1000 Better Stories

In August we published a collection of Scottish podcasts with focus on climate justice and action.
This magazine episode is a companion to that blog, and it is showcasing 3 of the included shows.
We hear from Col Gordon about his Landed series with Farmerama radio (co-produced with Katie Revell), Catriona Spaven-Donn about United Nations House Scotland podcast - Connecting Women's Voices on Climate Justice, and the PLANT Voices podcast from Tayport Community Garden.
Magazine episodes are just one thing we are trying out as ideas for Storytellers Collective aimed at amplifying powerful stories helping everyone imagine the the future worth fighting for. To share your ideas and get involved get in touch with Kaska at stories@scottishcommunitiescan.org.
Storytellers Collective blog: https://www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk/category/blog/

In today’s episode we have two stories in store for you. A brief update from Alex MacKenzie about Glasgow’s Lost Woods project and a conversation with Calum Macleod from Community Land Scotland about the Community landowners and the climate emergency report.
Lost Woods Project: https://www.thelostwoods.earth/about
Community Land Scotland: https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/
Community landowners and the climate emergency report: https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Community-Landowners-the-Climate-Emergency_Report.pdf
Additional materials relating to the report: https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/find-out-more/case-studies/
 
Lost Woods story was recorded and edited by Philip Revell
Interview with Calum Macleod was recorded and edited by Kaska Hempel
 

Climate Cafés are open, inclusive spaces for people to get together to talk and act on the climate emergency. Community-led, the movement has emerged from the heart of Scotland and there are now sister cafés around the world.
In this episode, and following the recent launch of the Climate cafe website, we chat to Jess Pepper (Dunkeld and Birnam), Alison Stuart (Aberdeen Climate Action), Carol Aitken (Pitlochry) and Ruth Hunter Pepper (Sustaining North Berwick) to learn more about the value and importance of creating these spaces in our communities and how to go about setting one up.

Better Bike Share: Stories of Scotland’s community bike share schemes
CoMoUK and Scottish Communities Climate Action Network are excited to present a new joint podcast, exploring the impact of community bike share across Scotland. It features:- Harriet Cross on CoMoUK’s work to help develop low-carbon and low-cost transport options- Tim Hughes on how his passion for cycling led to Dunblane Development Trust’s e-bike loan scheme for residents- Jude King discussing how Arran Eco Savvy’s bike-share project supports the island’s businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprints. 

As we emerge from our hibernation, we reflect on the challenges the last year has presented for social isolation, and hear about social enterprises who are 'Collaborating in Communities to Improve Mental Health' with the support of the Pockets and Prospects fund. And we have two stories of personal climate action from our recent storytelling training day.

A conversation with Ross Ahlfeld of Inverclyde Community Development Trust, discussing the development of the community pantry the organisation is running in partnership with Inverclyde Council. In 3 months, 400 members have signed up for the new service which addresses food insecurity and food waste.

Our first podcast of 2021 explores community led energy initiatives across Scotland, from the difference it can make, to the challenges still to be overcome. We hear from Greener Kirkcaldy, Cosy Kingdom, Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, Barra and Vatersay Community Limited and Linlithgow Community Development Trust, all pioneers with practical experience of making community energy work.
The podcast was produced in partnership with Community Energy Scotland.

For our final podcast of 2020, a selection box of book recommendations and eco folk tales.

As part of the European Day of Sustainable Communites, SCCAN ran a number of "story days", working with people to create, record and share personal stories inspired by climate action. Here are a selection of the stories for you to enjoy, including songs, fables, poems and reflections. The work was supported by funding from ECOLISE.

Our final stop in our virtual visit to Dunbar is Belhaven Community Garden, before hearing some final thoughts on the power of community from the volunteers of Tyninghame Village Hall.