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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17 Cloud gazing
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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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 MoreHow Pro Bono works
Pro Bono Executive Elaine Crichton explains our Pro Bono programme and how it can help Scotland’s charities develop and be a fulfilling experience for professional volunteers.
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 has been developed by, and using the experience and learning of, the Play Ranger charities supported by Go2Play – focused on growing play opportunities for children and harnessing the expertise of the sector. The toolkit is designed to promote this model of helping children to access free play, but more importantly
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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