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 Employability Project which is helping young unemployed people into work or further training through a programme of practical conservation activities at sites across the Seven Lochs Wetland Park.
EPIC
Enabling Partnerships 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, the activities now engage newcomers to Scotland from various nationalities and cultures. Building Roots is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with support from partner organisations including Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot and the National Trust for Scotland.
For further details contact: dorothee.richter@tcv.org.uk
Wild Ways Well
Working in partnership with Cumbernauld Living Landscape, the Wild Ways Well project aims to demonstrate that spending time outdoors, amongst nature, makes people feel better about themselves and their lives. Wild Ways Well aims to get people suffering from, or at risk of, poor mental health out into the green spaces of Cumbernauld. Whilst out amongst the trees, parks and reserves, participants get a chance to slow down, relax, enjoy being in the company of other like-minded people, and participate in a variety of environmental and conservation-related activities designed to fit in with the internationally recognised Five Ways to Wellbeing framework for positive mental health.
Photo: Copyright Tracy Lambert