TCV works alongside partner organisations to bring a wide range of benefits to the residents and natural environment in a number of locations.
Seven Lochs Wetland Park
The Seven Lochs Wetland Park is a large-scale heritage and nature park spanning the Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire council boundaries between Easterhouse, Coatbridge and Stepps. TCV Scotland is a member of the Seven Lochs Partnership, which is responsible for delivering a five year, £6.8million work programme to protect the heritage of the Seven Lochs area, and involve people in learning about, improving and celebrating the heritage and nature on their doorstep. Supported by grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and NatureScot, TCV Scotland delivers a programme of outdoor learning for schools and communities in the Seven Lochs area, as well as training and supporting school staff to encourage more education in the outdoors. TCV Scotland also leads the Seven Lochs Volunteers undertaking a programme of practical conservation activities at sites across the Seven Lochs Wetland Park. And Wild Ways Well Coatbridge provides outdoor-based activities to improve participants’ health and wellbeing.
EPIC
Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire (EPIC) and TCV have been running practical volunteer sessions in the Clackmannanshire foothills towns and villages since September 2017. The project aims to get volunteers out in stunning locations while taking part in epic projects! As well as enhancing the local environment, volunteers are learning new skills, improving their health and wellbeing, and reducing isolation.
Building Roots
In 2019, TCV initiated the Building Roots programme to support the growing community of Arabic speaking refugees, migrants and asylum seekers new to Scotland. The programme offers activities, events and engagement opportunities with a specific focus on the Scottish outdoors, wildlife and natural heritage. Building Roots seeks to promote learning through experience while providing a safe and welcoming space that brings together Arabic and Scottish culture, offering opportunities to improve language skills, tackle social isolation and support positive mental and physical health and wellbeing. Building Roots includes gardening activities, wood working, walking groups, learning about wildlife, and visits to natural heritage sites. Whilst the programme initially focussed on supporting the Syrian community, current activities now engage newcomers to Scotland from various nationalities and cultures.
And TCV’s Scotland Counts project is working with BME groups to take part in Citizen Science activities which help them engage with their local nature and greenspaces and feel more confident outdoors.
For further details of our diversity work contact: j.duncan@tcv.org.uk