The Executive offered BTCV Scotland £45,000 in 2004-05, £47,500 in 2005-06 and £50,000 in 2006-07 for a continuation and expansion of BTCV Scotland's "Community Learning and Action Network" (CLAN) - undertaking projects and initiatives across Scotland to help people deliver sustainable environmental changes - including habitat management, waste minimisation and recycling, composting, fencing, dyking and footpath construction.
This Scotland-wide project put particular emphasis on communities suffering social exclusion or environmental injustice. BTCV Scotland uses proven methods to help people deliver sustainable environmental changes that are relevant to their lives and the communities in which they live. Their practical approach is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or background, and achieves personal, social, economic and environmental improvements.
BTCV Scotland judges that awareness, confidence and well-being are often precursors to active environmental engagement and sustained care of our environment, and recognises that a healthy environment can only be truly sustained through local awareness, interest, and practical action by all sections of a community.
CLAN intended distributing advice and information through the community-focused "CLAN Bulletin", "CLAN Gatherings", and electronic media; providing support and expertise to meet local circumstances and needs, through local BTCV Scotland staff, volunteers and dedicated CLAN "outreach" staff; building a stronger and more diverse network, focussing new membership within marginalised communities and in areas of environmental deprivation; helping an understanding of global environmental issues in local practical volunteering; and enhancing people's environmental and life skills, encouraging active citizenship through informal environmental awareness.
The aims included growth of CLAN to 1000 supported local groups - representing about 15,000 people; enhanced support for 200 groups/communities meeting the Scottish Executive definition of socially excluded and/or suffering environmental injustice; experiences; availability of discounted public liability, products liability and equipment insurance to all groups - to facilitate group sustainability; and a community needs assessment to determine more accurately community group issues and priorities, with the findings influencing both development of BTCV Scotland's website and provision of 60 discounted training courses on skill development.
CLAN exceeded all but one of its targets for 2004-2007. The number of supported local groups grew to 890 rather than 1000. BTCV Scotland assisted in the completion of 1087 practical projects based in socially excluded neighbourhoods. There were nine CLAN Bulletins - focussing more on case studies from a diverse range of groups - networking events to enable learn from others, and six community events. Insurance was provided to over 140 community groups. BTCV Scotland worked in partnership with Forward Scotland on the development of the Community Webnet website, and provided over 150 training courses through their environmental training programme.
BTCV Scotland found that more diverse groups needed more support, which limited the capacity of CLAN to grow with the resources available, but judged that the essence of CLAN was about the quality of support provided, not the quantity of groups supported. BTCV Scotland was able to concentrate some activity within areas defined as being within the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland whilst continuing to provide CLAN support to the remaining 80%.
Resulting from the needs assessment survey, BTCV Scotland decided on actions including locally-based training courses, changes in the content of the CLAN gatherings and interactive website information. The project progressed with the intention that diversification and improvement of the CLAN service would offer a more relevant and up-to-date service to a wider range of groups and volunteers. One aim was to target under-represented community groups and individuals. BTCV Scotland prepared a CLAN interactive CD-ROM - getting feedback from a target group before issuing a final version.
CLAN gatherings and community events took place in Cleland, North Lanarkshire, Torry, Aberdeenshire, Stirling and Dunfermline, and in June 2006 at Chatelherault Country Park, Lanarkshire, BTCV Scotland was involved in the Scottish launch of the BBC's Breathing Places campaign.
Exemplifying CLAN action, the people of Auchinleck in Ayrshire participated in activities to regenerate their community spaces, with 8 sites designated within the town to be landscaped and spruced up for local inhabitants, including the wildlife. There was discussion of the best use for each site taking into account target age groups, sitting areas, play equipment, maintenance and patrolling. Schools in Auchinleck participated in the Spring into Action campaign. Pupils built their own planter boxes, which they painted and then planted with cottage garden perennials, native wildflowers and shrubs. Their intention was to improve the aesthetics of their schools and provide a habitat for wildlife.
The residents of Westmuir village in Angus developed an area on the edge of the village into a Community Woodland Park, an attractive, mixed habitat of birch and willow trees, heath and marsh. The area is now accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. Wildlife has also benefited. BTCV Scotland provided a complete management package and BTCV Scotland staff were on hand to help organise activity days for the local residents, including the village's youngsters.
In North Ayr, where local people and the local housing department were concerned about the poor state of some gardens and community greenspaces, household gardens were tidied up, street clean-ups organised and improvements made to local open spaces. These activities involved a wide range of tenants associations, youth and community groups, schools, council departments and other agencies. People benefited not only in terms of general community spirit but also in personal skills. A Literacy and Numeracy project was organised using horticulture as a learning medium. A Gardening Club was formed to encourage greater involvement. The experience gained in North Ayr encouraged BTCV Scotland to establish similar projects in other communities throughout South Ayrshire.
Contact
BTCV Scotland, Balallan House, 24 Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG
Tel: 01786 479697
Website: www.btcv.org