities Inspiring Scotland supports across its funds. These initially were developed as an internal resource to help highlight issues as they emerge, help to predict what is needed in the months ahead, and
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A practitioner’s guide to handwashing
Part of Thrive Outdoors downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play.
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The Play Cards Series
Chalk drawing, denbuilding, crazy races, islands and sharks, nature activity, rainbow road and cloud gazing – just some ideas for play in this series of Play Cards. Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – 17 downloadable play card resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19. 01 Drawing with chalk 02 Building
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16 Rainbow road
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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15 Helicopter
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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14 Croquet
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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13 Footgolf
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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Research into Digital Exclusion in Scotland
During Covid-19 we knew the levels of digital exclusion across Scotland would become forefront. Our calls with charity leaders and frontline staff highlighted what we knew: Pre-existing inequality meant that people across Scotland were excluded from accessing support services and that many of these services were compromised, reduced or couldn’t be delivered due to lack
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Video: Connecting with Nature in ELC 2
Ever wondered how you can help out local wildlife? A budding ornithologist from Edinburgh Forest Kindergarten show us how to ‘Build a house for a Robin’
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12 Nature activity: Birds
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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11 Nature activity: Bugs
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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10 Cups and Downs
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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09 8 Steps to Heaven
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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08 Islands and sharks
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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07 Kangaroos and frogs
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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Video: Urban Outdoor Play
‘You don’t need to be in forest to be outside.’ Hamish Orr from Baltic Street Adventure Playground in Glasgow, shares ideas and enthusiasm for outdoor play in towns and cities (C19A)
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Video: Connecting with Nature in ELC 1
There are lots of requests for fire building training in early years. A future Outdoor Education Officer from Craighead Country Nursery shows us his top tips.
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Video: Outdoor Play, Health and Wellbeing
What happens when we spend more time outdoors? Zoe Sills from Earthtime for All in Elgin, explains the benefits of outdoor play-based learning for adults and children in Scotland. (C19A)
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Practitioner Tips #2
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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Practitioner Tips #1
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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06 Crazy races
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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05 Be a bean
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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04 Den Building
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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03 Mask Making
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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02 Building with twigs and sticks
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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01 Drawing with chalk
Part of Thrive Outdoors Make Time For Outdoor Play – a downloadable series of resources developed to support outdoor play during COVID-19.
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Support in the Right Direction 2021: Year 2 progress report
This report contains updates on the Support in the Right Direction fund between April and September 2019.
Read MoreWorking Together: Inspiring Scotland in 2019
? We support essential charities to become extraordinary charities, enabling them to support the people and communities in Scotland that experience inequality and help them to change their lives for the better. We do it because we want a healthy, happy and thriving Scotland, without poverty or disadvantage. Introducing Working Together, the 2019 Annual Review of our
Read MoreWhat good looks like: Telling your story and Evaluation
Welcome to What Good Looks Like: Telling your Story and Evaluation. This is the third in our series of guides showcasing best practice, which have been developed in close partnership with Survivor Charities. If you’re interested in this area of work and want to learn more, please contact either Debbie McColgan or Angela Jamieson.
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What good looks like: Service Delivery
Welcome to What good looks like: Service Delivery, the third of our best practice guides, prepared in partnership with Survivor charities. Other guides will be added as part of the ‘What good looks like’ work. If you are interested in taking part in this or would like any additional information, please contact either Debbie McColgan or Angela Jamieson.
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Supporting Outdoor Play Provision
This guide is designed to show you the range of possibilities when designing or developing high quality outdoor childcare provision. The list provides examples of practice combined with site-specific and appropriate design.
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intandem impact report
Find out more about what intandem does in the intandem impact report 2019
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Active Play Prospectus 2019
Active Play promotes greater physical activity for Scotland’s children in a way that is fun, inclusive and active. It contributes directly to Curriculum for Excellence outcomes in health and wellbeing. The Active Play programme runs for a minimum of 10 weeks and is targeted at a whole Primary 3 or 4 class and helps improve
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Support in the Right Direction 2021: Year 1 progress report
This report contains updates on the Support in the Right Direction fund between October 2018 and March 2019
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Loose Parts Play Toolkit 2019 edition
We are pleased to announce the publication of the revised edition of the Loose Parts Play Toolkit. The updated Toolkit provides a greater focus on helping adults develop the skills to support inclusive, all-weather outdoor play in Scotland and encourage them to allow children to play in a less structured and more imaginative manner. Since
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What good looks like: Staff Expertise in Trauma Awareness and Training
Welcome to What good looks like: Staff Expertise in Trauma Awareness and Training , the second of our best practice guides, prepared in partnership with Survivor charities.  Other guides will be added as part of the ‘What good looks like’ work. If you are interested in taking part in this or would like any additional
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Link Up: Local People Building Flourishing Communities
For people to thrive, three things really matter: supportive relationships, confidence and self-esteem. Seven years of Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up programme has demonstrated beyond doubt that these three things are not only fundamental human needs essential for individual wellbeing, they are the foundations on which individuals and communities can change things for the better. Find out
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Information for intandem volunteers
If you’re interested in volunteering as a mentor with intandem, you can find useful information here.
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What good looks like: Survivor-led services
Welcome to What good looks like: Survivor-led services, the first of our best practice guides, prepared in partnership with Survivor charities.  Other guides will be added as part of the ‘What good looks like’ work. If you are interested in taking part in this or would like any additional information, please contact either Debbie McColgan
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intandem External Evaluation – Blake Stevenson report
Inspiring Scotland commissioned Blake Stevenson to undertake an external evaluation of Phase 1 of the intandem programme, Scotland’s first national mentoring programme for children and young people who are looked after at home, from August 2017 to March 2019. This report details the key findings of that evaluation, looking at the benefits for mentees, mentors
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Out to Play – creating outdoor play experiences for children: practical guidance
This document is a step-by-step guide providing practical advice on how to access outdoors spaces, including land or forest areas owned by local authorities, private landowners or national bodies (such as the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage) to create safe, nurturing and inspiring outdoor learning experiences.
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Scotland’s Coalition for Outdoor Play and Learning Position Statement
In 2018, we brought together a broad group of academics and organisations from education, childcare, healthcare, environment and government to create Scotland’s Outdoor Play and Learning Coalition. The Coalition created a bold position statement which committed signatories to working together to embed playing and learning outdoors as an everyday activity and a fundamental part of
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Funders of Play 2018
This guide contains eligibility, priority and contact details of organisations funding not-for-profit and charitable organisations in Scotland. It has been complied for Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors programme and therefore focusses on potential funders of play activities. Funders have been selected through a review of SCVO’s ‘Scottish Directory of Funding for Third Sector Organisations’ and a
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14:19 Fund 2018 Half-year Report
This interim report reviews the performance of the Inspiring Scotland 14:19 Fund in the six-month period from January to June 2018. This report offers a snapshot of the progress of the fund in its final year and we are pleased to report it is on track to deliver its annual targets. This will mean we
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Inspiring Scotland – What we do
We strive for a Scotland without poverty or disadvantage. Through our thematic funds, covering issues from youth employment to childhood health and wellbeing to community development, we work with and fund the organisations and people who can have the greatest impact. We want to make Scotland a better place and everyone at Inspiring Scotland, and
Read More14:19 Fund 2017 Annual Report
Introducing the ninth and penultimate 14:19 Fund Annual Report showing another year of amazing impact for Scotland’s young people.
Read MoreProfiles of Young People from the 14:19 Fund
This report was commissioned by Inspiring Scotland to highlight the profile of participants of the 14:19 Fund, which targets the most disadvantaged young people who are not in employment, education or training, to help inform any future development of the Fund.
Read MoreFree to Play: A guide to creating accessible and inclusive public play spaces
Free to Play: A guide to creating accessible and inclusive public play spaces is designed to ensure that all children and young people, including those with additional support needs, can exercise their right to play in their local communities. Written by play, children’s rights and inclusive play space experts, Theresa Casey and Harry Harbottle, the guide has
Read MoreReview of Independent Information and Support Services
Download the research findings from the 2017 ‘Review of Independent Information and Support Services’. The report presents findings from an evaluation of project funded to deliver such activities under the Support in the Right Direction (SiRD) Fund.
Read More14:19 Fund 2017 Half-year Report
This interim report reviews the performance of the Inspiring Scotland 14:19 Fund in the six-month period from January to June 2017.
Read More14:19 Fund Academic Review
An academic review commissioned by Inspiring Scotland and written by Mike Danson and Joanne Macfarlane assessing the impact and continued requirement for the role of the third sector in combating youth unemployment through programmes like 14:19 Fund.
Read More14:19 Fund Independent Evaluation 2017
An independent evaluation undertaken by Research Scotland exploring the impact of Inspiring Scotland’s first and longest running fund.
Read MoreSelf-directed Support Innovation Fund Progress Report: Year 2 2016/17
Innovation Fund Progress Report April 2017 The Self-directed Support Innovation Fund (2015-2018) aims to support innovation and piloting of different service models as well as help develop the capacity of practitioners and providers to implement Self-directed Support. In Years 1 and 2 of the Fund (April 2015 – March 2017) 21 projects spent a total
Read MoreSupport in the Right Direction Fund: Year 2 Report 2016/17
The Self-directed Support: Support in the Right Direction Fund (2015 – 2018) aims to build the capacity and availability of independent support services across Scotland. In this second year £2.9 million was spent by 36 funded projects delivering Independent Support and this report outlines reported progress to March 2017. Projects are delivering a range of activity
Read MoreLink Up’s Relevance in a Justice context
Link Up is making a significant contribution to the delivery of Scottish Government’s Justice Strategy by: • Addressing the psycho-social factors that can cause individual criminal activity or increase the risk of unintentional harm. • Giving individuals the support, confidence and skills to choose alternative life-courses. • Building social connections & community trust, making people
Read MoreLink Up’s relevance to a Healthier Scotland
Focusing on some of Scotland’s most deprived communities, Link Up is making a significant contribution to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce health inequalities and improve health by: 1. Addressing the social determinants of health, widely recognised as key to addressing health inequalities and setting foundations for positive change 2. Growing individuals’
Read MoreSupport in the Right Direction Progress Report: Year 1 April – September 2015
This report for the Support in the Right Direction Fund reviews the progress  between April and September 2015. Download the Resource
Read MoreSupport in the Right Direction Innovation Fund Progress Report: Year 1 April – September 2015
This report for the Support in the Right Direction Innovation Fund reviews the progress of the fund between April and September 2015. Download the Resource
Read MoreVideo: Your Support Your Choice
A short animation from Dundee Carers Centre that explains self-directed support using text, narration and British Sign Language. The animation explains what self-directed support is, who it is for, and how to access it.
Read MoreActive Play: Evaluation Report April 2016
Through our Go2Play Fund, we have invested in four play organisations to deliver an Active Play Programme targeting children in the more deprived areas of Scotland. The Active Play Programme uses play as a means to engage children in physical activity, and to build their skills, confidence and motivation to introduce greater physical activity into their
Read MoreAutism Innovation & Development Fund Progress Report 2016/17
Supporting people with autism and their families to lead more meaningful and satisfying lives. At Inspiring Scotland, our vision is to create a Scotland without poverty or disadvantage. 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
Read MorePro Bono Supporter’s Guide
It is through collaboration we will transform society. Read our guide to how our Pro Bono programme works and join over 420 professionals who each want to make a difference, giving their time and expertise to a range of charities.
Read MoreInspiring Scotland 2017 Overview
When Inspiring Scotland was formed in 2008, we wanted to tackle some of the long-term, entrenched social problems faced by Scotland’s people and communities. Since then, we have transformed 100,000s of lives, supported more than 300 charities, built a network of more than 350 professional pro bono volunteers and managed £120m of funding for Scotland’s
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2016
In 2016, with the support of Inspiring Scotland Performance Advisors, 14:19 Fund charities helped more young people than in previous years achieve a positive destination with just over 5,000 moving into employment, education or training. At this point in the fund, it is a sign of great maturity, resilience and progress towards sustainability which will
Read More“It’s safer outdoors than in indoors.”
Dr. Mark Tremblay of Canada’s HALO Research talks to Prof. John Reilly of the University of Strathclyde and Rachel Cowper of Inspiring Scotland about how, counter to to popular belief, it is safer for children to be outdoors than indoors. This video is part of a series on the health crisis faced by young children
Read MorePlay Champions Toolkit
This Play Champion Toolkit is designed to support partners working with Primary schools to engage in more activity that is playful within their school day. It outlines a programme, which play workers can use to support primary school children to become ‘leaders’ of play. It is designed for play charities working with schools, school staff
Read MoreGuide: Easy-read guide to Self-directed Support law
Download an easy-read version of the Scottish Government’s statutory guidance to the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.
Read MoreGuide: Future Visions -A guide to Self Directed Support for young disabled people and their parents and carers
Download a guide to getting the best from Self-directed Support for young disabled people from the Glasgow Disability Alliance.
Read MoreGuide: SDS- Personal Assistant Employer’s Handbook
Download the guide from Scottish Government to becoming a Personal Assistant Employer in the context of Self-direct Support legislation and policy.
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2011
2011 marked the three year milestone for the 14:19 Fund and I am pleased to report it is successfully achieving exactly what it set out to – supporting disadvantaged young people across Scotland into employment, education or training. These initial three years have provided £19.2 million of direct cash investment in the ventures in the
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2012
The 14:19 Fund has an impressive track record from a standing start in January 2009, with almost 9,000 young people supported into positive destinations of employment, education or training to December 2012. Inspiring Scotland’s 14:19 Fund delivered yet another strong performance in 2012. It has achieved greater social impact year on year since its launch in
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2013
2013 was a significant year for Inspiring Scotland’s 14:19 Fund. It marked the half way point in this ten year fund, which has delivered its strongest performance to date. It has achieved greater social impact, year on year since its launch in January 2009 and has supported over 12,000 disadvantaged young people across Scotland  into
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2014
The 14:19 Fund delivered another strong performance in 2014. 14:19 Fund ventures supported more young people than in previous years and more young people achieved a positive destination of employment, education or training. 74% of young people who completed venture programmes in 2014 successfully secured a positive destination.
Read More“Physical activity levels are far too low” – children’s health & well-being in Canada & Scotland
Dr. Mark Tremblay of HALO Research and Prof. John Reilly of the University of Strathclyde discuss childhood inactivity levels in Canada and Scotland from the Active Healthy Kids Report Card 2016 – one of the reasons we strive for physically active outdoor play for all of Scotland’s children.
Read MoreLink Up – Background, rationale and logic model
Link Up looks at how strengthening social networks and facilitating opportunities for people to help each other through an activity, builds trust. It also explores how supporting others through these activities increases the confidence and capacity of individuals to seek solutions to their own problems instead of outsourcing their needs to external organisations.
Read MoreEconomic Evaluation of Link Up 2014
In 2014, independent evaluator Matrix was commissioned to undertake a preliminary examination of the monetary value of the impact of the Link Up programme established by Inspiring Scotland. This report does not provide a full cost benefit analysis rather, it gives an indication of the potential economic value of a still-evolving programme.
Read MoreSupport in the Right Direction Fund Interim Progress Report: Year 2 April-September 2016
The Support in the Right Direction Fund (2015-18) aims to build the capacity and availability of independent support services across Scotland. £1.36 million has been invested in 36 projects in the first half of Year 2 (1 April 2016 – 30 September 2016).
Read MoreSelf-directed Support Innovation Fund Interim Progress Report: Year 2 April-September 2016
The Innovation Fund (2015-2018) aims to support innovation and develop the capacity of providers to develop the workforce and to support people to directly or indirectly purchase support. £0.58 million has been invested in 21 projects in the first half of Year 2 (1 April 2016 – 30 September 2016).
Read MoreLink Up Phase 1 Independent Evaluation
This evaluation of Link Up by ODS Consulting has found that Inspiring Scotland has successfully delivered its asset-building approach in ten communities in Scotland. There is clear evidence that this has had significant positive personal impacts for those residents who have been actively involved in these communities.
Read More14:19 Fund Focus of Investment
This guidance was published in 2008 to coincide with the launch of the 14:19 Fund and outlines the focus of the investment.
Read More14:19 Fund 2016 Half Year Report
This reports on the progress of the 14:19 Fund first six months in 2016.
Read More14:19 Fund Baseline Report
This report, which was published in 2008, provided a starting point for Inspiring Scotland’s 14:19 Fund. It introduced the issues underlying the problem of young people who are neither learning nor working and suggests what the fund might hope to achieve.
Read MoreGuide: SDS assessment process for children with additional support needs
A short video from the Self-direct Support Forum in East Renfrewshire explaining the SDS assessment process specifically for children and the terminology parents may encounter.
Read MoreOrganisational transformation – Murton Trust video
Having worked with Inspiring Scotland as part of the 14:19 Fund since 2009, Murton Trust in Angus has transformed from an under-used outdoor education facility to a a thriving, SQA-accredited vocational training centre.
Read MoreActive Play Evaluation Summary
Active Play: Physical Activity by Stealth. Download a summary of independent evaluations & research into Active Play.
Read MoreThe Practices, Impact and Implications of Inspiring Scotland’s First Five Years
“The complexity and urgency of our social challenges demand careful examination of emerging institutional and financing models that aim to meet them. Inspiring Scotland is such a model: a pioneer in venture philanthropy, it is notable for its targeted, portfolio-based approach and the large amount of public money it receives and channels. Those features attracted
Read MoreSupport in Right Direction Progress Report : Year 1 April 2015- March 2016
The National Strategy for Self Directed Support (SDS) in Scotland sets out a vision for high quality support and advice which enables people to make genuine individual choices and promotes independent living. Known as ‘Independent Support’, organisations including charities and care providers, are helping people make informed decisions about SDS to ensure that any care
Read More14:19 Fund Report 2015
Inspiring Scotland’s 14:19 Fund has an impressive track record from a standing start in January 2009, with over 20,000 disadvantaged young people across Scotland supported into positive destinations of employment, education or training to December 2015. 2015 saw 14:19 Fund ventures operating at scale and delivering significant growth in social impact, both in terms of
Read MoreSelf-directed Support Innovation Fund Progress Report: Year 1 April 2015 – March 2016
The National Strategy for Self Directed Support (SDS) in Scotland recognises the need to build capacity of providers and develop the workforce to support the effective implementation and delivery of SDS. The SDS Innovation Fund (2015-2018) aims to support innovation and the piloting of different service models as well as help develop the capacity of
Read MoreAutism Innovation & Development Report
The purpose of this paper is to provide a six monthly progress report from Inspiring Scotland on the impact of the Autism Innovation and Development Portfolio activity during the period 1st April 2016 to 30th September 2016. We have looked at what activities have been delivered and what impact this is having. It ties together
Read MoreHow to approach Cost Benefit Analysis
Social care charities are particularly adept at spotting gaps in services for the most vulnerable in our communities, and as such are able to respond with early intervention programmes that can save both local authorities and health services a large amount of money. But, as a charity, how can you evidence that, or even start
Read MoreGo2Play Outcome and Evaluation Framework
Download the original Go Play Outcome and Evaluation Framework, set out in 2011, which established the principles of Inspiring Scotland’s play programme.  The guide identifies ways that play organisations can realistically demonstrate their difference though the use of evidence and helps the play sector to identify common ground to assess how play organisations can have the
Read MorePlay Ranger Toolkit
This Play Ranger Toolkit was developed using the experience and learning of Play Ranger charities supported by Thrive Outdoors, initially under its former name Go2Play. The Play Rangers project focused on providing opportunities for children to access free play within their community – on street corners, or in local parks or woodland. The toolkit is
Read MoreActive Play Literature Review April 2016
This brief literature review by the University of Strathclyde PhD student Avril Johnstone provides the background literature to the evaluation of Inspiring Scotland’s Active Play Programme. The evaluation has the following research question: does the implementation of an active play programme improve physical activity levels and fundamental movement skills competency in children?
Read MoreRealising the potential in our communities: A synthesis of three years of learning from Link Up
For decades, and despite millions of pounds of investment, Governments and public agencies have struggled to change the experience of many people living in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. Problems of low life expectancy, low levels of employment and educational attainment persist. Link Up set-out to prove that creating the right conditions for change and the
Read MoreEvaluation of Active Play in Glasgow by Blake Stevenson – Dec 2016
Read the independent evaluation by Blake Stevenson into the impact of Active Play in Glasgow. This report covers the first cohort of pupils to take part in the programme from August 2016 and was completed in December 2016.
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Speak to us.- Funding to help more vulnerable young people across Scotland into work has been announced by Economy Secretary… https://t.co/EE6z9mCQXB