Projects
Nature Connection Project
Our Nature Connection project strand, delivered with Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, creates the conditions for communities to further develop their own meaningful relationship with nature - from local green spaces to Scotland's first National Park.
Our dedicated nature officer will work with your group to build confidence and knowledge, accessing local green spaces as well as national parks. We aim to ensure ethnic minority communities gain the social and well-being benefits from connection with nature. And through connection, we can build ongoing care for Scotland’s green spaces.
Accessing Group Needs
At an initial meeting with our Nature Officer, we will work with you to understand your group’s unique needs, interests, and confidence levels. Together, we will design a tailored programme of sessions to ensure activities are engaging, accessible, and relevant to your community.
Getting to Know Local Greenspaces
Initial sessions could be locally based in a nearby park, such as a guided walking group exploring plants, wildlife, and key features of the space. Early sessions can also focus on building confidence, including understanding how to feel more comfortable around dogs and how to make the most of regular park visits.
Getting Out and About
Building on the first session, we could take groups to their nearest country park to gain knowledge of slightly larger and wilder green spaces. Activities could include sharing cultural knowledge of different plant species and ways to connect with nature, such as art making and foraging.
Getting Hands On
To further build the group’s sense of connection with nature, we can facilitate season-specific conservation activities such as planting wildflowers and tree saplings. In poor weather, we offer flexible indoor and at-home alternatives, including activities focused on connecting with nature through balconies, windowsills, and indoor growing.
Going Greener
For a final session, we can take groups on guided all-day trips to Loch Lomond and the National Park led by park rangers. Groups will be able to engage in a wide range of activities suitable to their ability level, deepening groups’ confidence getting out in all kinds of different green spaces.
Additional Support
We offer the following support to facilitate your group's engagement.
Energy Saving Project
Through Energy Saving, delivered with Changeworks, MCAS supports households and communities to take control of their energy use - reducing bills, tackling fuel poverty and building knowledge of the green technologies that can make homes warmer, healthier and more affordable.
Our Energy Officer will work with your group to help them better understand their energy usage at home and how to make easy behaviour changes to save both energy and money while having a positive impact on the climate. The following are examples of the kind of sessions we can offer your group.
Accessing Group Needs
In an initial meeting with our energy officer, we will discuss your group’s unique needs and interests. We will arrange a block of sessions tailored to your community group to ensure it is engaging and relevant. We aim to make learning about energy saving fun and participatory.
Introduction to Energy
Depending on your group’s knowledge of energy, the first session could be introducing the basics, such as understanding different home heating systems and how to get the most out of them. This session could also cover bills and tariffs. This session may suit asylum seekers to help them prepare for tenancy, those who have newly arrived in the UK or who lack confidence in understanding energy use
Saving Energy
Groups will learn how to make small changes at home to save both money and energy. Our energy officer will cover topics such as draughts and mould, along with the most efficient ways to use electrical items. Group members will receive a warm pack, and the session will be centred on games, quizzes and interactive elements to ensure the topic of energy is fun for everyone.
Energy Saving Tools
An additional session can cover green technologies that group members can adopt at home, depending on their living situations. These could be smart metres, heat pumps and solar panels. Groups will learn about the benefits of these technologies, the installation process and grants available to support them with costs.
Energy Saving in Action
For our final sessions we will take groups on immersive sessions were they can see the learning they have gained in action. These sessions will involve trips specific to group interest and needs such as visit to the Glasgow Science Centre Learning Bothy, a wind farm or a retrofit home where they can see green energy technology in action in a home environment.
Additional Support
We offer the following support to facilitate your group's engagement.