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http://www.inspiringscotland.org.uk/

Inspiring Scotland, Suite 2, 14 New Mart Road, Edinburgh (2026)

24/08/2026

"They've truly made me feel supported and reminded me that I'm not alone."

Our latest Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund Progress Report shows the difference that funded organisations across Scotland are making for families every day.

From supporting 4,201 people in six months to helping parents feel less isolated, more confident and better able to support their babies, the report demonstrates the value of early intervention and compassionate support.

Take a look through the carousel for some key insights and read the full report on our website:
https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/publication/perinatal-and-infant-mental-health-fund/

Join Inspiring Scotland on Thursday 1 October for our Babies in Scotland 2026 webinar, marking the third anniversary of the publication of the Voice of the Infant: Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge.

Pre-register now:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=_nZlLLyZa0iYB40Z7gN6SRFbmEIJprFOjL-ck_APWfxUQ1BLNUw5NFpDR0lTODlBRjJVVldJSThKMy4u&route=shorturl

10/08/2026

The Changing Places Toilet at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society's new home on Infirmary Street is more than just a facility. It's a gateway to participation, helping more people with complex disabilities and their carers experience the world's largest arts festival with dignity, comfort and confidence.

Fringe Central will be a year-round office and artist support hub, providing meeting spaces, artist resources and public facilities. The addition of a Changing Places Toilet will help ensure that more artists, audiences and visitors can access and enjoy everything the Fringe has to offer.

We want to see more projects like this across Scotland, and that’s why we're delighted to announce that the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund is now open for applications.

The fund supports organisations to develop and build accessible Changing Places Toilets, which are larger, specialist facilities designed for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. Equipped with features such as a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, a ceiling track hoist, and additional space for carers, they enable people with complex disabilities to access public spaces safely and with dignity.

Sally Cavers, Fund Manager at Inspiring Scotland said:
“Changing Places Toilets are essential to ensuring that everyone in our society can participate fully in everyday life. We know that without access to these facilities, many families are forced to cut outings short or avoid leaving home altogether. This fund is about improving dignity, inclusion and access across Scotland’s communities, and we encourage organisations to come forward with projects that will make a real difference."

📅 Applications close on 5 October 2026
Find out more and apply 👇
https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/fund/changing-places-toilets-scotland-fund/

The Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund is delivered by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, with technical support from PAMIS.

Pamis Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund

Image description: Ewan a wheelchair user washes his hands at an accessbile sink.

07/08/2026

Scotland's voluntary sector is at the heart of our communities, responding to some of society's most pressing challenges and supporting people every day.

That's why we're proud to contribute to SCVO's new Fair Funding resource, which brings together evidence and experiences from across the sector to strengthen the case for a funding system that is fair, flexible and sustainable.

For more than 17 years, we've worked alongside charities and social enterprises across Scotland, investing in organisations and supporting them to grow their impact. Through that experience, we've learned that financial stability matters just as much as the level of investment itself.

Too often, short-term funding cycles create uncertainty, increase administrative burden and make it harder for organisations to plan, retain staff and focus on the people and communities they support. Multi-year funding can change that. It gives organisations the confidence to think long term, invest in their workforce and focus their energy on delivering meaningful change.

As our Chief Executive, Celia Tennant, explains:
"SCVO’s Fair Funding work closely aligns with our own long standing calls for stability, trust, and fairness. Together, we make a clear case that fair multi-year funding is not merely good practice but essential to the future resilience and effectiveness of Scotland’s voluntary sector."

To explore the Fair Funding resource and help build a case for change head over to the SCVO website 👉
https://scvo.scot/policy/fair-funding-procurement/fair-funding/distributing-allocating-funding

SCVO

04/08/2026

"Having an external mentor who could help me work through that transition with a clear head and no internal agenda made a real difference."

For five years, SVN volunteer Maureen has supported Clare through career transitions, leadership challenges and organisational change. Their story shows how a trusted mentoring relationship can create lasting impact far beyond the individuals involved.

Read more about their story and discover the power of mentoring here 👇

https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/news/the-power-of-a-good-match-maureen-and-clares-mentoring-journey/

Interested in becoming a Specialist Volunteer like Maureen? Get in touch with our SVN lead, Hazel Crombie, to find out more: [email protected]

Photo description: two people shake hands

20/07/2026

Changing Places Awareness Day was on 19th July, and we're proud to celebrate a significant milestone for the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund ♿

Bird Gardens Scotland in Lauder, Scottish Borders, is set to become one of the first completed project in the fund portfolio, helping to make this unique visitor destination more accessible and inclusive for people with complex care needs.

Set within a conservation-focused visitor centre, Bird Gardens Scotland welcomes visitors to explore rare and threatened bird species, enjoy the café, take part in learning activities and connect with nature. The installation of a Changing Places Toilet will mean even more people can access and enjoy everything the venue has to offer with dignity, comfort and confidence.

Changing Places toilets provide essential facilities, including an adult-sized changing bench and hoist, for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. For the more than 250,000 people across the UK who rely on these facilities, they can be the difference between being able to visit a venue or staying at home.

The team at Bird Gardens Scotland planned accessibility into the visitor centre from the outset, recognising that inclusive design benefits everyone. Owen Joiner, Director at Bird Gardens: "We’re delighted to be the first project in the portfolio to complete the build of our Changing Places Toilet. This new facility will make Bird Gardens Scotland more accessible for people with complex disabilities and their families, so that more visitors can help us protect our amazing birds and the wild places they call home. Together, we can give these incredible birds a future.”

As we mark the 20th anniversary of Changing Places Awareness Day, we're delighted to see one of the first projects supported through the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund nearing completion and preparing to welcome visitors soon.

Thanks to our partners Pamis for your expert support.

The Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund is a Scottish Government funding programme.

Image description: Photograph of flamingo's paddling in the pond along side some ducks at the Bird Garden in Lauder.

02/07/2026

How can Scotland's Summer of Sport help inspire more children, young people and families to be active? 🤸‍♀️

Join us next week for our Summer in Sport Webinar which will bring together organisations, practitioners and national partners to share ideas, opportunities and learning, with insights from a fantastic range of speakers.

We’ll also explore how Scotland Moves – a new initiative between Inspiring Scotland and the University of Strathclyde – aims to encourage more people to be active in their everyday lives.

📅 Wednesday, July 8, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Online

Book your spot now: 9efbdb8c-f544-423d-9b8c-fc6ec95ad0c4@2c6576fe-99bc-486b-9807-8d19ee037a49" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9efbdb8c-f544-423d-9b8c-fc6ec95ad0c4@2c6576fe-99bc-486b-9807-8d19ee037a49

We look forward to seeing colleagues and partners from across our networks join the conversation!

Thrive Outdoors

Image description:
Heading text reads 'Meet our speakers', and below are 8 circular profile pictures from the speakers in orange frames. Below each image is their name and organisation. The list of speakers, from left to right as shown, is:
1. Alex Johnston, Glasgow 2026
2. Aidan Gallacher, Actify
3. Rachael Prothero, Walking Scotland
4. Dr Farid Bardid, University of Strathclyde
5. Bob Wyllie, sportscotland
6. Rohanna Irvine, SSF
7. Tony Stubbs, PEEK (Possibilities for Each and Every Kid)
8. Dr Paul McCrorie, University of Strathclyde

30/06/2026

Communities across Scotland are playing a vital role in biodiversity and nature restoration 🌱

Our latest Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund (NEF) report shows how early-stage investment is unlocking this potential — helping community-led projects build the plans, partnerships and skills needed to attract further funding and deliver lasting change.

To date, nearly £400,000 has been invested in 35 projects supporting ecosystems, from urban rivers to rural woodlands. With 37.5% of projects already securing follow-on funding, a strong pipeline of nature restoration is emerging across Scotland.

Sustaining Dunbar is one organisation that received funding through NEF, and has now been able to secure follow-on investment.

Philip Revell, Board member at Sustaining Dunbar, said: “By enabling us to get started with this project, the NEF grant has been transformative… It feels like our ambition to help kick-start something much bigger in terms of long-term, landscape-scale nature restoration across the East Lammermuir area is becoming a real prospect.”

Learn more about NEF, and its impact: https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/news/helping-communities-lead-nature-recovery/

For not-for-profit, community-led organisations with ideas for nature restoration, the Fund is now open to applications on a rolling basis. 📝

More details about the Fund and application process can be found here: https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/fund/neighbourhood-ecosystem-funds-rolling-programme

We are also keen to partner with individuals and organisations who want to support this work. By investing in the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund, partners can help unlock community-led action at scale and grow a pipeline of impactful, long-term nature restoration projects across Scotland. 📈

Learn more about investing in the Fund: https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/get-involved/fund-neighbourhood-ecosystem-fund-for-investors/

Image description: A person holds a tape measure around the trunk of a tree. Over it, text reads 'helping communities lead nature recovery with the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund' with the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund logo below, in grey and green.

05/06/2026

As comes to a close, we’re saying a heartfelt thank you to all those who give their time, skills and expertise through Inspiring Scotland to support charities and the people they serve. From Intandem mentors to our Specialist Volunteers, your contribution makes a real difference. 🤝

Our Specialist Volunteers support organisations to deliver greater impact for the people and communities they serve. This year, we are delighted to celebrate four individuals who have reached significant milestones in their volunteering journeys.

Collectively, they have contributed 1,500 hours – equivalent to 42 weeks of full-time work – in free professional support through the Specialist Volunteer Network (SVN).

A special mention goes to Elaine Crichton, who previously worked with Inspiring Scotland on the SVN team. Now retired, Elaine continues to give her time and expertise so generously, embodying the very best of volunteering.

If you’re interested in using your skills to support Scotland’s third sector, find out more about becoming a Specialist Volunteer 👇

https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/specialist-volunteer-network/

And, if you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of children and young people, find out more about becoming an Intandem mentor 👇 https://www.intandem.scot/get-involved/become-a-mentor/

Image description:

Graphic with the text “Thank You, Volunteers” and “ ” in bold black lettering, accompanied by the Volunteers’ Week logo below. Colourful arrow shapes in pink, orange, and green point inward from the edges, creating a celebratory design on a white background.

02/06/2026

To mark the start of , we brought Specialist Volunteers and charities together in Edinburgh to celebrate the power of giving time, skills and expertise.

Our Specialist Volunteer Network connects professionals with Inspiring Scotland funded charities in need of specialist support, from legal advice and HR to communications, strategy, finance and more. Over the last year, this has translated into 1,507 hours of support across 758 different projects, helping charities strengthen governance, build resilience, and plan for the future.

We also highlighted our mentoring programme Intandem, showing how volunteering your time can benefit children and young people too.

Dave Close, CEO of Canongate Youth and former CEO of the Hot Chocolate Trust, emphasised the importance of thoughtful, collaborative giving:

“Here is where you can give a little that means a lot. Making your skills and experience available to charities like the Hot Chocolate Trust and Canongate Youth, not as a careless throwaway, or blithe for-the-cameras philanthropy, but attentively, in a relationship where you add your expertise to ours, listening to each other, working out the need and the action together and then really getting stuck in together. That is transformational.”

As our Chief Executive, Celia Tennant FRSA, reflected in her closing remarks, this is what it means to be a nation that gives — bringing together experience and expertise to strengthen charities and support communities to thrive.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to give their time so generously, and to CMS Edinburgh for hosting!

Read more about the event in our latest news piece 👉 https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/news/a-nation-that-gives-inspiring-scotland-kicks-off-volunteers-week-with-our-specialist-volunteers/

Image Descriptions:
1: Three attendees sit side-by-side, listening to a speaker. They are facing slightly to the left, wearing name badges, and appear engaged in the discussion.

2: Hazel Crombie, Inspiring Scotland Corporate Partnership Manager, stands at a lectern, addressing the room. They are wearing a navy dress with a white blazer and have notes in front of them on a small table.

3: Two attendees are in conversation. One person in the foreground is wearing a name badge and glasses, while the other is turned slightly away.

4: Dave Close speaks at a lectern. Beside him, a presentation screen displays slides referencing his previous role at the Hot Chocolate Trust and the Specialist Volunteer Network support received.

5: Two Specialist Volunteer Network volunteers stand together for a photograph, each wearing a name badge. A screen in the background displays a welcome slide.

12/05/2026

In March 2026, 15 projects from Creative Communities Glasgow and Creative Communities Scotland came together to reflect on their shared learning and explore what it will take for a programme like Creative Communities to deliver impact at scale across Scotland.

The conversations highlighted four connected conditions for system‑level change:
🟣 A shared agenda recognising community‑led creativity as essential civic infrastructure
🟣 Better ways of measuring impact that reflect local context, wellbeing, and non‑linear change
🟣 Stronger support systems and communication, built around trust, clarity, and peer learning
🟣 Long‑term investment in resources and capacity for people, places and pathways

Together, participants emphasised the need to move from competition to collaboration, invest in long‑term, flexible funding, share learning honestly (including challenges), and amplify community voices to influence policy and practice nationally. These conditions would enable Creative Communities to strengthen local impact while contributing to wider prevention and wellbeing outcomes across Scotland.

The graphic below was captured live as a summary during the session. 🎨

[Image Description: Hand-drawn visual summary titled “Developing the Conditions for Change,” illustrating ideas around the collective impact of a programme like Creative Communities. The graphic is divided into sections: building a knowledge base and maximising potential; a “Collective Impact Framework” with shared agenda, infrastructure, resources, and capacity; and “Exploring Conditions,” highlighting collective voice, diverse representation, shared measurements, education and access, and supporting creativity. A lower section on “Cross-pollinating” shows collaboration, communication beyond local “bubbles,” and learning from others. The final section, “Closing Reflections,” emphasizes art as a tool for activism, learning, motivation, and building confidence and belief. The image uses colourful sketches, icons, and handwritten notes (e.g., arrows, stars, people, and tools) to convey collaboration and systemic change across organisations and communities.]

Inspiring Scotland

24/08/2026

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07/08/2026

04/08/2026

20/07/2026

02/07/2026

30/06/2026

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