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.”

Case Studies

Rural Employability Partnership Learning Exchange

Third sector organisations from Argyll and Bute; Inspiralba, Fyne Futures, Oban Youth Cafe and HELP were able to host a learning exchange, with a focus on third sector collaboration for employability delivery.

a graphic of the Rural Employability Partnership

The exchange enabled 32 third sector representatives from across Argyll, Highland and Dumfries and Galloway to participate. In addition, representatives from Argyll and Bute Council, Highland Council, the Scottish Government, COSLA, and TSI’s attended and contributed to the discussions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Share learning on collaborative third sector delivery models: Exchanging ideas and strategies on how the third-sector organisations can work together effectively to improve their services.
  • Build connections across rural employability social enterprises: Creating networks among social enterprises that focus on rural areas, so they can share resources and work together to tackle local employment challenges.

Community Organisation:
Rural Social Enterprise Hub

Exchange Host Partners:
Inspiralba, Fyne Futures, Oban Youth café, HELP Oban

SCA Endorsing Network Member:
Social Enterprise Scotland (SES)

“The exchange helped us identify the regional variations alongside the common themes. By sharing our experiences from the Highlands, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute - we’ve gained a broader perspective on how employability services could be adapted to regional differences while still maintaining a cohesive strategy.”