Outside the Box

03/08/2026

Last week our Climate Wisdom team took a trip to Angus to visit Arbroath Connections and Kirrie Connections. We created foraged summer wreaths, upcycled bags and recycled raft building...there was something for everyone. It was lovely to hear what the Meeting Centres have been getting up to and a chance to see all of their climate creations, like this beautiful bottle cap butterfly in Arbroath! 🦋
https://otbds.org/projects/climate-wisdom/

01/07/2026

We had a lovely trip to Angus to meet with Montrose Connections, Meeting Centre and Lochside Connections this week. We heard all about what the members have been getting up to as part of our project and we got stuck into making summer wreaths and bug hotels. Thanks for having us and we can’t wait to come back soon! 🌻

Meeting Centres Scotland

17/06/2026

A huge thank you to all who attended Moments of Freedom's event yesterday in Centre81. We had a brilliant day, full of great conversations and lovely food ☕️

11/06/2026

It's not long until Moments of Freedom's event. Please come and join us next Tues 16th June from 12.30pm in Centre 81, Clydebank!

05/06/2026

Today is World Environment Day

Last year on World Environment Day we launched our Climate Wisdom project.  Climate Wisdom is a dementia-inclusive climate action project. The project brings together people living with dementia, their care partners and their communities to co-create practical, creative and rights-based responses to climate change. The 5-year  project  brings together 15 Meeting Centres across Angus, Fife & Tayside to collaborate alongside project partners Outside the Box,  Meeting Centres Scotland, The Institute for Place, Environment and Society at the University of Heriot-Watt and the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York. 

Find out more about the broad aims of the project and how we have been achieving them in our latest blog https://otbds.org/world-environment-day-2026/

18/05/2026

The women of Moments of Freedom warmly invite you to join them on Tuesday 16th June for their event ☕️
Earlier this year the group became constituted after 9 years of meeting fortnightly in Centre81, Clydebank. Outside the Box were first introduced to the group back in 2017 through a West Dunbartonshire Council resettlement officer and we have continued to work with and support them.
The group has gone from strength to strength and over the years they have held events, networked with a wide range of groups across Scotland, established strong working relationships with their elected representatives and even influenced Scottish policy through the New Scots Integration Strategy.
This event marks an important milestone in their journey as a New Scots women's group, and they are hoping to bring together community members, organisations and elected representatives to celebrate. Please do join us from 12:30pm - 2pm for free food, refreshments, creative activities and a chance to chat to the group.

The Moments of Freedom group will host a community gathering bringing together local residents, community groups, local workers, elected representatives, organisations and New Scots to celebrate the next stage in their journey as a constituted community group. The event will provide free food, refre...

12/05/2026

With our new MSPs now in Holyrood and beginning to return to casework or set up offices in communities across Scotland, now is a good time to get in touch them 📨
Our Connecting Equalities resource 'What to Do After Elections', explains what you can do between elections and how you can get involved.
It’s important to remember that politics doesn’t just happen on polling or election days, it happens all year round. By working with your elected representatives, you can help make positive change and improve our communities.
https://otbds.org/what-to-do-after-an-election/

06/05/2026

We are all calling on all Party Leaders ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary Election tomorrow to support the inclusion of a named and dedicated Minister for Older People in the next Scottish Government. Make sure you have your say tomorrow, polling stations are open from 7am - 10pm🗳️
Age Scotland

13/04/2026

It started with…the wisdom of a Kingdom! In March the Ancient Kingdom of Fife played host to an energising and inspiring Climate ‘Un-conference’. This was a gathering organised by Fife Communities Climate Action Network and Fife Climate Hub. Rather than sitting in silence being talked at, the ‘un-conference’ format meant participants were able to vote for discussion topics and take part in round-table discussions they were interested in.

Climate Wisdom team members (from Outside the Box, STAND and Meeting Centres Scotland) contributed their thoughts and experiences of climate action from the point of view of people living with dementia. The Climate Wisdom project brings together people living with dementia, their care partners and their communities to co-create practical, creative and rights-based responses to climate change.

The common thread and clear message was the importance of reframing the climate change narrative (and language) so that it is meaningful for people’s everyday lives, and as part of that ensuring ALL voices are heard and everyone can be involved in local community initiatives. We also discussed the importance of food resilience, social connections and being involved with Hand, Head and Heart.
The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland