Scottish climate action hubs: independent evaluation

Hub Overview

NESCAN overview

History and structure

Aberdeen Climate Action (ACA) was established in 2014 as a community climate action group in Aberdeen, Scotland. Over the 2014 to 2020 period, several additional community climate groups were established in the Aberdeen area. In a move to better coordinate climate action across the different community groups, organisations and individuals, the North East Community Climate Action Network (NESCAN) was established in 2020.

In March 2021, the Scottish Government approached ACA, as the coordinator of NESCAN, to set up a formal regional climate hub covering the Aberdeenshire area for a 6-month pilot period, building on their experience in setting up NESCAN. ACA revised the existing project plan and costings for piloting the NESCAN hub to align with the Scottish Government’s requirements. Following approval by the Scottish Government, the NESCAN hub was set up as a Community Interest Companies (CIC) limited by guarantee with confirmation of the Scottish Government’s Grant Offer in September 2021.

Vision, aims and objectives

Since the establishment and pilot period, the vision, aims, objectives and structure of the NESCAN hub have evolved to better reflect the needs of the stakeholders. The current vision, aims, and objectives are listed below.

Vision

A sustainable North East Scotland, with connected, empowered, active communities at its heart.

Aims

• To support and develop community led climate action throughout Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.
• To support communities to be a part of a just transition to a sustainable North East Scotland, contributing to local, regional and national policy setting & decision making.

Highlands and Islands Hub overview

History and structure

The Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) was formed in January 2018 with the purpose of making Thurso a better place to live, work and visit for all, through community-led sustainable development. It adopted legal status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in January 2019 with the charitable objective of “The advancement of community development principally within the Community”.

In September 2021, the Scottish Government made an offer of a grant to TCDT to set up a regional climate hub, covering the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland, to run for the remainder of the 2021/22 year as a pilot period. Following the successful delivery of the pilot phase, and with the confirmation of further funding from the Scottish Government, the North Highlands & Islands Climate Hub Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by Guarantee was set up in April 2022 to take forward future work.

The North Highlands & Islands Climate Hub CIC has the aim to ‘support community-led climate action in the Highlands & Islands in all the stages it takes to design, develop and deliver a project’. In its daily activities and public marketing the hub refers to itself as the “Highlands and Islands Climate Hub”.

Vision, aims and objectives

Since the establishment and pilot period, the vision, aims, objectives and structure of the H&I hub have evolved to better reflect the needs of the stakeholders. The vision, values, aims and objectives currently stated on the hub website are shown in text box 2 below.

Vision

Our vision is for communities throughout the Highlands & Islands to be bold, collaborative and resilient by creating climate-friendly projects and initiatives which address the needs of their communities and lead to a transformational climate-ready region.

Values

• Inclusive - Welcoming to all and supporting a diverse and inclusive membership
• Collaborative - Working in partnership with community groups, networks and agencies across the region and nationally to create a community-led, climate-ready Scotland
• Empowering - Supporting, educating and empowering communities to take action.

Aims & Objectives

• Raise awareness of climate change and the actions communities can take to mitigate and adapt to climate change
• Provide groups with advice and support to take mitigation and adaption actions
• Facilitate co-ordination and collaboration
• Seed fund and develop new community climate action
• Foster peer-to-peer learning
• Signpost to organisations & agencies who can offer support
• Identify funding opportunities
• Support local communities to design and develop carbon reduction and adaption projects
• Facilitate learning and development through provision of training and support materials
• Provide a voice for local communities and the mechanism for policy setters to reach communities
• Influence and inform community-led climate action policy