Upcoming Events
Green Futures Festival
Saturday 22nd March
at Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh
This festival will build on a year of building action across East Lothian, and look to be a dynamic and energising day for people new to climate action and for people who have been involved for a long time.
This festival will be a space of connecting and learning skills, with themed zones from food, energy, biodiversity to circular economy as well as spaces focussed on the political landscape and campaigns and collective wellbeing.
There will be a climate gathering to connect and look at what work we can build together. There will also be music and climate activities for kids to get involved in throughout the day.
We would love to see you there! For more info check out our Updates page >>
Past Events
Workshop on Hedgerows: Tuesday 18th Feb, 9am- 1pm, East Linton Community Hall
If you are interested in hedgerow assessment / planting / maintenance in East Lothian this is a fantastic opportunity to hear from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species who developed the Healthy Hedgerows assessment app, to learn some of the theory and how to apply it in practice.
The morning will include an interactive presentation and a short walk observing different hedges and their health.
Learning about Sustaining Dunbar's Pledgehog project: Saturday 15th Feb, 10am - 12:30pm
A fantastic opportunity to learn about Sustaining Dunbar’s successful Pledgehog project for Hedgehogs (a great way to support urban wildlife) https://sustainingdunbar.org/topics/blog/pledgehog/
Race, Racism and Anti-Racist Conversation: Wed 5 Feb, 9.30am - 3.30pm, Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh
CEMVO Scotland are running a training conversation to explore race, racism and how to be anti-racist. They believe that increasing our knowledge as a person is the most important anti-racist act, we can take upon ourselves. This topic is very relevant given the nature of climate change and its implications on racialised communities on a local and global level.
The training will explore:
• Examining own beliefs and values related to stereotypes, prejudice, and racism
• Influencing and holding others to account
• Changing hearts and minds
ELCAN online peer-to-peer: topic Funding. Mon 27 Jan, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Online
Join this informal online ELCAN peer-to-peer event on the topic of Funding.
Hear from ELCAN members Sarah Bronsdon (Lower Impact Living) and Naomi Barnes (Sustaining Dunbar) who will share their experiences of preparing to fundraise, Grant funding, preparing applications, and what funders are looking for.
Followed by a Question and Answer session; and a more informal discussion to share any challenges, suggestions and top tips.
Biodiversity Collective launch and visit to Twa Burns Wood - Fri 10 Jan, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
East Linton Community Hall and at Twa Burns Wood.Take part in the launch of the East Lothian Biodiversity Collective, to meet others across East Lothian who are interested in or involved in projects and activities for Biodiversity.
There will be an opportunity, over a cup of tea/coffee to collectively share what topics and site visits would be helpful for future peer-to-peer learning, and what skills and resources can be offered or are needed to support each others’ projects and activities.
This will be followed by the first on-site visit to Twa Burns Wood over Drylaw hilll near East Linton – a collaborative project between a landowner and a local community group.
Climate Hub Winter Gathering: A celebration of ELCAN members. Thurs 28 Nov, 6-8:30pm, Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh.
We invite all ELCAN members to a warm evening (of celebrating the work of ELCAN member organisations, with food, drink, and live music provided (and a potluck for the sides and desserts, if you’d like to showcase your own culinary skills!)
With the winter drawing in, it’s the perfect time for a cosy get together. This will be a celebratory evening where we can all share the successes of ELCAN members, including the achievements of the groups who were awarded the seed funding. There will be plenty of space to connect and talk, with new and old members of the network, and with some relaxing live music in the background. A great opportunity to connect, inspire and to remind ourselves of the impact and positive changes our projects and activities can bring.
Attracting and Retaining Volunteers
Mon 11 Nov, 7-8:30pm. Online.
Join in this peer to peer session to hear from:
Carey Douglas from Sustaining Dunbar who has worked with High School students in a buddying system and has great success in involving volunteers in community gardens
Sharon Young, Volunteer Centre East Lothian, who will share tips on attracting and retaining volunteers
Following which there will be a Question and Answer session and informal discussion. This will be a practical and informative session, and an opportunity for you to share any challenges or successes that you have also experienced within your own group’s work.
East Lothian Climate Hub Food Gathering
Wed 23 Oct 2024 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Dunbar Town House, Community Room
The purpose of this gathering will be to agree the focus area / actions for food in East Lothian that the Climate Hub, in partnership with interested ELCAN members and interested parties, can put energies into and feed into an action plan. This will be agreed against the East Lothian Friendly Food Network’s Charter, and other work going on across East Lothian, identifying where we can collectively add value.
Seagrass Monitoring Outdoor Session
Thurs 10th Oct 11.45am – 2.15pm, Outdoor session at Tyninghame Beach
This is a fantastic opportunity being delivered by Restoration Forth specifically for ELCAN members to attend. It gives a chance to learn more about the work of Seagrass restoration locally and how we can best support it – and a chance to get involved practically for a few hours!
Farming and Sustainability in Scotland
Wed 9th Oct, 7-8.30pm, online.
Climate activism, good mental health and collective wellbeing
Mon 30th Sept, 9.30am – 1pm. Willow Room, Cockenzie House, Prestonpans – please see directions to not get lost.
Learning how to be with climate-anxiety is crucial for long term engagement in climate activism and good mental health. This workshop will cover understanding climate-anxiety, managing climate-anxiety and therapeutic responses and how to keep ourselves individually and collectively in good mental health as we carry out climate activism.
Community Heat Teams – Distributing Cameras, Establishing Teams, Initiating Action
Fri 27 Sept, 3-6pm. Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh
Join us for an exciting opportunity to join teams and help your neighbours save on energy bills while reducing carbon emissions! We are helping communities form teams in several local areas and providing hands-on training on using the cameras, conducting heat surveys, and accessing resources to support home retrofitting. The event will feature expert guidance, practical tips, and opportunities to connect with others passionate about sustainability.
