Scottish climate action hubs: independent evaluation

Evaluation

As noted in the research methodology, the Scottish Government posed a set of key questions about the two pathfinder hubs to be explored through this evaluation. This section of the report provides a summary response to each of these key evaluation questions based on the findings from the research.

Did the hubs produce the intended results and to what extent?

For the purpose of this evaluation, the intended results were defined as the original aims of the pathfinder hubs, as outlined in the hub application document. These aims are as follows:

• Build awareness of the climate emergency and widen participation;
• Stimulate climate action (mitigation and adaptation) (mainstreaming climate activity, developing local plans, identifying funding opportunities);
• Facilitate peer to peer learning and building tools and resources;
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders;
• Ensure a joined-up approach is being taken to tackling climate change at a regional level;
• Support community resilience (supporting development of longer term plans around energy and food);
• Empower communities and support a just transition;
• Support wellbeing economies and community wealth building.

Below is a summary of the analysis for each of the pathfinder hub aims in terms of the progress towards achieving these aims.

Summary of assessment of whether the hubs achieved the intended results

Hub aim: Build awareness of the climate emergency and widen participation

The NESCAN hub

The NESCAN hub significantly contributes to building community climate literacy and awareness through a variety of initiatives, such as hosting community climate assembly sessions and workshops and organising events such as the Climate Week North East. These efforts, supported by the hub's community development officers' approachable manner and the peer-to-peer exchange aspect, have enhanced community engagement and understanding of climate issues.

The H&I hub

The H&I hub has created opportunities to build community awareness of the climate crisis by offering support and advice on community-led climate action and conducting regular digital engagement through various media platforms. There was previously a gap in climate action and activity in the region, which the hub is now starting to fill, and the hub is progressively reaching new sections of the community with climate information.

Hub aim: Stimulate climate action (mitigation and adaptation) (mainstreaming climate activity, developing local plans, identifying funding opportunities)

The NESCAN hub

The NESCAN hub has played a crucial role in stimulating climate action through a variety of support such as project development, management, funding, and organising events. It has provided comprehensive support to community groups, including one-to-one advice, seed funding for climate-related projects, and efforts to promote sustainable practices like active travel and energy efficiency. There is, however, a potential need for a more project-oriented approach to enhance tangible climate resilience and low-carbon interventions.

The H&I hub

The H&I hub’s approach to stimulating climate action involves outreach, engagement, support, mapping, and resource development. The hub encourages communities to see climate action as a solution to other community needs. The hub’s staff were repeatedly highlighted as being a hugely positive driver and inspiration for action. In areas where the hub is active, existing groups are becoming more prominent and new groups are being supported into climate action initiatives. However, there are significant geographical gaps in coverage of hub activity, particularly in the northern island groups.

Hub aim: Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and building tools and resources

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub effectively disseminates climate-related information and fosters knowledge exchange through a variety of channels, including the development of communication materials, active social media engagement, and organising events. Stakeholders confirm the hub's role in making climate information accessible and engaging, highlighting interactive tools like their website's map and various educational initiatives that cater to diverse audiences, including international students. However, there is an acknowledgement of the challenge of reaching individuals not already engaged in climate issues.

The H&I Hub

Knowledge and information sharing is an important aspect of the H&I hub’s activities. The hub facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing among community groups and public, private, and third-sector partners via a range of activities, including training and 1-2-1 support. The hub has been effective in disseminating climate-related messages at a local level, making information relevant to communities and their existing interests and concerns.

Hub aim: Build strong relationships with key stakeholders

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub has effectively facilitated partnership building and collaborative efforts, notably through initiatives like the Just Transition Fund Participatory Budgeting project, working alongside various organisations and participating in regional events. Stakeholders confirm the NESCAN hub’s role in linking partners for collective projects and its openness to feedback, enhancing its partnership management. However, there is a potential need for improved relationship-building with stakeholders beyond the community level, including local authorities and businesses.

The H&I Hub

The H&I hub is facilitating partnership building by engaging with various community planning partnerships, subgroups, and organisations in the region. Some stakeholders provided strong examples of ways in which the hub had connected them with representatives of other organisations, which had led to beneficial exchanges of information and gains of volunteers and funding. However, many other stakeholders were unaware of the potential opportunities for this support and had not been approached/invited to engage in networking activity.

Hub aim: Ensure a joined-up approach is being taken to tackling climate change at a regional level

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub prioritises a regional approach to climate action, fostering a network of community-led organisations across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, and supporting community-led climate change initiatives through assemblies, training, and project support. It enhances regional collaboration by sharing resources and experiences among neighbouring councils and engaging diverse groups, including SMEs, to address climate challenges in both urban and rural settings. Despite its key role in connecting communities with government and fostering regional strategies, stakeholders recognise the need for clearer coordination within the funding landscape to avoid duplication of efforts.

The H&I Hub

The H&I hub is increasingly striving to support the regional response to climate change by engaging with more and wider communities throughout the region. The hub aims to create strong networks of support and assist communities in forming climate action plans aligned with local place plans. There is an opportunity to develop this area further, though, as stakeholders also highlight geographical gaps in coverage, particularly in the Shetland and Orkneys, and the potential to develop more strategic partnerships with local authorities and other statutory agencies in all areas.

Hub aim: Support community resilience (supporting the development of longer-term plans around energy and food)

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub enhances climate resilience through improved access to climate financing, providing seed funding and facilitating access to participatory budgeting for community projects in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Additionally. The hub plays a crucial role in building community resilience by organising workshops on resilience planning, contributing to resilience and adaptation strategies, and integrating climate action with broader social and economic issues, thereby making resilience strategies more relatable and actionable for communities.

The H&I Hub

The H&I hub works with communities to develop climate action plans in a place-based approach, which includes varying levels of adaptation and resilience focus, depending on local priorities. The hub is progressively developing contacts, research, and partnerships on adaptation and resilience. Hub events focus on how to deliver activities in ways that address the mental and emotional aspects of climate resilience and help develop resilient, well-connected communities that are better equipped to pursue sustainable development and wealth-building from within.

Hub aim: Empower communities and support a just transition

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub centres on a just transition as a fundamental principle, with activities spanning from the Just Transition Communities Project which develops tools for community understanding and action, to the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund which aims at empowering community engagement in climate action. Stakeholders highlight the hub's efforts in amplifying local voices, engaging youth, and integrating social justice with climate action, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a just transition through inclusive events and strategic collaborations that align local initiatives with broader sustainable goals.

The H&I Hub

The H&I hub is supporting a “just transition” in the region by encouraging community-led climate actions to be inclusive and beneficial to the local populations. The hub makes a deliberate effort to engage communities that may not typically have the resources to engage in climate action. Hub staff take a holistic approach to supporting communities, first asking, “What are the community’s needs?” and then considering how that priority can be tackled with a solution that has a climate co-benefit. The hub is increasingly advocating for communities that other organisations don’t usually engage with and can share the needs of that community with regional stakeholders.

Hub aim: Support wellbeing economies and community wealth building

The NESCAN Hub

The NESCAN hub is guided by the principle of supporting wellbeing economies and community wealth building, actively working towards creating sustainable places and improving life outcomes for communities in Aberdeenshire. By distributing funds, promoting initiatives like bike reuse projects, and facilitating community development work, the NESCAN hub fosters strong, resilient communities. Stakeholders highlight the hub's role in integrating climate justice with economic development, providing seed funding to encourage innovation and risk-taking among small organisations, and developing supportive relationships that contribute to community and economic resilience.

The H&I Hub

The H&I hub is making progress on community engagement and climate action that contributes to the broader goals of sustainable and inclusive development. The hub supports a variety of projects that promote sustainable places and improve life outcomes. This support can come in different forms, including funding, personnel, or simply signposting information. Hub staff are part of various steering groups and bodies focused on climate action, fair food, and local resilience.

In summary, to answer the question: “Did the hubs produce the intended results and to what extent?” , it is clear from the analysis that both the NESCAN and H&I hubs have made significant progress towards producing the intended results. This has been achieved by actively engaging communities in climate action, building awareness, fostering resilience, stimulating community-level action, embedding cooperation and learning, encouraging regional collaboration, and developing approaches tailored to local circumstances and priorities. However, there are opportunities for improvement in areas such as expanding geographical coverage, enhancing project-oriented approaches for tangible climate resilience, and strengthening partnerships with a wider range of stakeholders, including local authorities and businesses.

What unintended results—both positive and negative—did the activities of the hubs produce? How did these occur?

Given both pathfinder hubs' comprehensive approaches to climate action, which integrate various strategies from education and awareness campaigns to direct community support and project funding, distinguishing unintended results can be challenging. This complexity arises from the interconnected nature of the hubs' work, where actions designed to address one aspect of climate change inadvertently affect other areas, making it challenging to isolate and identify unintended outcomes directly. Nevertheless, two additional unintended results did emerge from the research.

Emotional support leading to increased resilience and community empowerment

A notably positive unintended outcome observed is the hubs' role in providing emotional support to communities. Beyond their primary function of facilitating climate action, the hubs have become a vital source of general emotional support for communities, engaging in discussions that span a wide range of activities. This support has played a crucial role in giving a voice to communities and helping to articulate their concerns, aspirations, and ideas. Moreover, by actively involving community members in discussions and decision-making processes, the hubs have contributed to building confidence among community stakeholders. This empowerment enables communities not only to tackle climate-related challenges more effectively but also to address broader social and economic issues with increased resilience and autonomy.

De facto link between community and government

An additional unintended yet significant outcome of the hubs' activities is their emergence as a de facto direct link between the community and the Scottish Government. Many stakeholders have reported challenges in establishing direct contact with various departments within the Scottish Government, and identified the hubs as crucial intermediaries in this respect. This role of the hubs facilitates a vital communication channel, enabling community groups to voice their concerns, proposals, and feedback directly to the government.

In conclusion, to answer the question: “What unintended results—both positive and negative—did the activities of the hubs produce? How did these occur?”, the research has shown that the activities of the NESCAN and H&I hubs led to positive unintended results, including resilience building and community empowerment, and establishing a de facto link between the community and the Scottish Government.

How valuable were the activities of the hubs to service providers, clients, the community, and/or organisations involved?

As noted throughout the research findings section of this report, there is significant evidence demonstrating how the activities of the hubs have proven to be of significant value to a wide range of stakeholders. This value manifests in various forms, addressing the multifaceted needs and goals of these groups within the context of climate action and community development.

Community members have found the hubs' activities very valuable in providing access to crucial information, resources, and support networks. The hubs have played a critical role in empowering individuals and community groups, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to undertake climate action initiatives. This empowerment has led to increased engagement in sustainability practices, a greater sense of agency in addressing climate change, and improved resilience among communities facing environmental challenges.

The activities of the hubs have also been key in fostering a coordinated, community-centred approach to climate action. By acting as facilitators, connectors, and supporters, the hubs have enriched the capacity of service providers, empowered clients and communities, and enhanced the collaborative potential of organisations engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

In answering the question: “How valuable were the activities of the hubs to service providers, clients, the community, and/or organisations involved?”, there is extensive evidence that shows the hubs’ interventions are viewed as extremely valuable by a wide range of stakeholders. Stakeholders have highlighted the hubs' role in building resilience, empowering communities, and serving as a crucial link between communities and government, underscoring the multifaceted value of their activities.

To what extent did the intervention represent the best possible use of available resources to achieve the most valuable results for participants and the community?”

Two lines of enquiry were pursued through the evaluation to assess whether interventions represent the best possible use of resources. These were whether there were particular interventions that stakeholders viewed as significantly impactful or valuable, and the second query was whether there were interventions by the hub that could have been done differently or not at all.

High-value interventions

Stakeholders listed a range of interventions facilitated by the hubs that they considered of particularly high value. High-value interventions were those interventions that stakeholders considered had the biggest impact in their community. These were:

• Community engagement and education: The hubs do extremely well in organising climate events such as climate café events and Climate Week North East. These events are seen as pivotal in facilitating discussions, learning, and engaging communities. The hubs’ use of innovative tools such as filmmaking to engage diverse groups, especially from more deprived areas, highlights their commitment to broad and inclusive outreach.
• Empowerment through funding and training: Providing seed funding and facilitating funding applications also stand out as crucial activities, empowering local organisations to initiate and sustain climate action projects. Additionally, the hubs' educational initiatives and training programmes significantly enhance the community's capacity to understand and tackle climate change, with a special emphasis on developing skills for effective action.
• Platform for policy input and collaboration: By hosting citizens' assemblies and public meetings, the hubs provide a platform for community voices in climate discussions, fostering a sense of ownership and active participation in climate action. Their role in facilitating collaboration, whether through developing community networks or partnership work, underscores their effectiveness in bringing together diverse stakeholders for common goals.
• Personalised support and motivation: The placement of development officers passionate about their local areas has been a game-changer, providing motivation, direction, and personalised support that catalyses community and organisational activities. This personal touch, coupled with the hubs' role as a "knowledgeable friend", enhances motivation and inspires a "snowball effect" of increased community involvement and enthusiasm for climate initiatives.

"I think the most valuable thing is having community development officers that have sufficient time and expertise to be able to provide that one-to-one help."

• Flexibility and innovation: The hubs' broad definition of climate change activity and their open approach to projects have allowed for a wide range of initiatives, from sustainability in local events to the installation of cigarette collection bins. This flexibility supports a wide interpretation of climate action, encouraging innovation and allowing communities to tailor initiatives to their unique contexts.
• Ability to work with limited resources. It is also worth noting that many stakeholders highlighted the hubs' “remarkable” impact despite their limited resources, emphasising the substantial impact they have managed to deliver under constrained conditions.

Areas for improvement

Stakeholders also highlighted areas where the hubs’ interventions could change or be improved. These include:

• Professional support and funding assistance: There was a need for the hubs to strengthen support in administrative, funding application, and project management aspects for community organisations. Professional support, possibly through funded project managers, could significantly aid organisations that struggle with the administrative burdens of climate initiatives, especially when many grants do not cover staff costs.
• Climate assemblies and engagement: Suggestions from stakeholders include improving the planning, scheduling, and engagement strategies for climate assemblies to ensure broader and more diverse community participation. Addressing timing and scheduling challenges, and allowing longer lead times for planning and outreach, could also help in reaching beyond the usual attendees and engaging difficult-to-reach audiences more effectively.
• Stakeholder engagement and scaling initiatives: Expanding efforts to engage a wider array of stakeholders, including underrepresented groups, and scaling up successful local initiatives to have a broader regional or national impact are seen as critical steps forward. Implementing continuous feedback mechanisms to gather community insights could also inform ongoing improvement and adaptation of initiatives.
• Resource management and strategic focus: Ensuring balanced resource allocation to prevent staff burnout and maintaining a clear strategic focus to avoid spreading efforts too thinly are essential for sustainable operations. Balancing localised solutions with broader regional and national climate goals is important for aligning the hubs' efforts with larger environmental objectives.
• Increased collaboration with local authorities: Strengthening collaboration with local councils and other strategic partners was also highlighted by stakeholders as a key area for future attention.

In summary, to answer the question: “To what extent did the intervention represent the best possible use of available resources to achieve the most valuable results for participants and the community?”, and considering the limitations of this research, it appears that interventions facilitated by the NESCAN and H&I hubs largely represent the best possible use of available resources. However, it must be noted that a quantitative economic impact assessment was not carried out as part of this assessment. This conclusion is based on the feedback provided by stakeholders. This is evidenced by stakeholders' identification of high-value interventions such as community engagement and education, empowerment through funding and training, providing a platform for policy input and collaboration, personalised support and motivation, and flexibility and innovation in project implementation. Stakeholders also noted areas for improvement, including the need for more professional support in administration and project management, and increased collaboration with local authorities (amongst others).

Are any positive results likely to be sustained? If so, what circumstances will enable this?

This evaluation explored whether interventions by the hubs will likely be sustained, through a number of lines of enquiry. These include whether the hubs were supporting projects that could be replicated, whether they were intervening in policy and decision making and whether they were promoting ownership at a local level.

Supporting replication and scaling up

The hub’s progress reports indicated that the hubs did not explicitly recognise the need for replication and scaling as a key outcome of their activities. However, stakeholders noted that the foundations are being laid by the hubs to promote replication and scaling up. For example, the creation of a publicly accessible database of projects and resources, derived from mapping events, plays a pivotal role in showcasing existing projects and outlining pathways for their replication. Establishing key relationships with local authorities, enterprises, and climate action organisations, was also seen as a way in which the hubs were building a foundation for replication and scaling up. Stakeholders also emphasised the importance of tailoring initiatives to meet the unique needs and challenges of each community, suggesting a nuanced approach to replication that considers local contexts and the necessity of securing diverse stakeholder engagement.

Supporting policy input and decision-making

The hubs have had some influence on local and national policy and decision-making. One key role the hubs are playing is facilitating connections between community voices and decision-making platforms. For example, by organising community assemblies and assisting in the preparation of community consultation responses on significant policies, the hubs have ensured that diverse community perspectives, especially from areas with heavy industrial reliance, such as Aberdeen, are considered in local governance. This effort includes presenting ideas at Priority Neighbourhood Partnership meetings and influencing the inclusion of community-generated actions in the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP), showcasing a commitment to integrating community voices into political and policy-making processes. Additionally, strategic efforts like incorporating a Member of Scottish Parliament into the hub's board and collaborating with academic institutions have amplified marginalised voices, further enriching policy discussions.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain in achieving full geographic coverage and influencing policy at national levels, with the hub planning to focus more on national policy influence in the future. Collaborative projects and training initiatives aimed at empowering communities for local climate action reflect the hubs’ commitment to fostering active community participation in policy setting.

Promoting ownership

A key observation from the research was that both pathfinder hubs have a deliberate focus on encouraging ownership of climate change interventions within communities. One of the key strategies employed by the hubs is assisting community groups in identifying actionable steps they can take towards addressing climate change. While the hubs provide the necessary support and resources to kickstart these actions, there is a clear intention to ensure that community groups possess the knowledge and capacity to carry forward these actions independently. This transfer of ownership not only empowers communities but also fosters a sense of responsibility and commitment towards the climate action initiatives they undertake.

"This kind of community development approach is avoiding building dependency. It's about building capacity."

The H&I hub, in particular, is working towards moving community groups away from a reliance on grants. This suggests an approach focused on building long-term, sustainable models for climate action initiatives, which inherently requires community ownership.

The hubs are also facilitating community ownership by exploring energy and community benefits and how they can be best distributed and used locally. This involves speaking with local energy suppliers to help build community-owned energy initiatives. The hubs' role in capacity building and empowering communities points towards their goal of enabling communities to take independent action on climate change initiatives.

In conclusion, to answer the question “Are any positive results likely to be sustained? If so, what circumstances will enable this?”, the research indicated that with continued support from the NESCAN and H&I hubs, the results are likely to be sustained due to the foundational work the hubs have put in place. This included promoting local ownership, emerging policy input and participating in decision-making structures. There is, however, potential to focus on additional policy input and focus more strongly on interventions that can be scaled up and replicated in the future.

Risks

Over and above the key questions posed at the outset of the evaluation, it is also worth highlighting a number of risks for the hubs that have emerged through the research.

Potential loss of momentum

Stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the risk of losing the momentum that the hubs have built over the past two years in establishing a foundation for climate change response across the region. Through the hub’s efforts in creating capacity, enhancing communication, providing seed funding, and more, the hubs have played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for effective climate action. However, there is an evident risk that a shift in focus or a discontinuation of funding could lead to the loss of this groundwork, undermining the progress made and leaving communities without the necessary support to continue their climate action efforts. This potential loss of momentum would potentially stall current initiatives and erode the enthusiasm and engagement levels among stakeholders, making it challenging to rekindle momentum in the future.

“I don't think it's there yet. I don't think it's been in place long enough for that momentum to keep going on its own. I think because groups are still learning, and groups are still having ideas about what they can do and what they can implement and they don't know how to do that.”

“I don't think the momentum is high enough... I'm not entirely convinced that the projects and activities would keep going without the hub in place.”

Short-term funding constraints

A second significant risk identified is the limitation imposed by the current funding model, which primarily relies on annual budgeting. This approach severely restricts the hubs' capacity for long-term planning and strategic foresight. The requirement to operate within the confines of a yearly budget often compels the hubs to overcommit in their annual financial plans, focusing on spending their budgets rather than establishing effective management systems and strategies for sustained impact. A shift towards longer-term budgeting, for instance, adopting a three-year financial planning horizon, could help address this risk. A longer-term funding cycle would enable the hubs to adopt a more strategic approach, allowing for comprehensive planning, the implementation of robust management frameworks, and the initiation of projects with longer gestation periods, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of climate action initiatives across the region.

“But I think some of these things that could have been done differently are actually a product of the short-term funding situation. They're given a pot of money, they have to spend it by a certain date, they have to deliver a project, which means sometimes it's... not the best possible shape it could be.”

High staff turn-over

Linked closely to the risk posed by short-term funding constraints is the challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled staff, particularly when positions can only be guaranteed for one year at a time. This risk is especially critical considering the pivotal role that community development officers play in forging and maintaining local connections with stakeholders. Their ability to understand and engage with community needs is fundamental to the hubs' success. Furthermore, in more remote regions, finding staff with the appropriate skills poses an additional challenge, and the limitation of offering only annual contracts exacerbates this issue. The uncertainty and lack of job security associated with short-term contracts may deter potential candidates, leading to high turnover rates and gaps in the hubs' ability to maintain consistent, effective engagement with communities. This turnover not only disrupts ongoing projects and relationships but also places additional strain on the hubs' resources, as time and effort must be diverted to continuous recruitment and training processes.

“There is high turnover within the hub. I believe it's all contract, short term contract work. So, you maybe build up that relationship, but then someone new coming in doesn't know who's who or doesn't have that relationship anymore.”

Conclusion

The overall intention of this evaluation was to assess the impact of the two pathfinder hubs and, in particular:

• whether the hubs are adding value to the existing community space?
• whether they are contributing to the shift to low-carbon and resilient communities?
• what the impact of the hubs have been so far?

Adding Value

It is clear from the research that the hubs are adding value to the existing community space. This is being achieved through a multilayered approach that encompasses the organisation of inclusive and educational events which foster widespread community engagement and learning. The development and dissemination of engaging materials and films empower local organisations to initiate innovative climate action projects. By hosting citizens' assemblies and public meetings, the hubs create vital platforms for community voices, ensuring their ideas and concerns are heard and integrated into local and regional climate strategies.

"I think the value they've added in this area... has been immense."

Furthermore, the hubs' efforts in facilitating funding applications and providing tailored project management help to address critical needs within community organisations, enabling them to navigate administrative challenges and secure essential resources. The strategic development of community networks enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing, amplifying the impact of climate initiatives across diverse groups. The hubs' role in bridging the gap between communities and the Scottish Government highlights their importance in incorporating a broad range of community interests into governance and decision-making processes.

Shift to low-carbon and resilient communities

The research has also shown that the hubs are playing a key role in the shift to low-carbon and resilient communities. This is being realised through the promotion of sustainable practices (e.g. the encouragement of bike reuse projects), which not only foster environmental stewardship but also contribute to local economic resilience. Educational programs and training sessions provided by the hubs enhance community understanding of climate change and equip individuals with the skills needed for effective climate action, thereby building a foundation for resilience. Additionally, the hubs' efforts in supporting local projects with seed funding illustrate their commitment to supporting innovation and the empowerment of communities to develop and implement solutions tailored to their unique challenges. By organising citizens' assemblies and facilitating public meetings, the hubs ensure that community members have a platform to express their views and participate actively in climate discussions, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to the transition process.

Impact

The research has shown that the hubs’ efforts in promoting sustainability, empowering grassroots innovation, and encouraging participatory governance have not only mobilised a diverse range of stakeholders but have also instilled a sense of ownership and proactive participation in climate initiatives. The hubs' role as a bridge between communities, government, and the broader climate action network underscores their integral contribution to integrating local actions with regional and national sustainability goals. Their continued evolution and adaptation to the needs and challenges of the communities they serve will undoubtedly ensure their enduring impact on building a more sustainable and resilient future.