Case Studies

Thurso Community Pantry

This learning exchange allowed both organisations to gain more knowledge about Community Pantries, sharing food, and growing food in rural communities.

Two peopel standing outside a building that has wood on the walls, with two doors and red roof

The benefit to Thurso will be a successful Community Pantry which is a development of existing Sharing Shed, with additional support to the community eg advice. This will also allow staff from both organisations to meet and make links – although this is a neighbouring organisation it is some distance away.

Learning Outcomes

  • To learn about the operational running and management of a Community Pantry
  • To learn what additional activities around the Pantry have been of most benefit to the community, eg cooking lessons, advice sessions etc
  • To share our knowledge of community growing with the KoS project

Community Organisation:
Thurso Community Development Trust

Exchange Host Partners:
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
DTAS

“On the journey home we spent most it planning our project, incorporating some of what we had seen in Ardgay, but also what we would adapt to suit our area and circumstances.”

Case Studies

Food growing in the North East

The Northeast has a very different geographical, economic and cultural landscape to the central belt.

picture of inside a greenhouse with planters

To connect with other similar organisations and see what they are doing, the challenges they encounter and information share.

Learning Outcomes

  • How health and wellbeing is supported by local community food growing, training, cooking sessions, outdoor activities and supply of accessible produce
  • Meeting volunteers and the importance of lived experience for understanding community needs
  • Working within organisation capacity and developing collaborative, cohesive relationships within the community and other 3rd sector partners.

Community Organisation:
The Haven in Stonehaven

Exchange Host Partners:
The MAXwell Centre, Campy Growers, Transition Dundee

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Social Enterprise Scotland

“Community food growing in Dundee is miles ahead of what the NE has experienced with the application of council local food policy initiatives and council driven infrastructure.”

Case Studies

Eigg Electric and off grid communities

Off grid communities had a lot to share on how energy systems are managed.

picure loooking out of a boat with two orange life rings on the side and water and hills in the background

This include site visits to both the Knoydart hydropower system and the village substation, Millbrun Filed and observing the transformer data collection. Eigg Electric were able to share learning on the unique microgrid of wind, sun and hydro – the opportunities and challenges of this system.

Learning Outcomes

  • Learnings on the sustainable management of microgrid energy systems
  • Opportunities around training programs for operations teams, sharing resourcing and knowledge
  • Importance of retaining essential skills within remote communities
  • Overcoming challenges around specialist equipment and system nuances

Community Organisation:
Eigg Electric

Exchange Host Partners:
Knoydart Renewables

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Circular Communities

“The community learning exchange visit showcased exciting opportunities for future collaboration between Eigg Electric, Knoydart Renewables and their broader communities, highlighting the potential advantages of a wider micro-grid support network- the benefits of which would go beyond these 2 remote communities.”

Case Studies

Regenerative farming network

Visited four different farms run by a farmer in Propagates Regenerative Farmer Network.

one person standing in woodland, speaking, with their arms gesturing

There was a spread of farmers, size of farm, farming background, regenerative practice, time in the network, gender and age.

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn more detail of how the Regenerative farming Network was set up, how it runs and resources that are needed to maintain it
  • Meet with farmer involved in the RFN to hear their experience of being part of the network
  • Glean inspiration, contact and advice from those involved in the RFN to inform how we can best set up a successful RegenAg peer support network in the Highlands.

Community Organisation:
Highland Good Food Partnership

Exchange Host Partners:
Propagate

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Nourish

“The big takeaway is the importance of the network being open to all interested in regenerative farming, and from the start building a non-judgemental culture. It was clear that part of the success is making sure the network is farmer-led… letting it develop organically rather than a predetermined plan put on the mentors.”

Case Studies

Transition from building project to social enterprise

The Old School Thornhill is in its transition phase, from being a building project to running a social enterprise and a development trust.

a room with high ceilings, lighting rig, brickwalls and some furtniture

A SCIO in the very early stages of developing structures.

Learning Outcomes

  • To evaluate current structures and governance to decide how best to structure
  • To consider appropriate staff and salary structures
  • To learn about the pitfalls of this stage of development

Community Organisation:
Old School Thornhill

Exchange Host Partners:
GCat

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Development Trust Association Scotland

“Our exchange with GCat has been extremely beneficial for us. We have decided to mirror the model GCat uses in terms of the development Trust being the over-arching body and our building’s activities being under this umbrella.”

Case Studies

Repair cafes and tool libraries

To provide a dynamic opportunity for members to learn first hand about repair cafes and tool libraries and discuss how this could work in the context of a Men’s Shed.

a close up of a boat in a workshop

Learning Outcomes

  • To see a small scale sawmill in operation for plans to incorporate into the organisation.
  • Hearing what other Sheds support mental health such as Tai Chi, cycling groups and a lunch shed.
  • How tool libraries items are logged and maintained.

Community Organisation:
Inverclyde Shed

Exchange Host Partners:
Menof Leith, Men’s Shed, The Heart of Newhaven, Edinburgh Tool Library

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA)

“The outcome of these visits are that Inverclyde Shed plans to launch a repair café and sawmill- utilising local wind-felled timber. No such services currently exist in Inverclyde so we hope to be able to start them to help the local economy and strengthen our sheds activities for men in the area.”

Case Studies

BIKES to Berwickshire Cycle for change programme

To support people outdoors with the BIKES to Berwickshire Cycle for change programme.

three people, smiling at the camera siting around a table with paperwork, tea and coffee

The exchange offered useful insights on recycling bikes – to support our free Kids Bike Library, E-Bike Hire, servicing, donation and Cycling Without Age initiatives.

Learning Outcomes

  • Network and learn from other organisations who are more established
  • Identify opportunities and activities happening with other cycle projects in the third sector
  • General recycling maintenance and repair skill sharing

Community Organisation:
Sea the Change

Exchange Host Partners:
Recycle-a-bike

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Circular Communities Scotland

“Seeing what worked and didn’t work has enabled us to make informed decisions on where our funding should be spent and where to focus our time and energy. We learned what suppliers are considered ‘must-haves’, the dos and don’ts of setting up a bike workshop, gleaned ideas on storage from Recyke-a-bike on a larger scale to IM2CBikeHub running the service out of a container.”

Case Studies

LGBTQ+ leadership in the SE space

The exchange focussed on learning from other SE’s by sharing some of the challenges and solutions of being an LGBTQ+ leader in the SE space.

a graphic of the Pride Outside Leadership Gathering.

The purpose was the development of an LGBTQ+ SE supplier chain and support the development of partnership working.

Learning Outcomes

  • Peer learning and partnership working
  • Connection to the SE sector- for LGBTQ+ SEs to build relationships with support organisations to encourage more LGBTQ+ SEs to be part of the sector.
  • To develop an LGBTQ+ Community Network which meet regularly to skill share and mentor new organisations joining the sector.

Community Organisation:
Pride Outside

Exchange Host Partners:
LGBTQ+ focussed SE’s

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Social Enterprise Scotland

“This exchange has helped inform our direction of travel by highlighting what people need in terms of support- such as developing an informal mentoring programme and the establishment of a formal LGBTQ+ SE leadership course.”

Case Studies

Community wind farm benefit schemes

Two windfarms have been proposed for upper Strathearn – roughly the area between Crieff and Lochearnhead.

A wind turbine with a group of people standing at the foot of it and the front of a bus at the left hand side.

A number of local groups realised that whether they were for or against any wind farm proposal, it will be important for the community to use the opportunity presented by community wind farm benefit schemes to maximum effect. To bring people together, a representative of the 9CC Group in South Ayrshire was invited to talk to local representatives and discuss options for moving forwards.

Learning Outcomes

  • To encourage commitment to explore the idea of collaboration to maximise community benefit from wind farms in upper Strathearn.
  • Build new partnerships for future planning
  • Establish a working group

Community Organisation:
Strathearn Community Group

Exchange Host Partners:
9CC Group

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Community Energy Scotland

“Our initial exchange has gone very well – there seems to be some positive movement and our working group is being established later in August 2024. The main thing to takeaway is the 4 Cs- Community, Co-operation, Co-ordination and Collaboration.”

Case Studies

Woodland restoration and management

CWA members were invited to take part in the 3 learning exchanges across Inverness to explore different approaches to woodland restoration and management.

a close up of purple flowers with people in the background walking up a small hill

In total 14 community groups visited the woodland sites to exchange knowledge and ideas.

Learning Outcomes

  • Outdoor learning for sustainability: how to deliver to different ages and stages to ensure participants have a real sense of achievement and ownership of their woodland.
  • Sharing approaches to meadow management and removal of invasive species.
  • Looking after archaeological and historical sites.
  • Future planning and diversification.

Community Organisation:
Community Woodland Association members

Exchange Host Partners:
Abriachan Forest Trust, Culduthel Woods group, Dunain Community Woodland

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Community Woodland Association (CWA)

“It was good to hear how you have dealt with and are overcoming similar challenges to those we have at Dunnet. Your site is beautiful – the care and attention to future planning was a joy to hear. It was really interesting to hear about meadow management and the type of machinery to invest in- definitely information that I will be taking back to Dunnet.”