2024 Conference. Workshops. Friday afternoon (4th October)
We were delighted to offer a choice of 6 workshops this year. Delegates got the opportunity to attend 2 on the Friday afternoon.
1. Just Add Biscuits - Youth Volunteering at Dunnet Community Forest - DCF. Garance Warburton (DCF)
This workshop will explore the journey DCF has been on since becoming a community owned forest in 2021, and the different paths walked to engage with young people: what’s worked; what hasn’t; the importance of involving young people in the future development of the forest; the aims and ambitions for the future of youth volunteering at DCF.
In 2023 the youth volunteers at DCF amassed over 700 hours of volunteering, this was achieved through a number of different projects that including working with disengaging pupils from our local high school, setting up a Conservation Summer School and working with young people who just want to be out in the environment making a difference.
We will discuss the organisations that can support you to develop youth volunteering, the importance of safe-guarding and building relationships with parents and guardians. We will also discuss the benefits of partnership working, how this can help both financially and with expert time and knowledge. We will take a closer look at a couple of the projects we have set up, how we did this and what the outcomes have been. You will also hear from some of our young people, their experiences, thoughts and feelings about volunteering at DCF and the importance of biscuits.
2. Woodland Group Enterprise and Sustainability. Jo Slater (Just Enterprise)
Just Enterprise is a Scottish Government funded programme that provides Business Support to Social Enterprises across Scotland. This includes Business Planning and Financial Management. The programme also provides Crisis Support for those who need immediate help to navigate through difficult times.
Financial sustainability is key to the long term success of community owned assets. Establishing enterprise to generate on-going traded income can create resilience and opportunity.
Jo Slater is a Business Advisor from the Just Enterprise programme who will lead this workshop. CWA members will share some examples of enterprise within their community woodlands, looking at what has worked well, challenges and lessons learned. The workshop will also cover financial management and tools to monitor the health of your organisation, particularly within the current climate.
Attendees can expect to get some inspiration and insight into enterprise opportunities within their own woodland. Also understanding on monitoring financial health and signposting for Business and Financial Support.
3. Community Asset Transfer - how it should work and how it actually works. Felix Spittal (DTAS) and Maria De La Torreg (Knocknagael Limited)
If you are currently exploring an asset transfer or would just like to know more about what’s involved, this workshop will help you understand the rights you have as communities, the processes involved, what you need to do to prepare and some of the challenges you might expect along the way. Felix Spittal from the Development Trusts Association Scotland will cover the key steps in the asset transfer process, the support available to communities, as well as providing some examples of communities who have successfully been through the process. Maria de la Torre, Chairperson of Knocknagael Ltd will talk about their experience of asset transfer, outlining the challenges they’ve overcome and their continuing battle to acquire land near Inverness for a Green Hub community growing project.
4. Working with the private sector. Piers Voysey (CWA)
This workshop will share experience in working with contracting companies, be they woodland managers, tree surgeons, sign makers, or...etc We will look at best practice for inviting tenders, reviewing tenders, commissioning and managing contracts, and wherever you have questions or concerns and experience to share. We will cover working with local contractors, supporting local employment, building trust and collaboration.
5. Fund raising for community woodland groups. Marion MacNeil (Highland Third Sector Interface)
Discover how to:
Keep track of funding opportunities/applications
Prepare evidence for funders
Demonstrate community needs
Measure and define success
6. Bring your issues - Action Learning Sets. Sharon Smith (CWA Member Support Officer)
If you have a burning issue in your CWG that you are scrappling with and you would like to receive some help in getting some perspective, then this is right up your street.
Sharon Smith (CWA Member Support Officer) will be running an Action Learning Set so that you can get the support you need from colleagues in similar community situations.
During an action learning set, participants come with an issue they would like to receive some support with. That may be: an idea they are struggling with as they don't know how to action it; a problem they are encountering and need the support of others to work out how to proceed; and so on.
You will be asked probing questions from the others in the set to help you consider your issue in hand. You will not be offered advice or a solution, but you will be provided the time and space to consider other options open to you through careful, considered questions.
Action Learning Sets are truly a wonderful way of being heard, understood, seen and supported, and are excellent support for those in our community woodland groups.
