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What is a swift caller and how is it bringing swifts and people together across Dumfries and Galloway? Our hosts, Sarah, Kaska and Chiara join Andrew Turney on a journey to meet swifts, swift brick pioneers and hear about how networking and collaboration turned a small group of swift enthusiasts into a rapidly expanding multi-partner Dumfries and Galloway Network. This podcast episode is a collaboration between SCCAN and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and a companion piece to the In Real Life blog series which you can find on climateconfident.scot. It’s a part of SCVO’s Growing Climate Confidence project, which supports third sector organisations in Scotland to reduce carbon emissions, take positive climate action and become more resilient.  You can read the In Real Life blog here: https://climateconfident.scot/stories NOTE: Unfortunately, since we met Andrew at the Sanquhar Shed have decided that at the moment they do not have capacity to embark on stepping up production of the solar PV callers alongside their other activities. This is disappointing for the Dumfries Swift Group from the swift conservation point of view, however the Swift Group said that they respect the decision made, and if there is a future decision to continue with the caller project they look forward to teaming up again. Credits Interview: Sarah McArthur Production, recording, editing: Kaska Hempel  Support and photography: Chiara Fingland Hosting: Sarah, Chiara and Kaska Resources Growing Climate Confidence: https://climateconfident.scot Growing Climate Confidence In Real Life: https://climateconfident.scot/stories The D&G Swift Network can be contacted via [email protected]. Save Our Swifts: local organisations get together to protect swift colonies - story on the UNESCO Biosphere on Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere website: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/save-our-swifts-local-organisations-get-together-to-protect-swift-colonies-in-the-unesco-biosphere/ Sanquar Men’s Shed https://www.facebook.com/SanquharMensShed  Prison swift box project BBC story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89e0gjy4vzo   Save Our Swifts project - UNESCO Biosphere Dumfries and Galloway https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/save-our-swifts-local-organisations-get-together-to-protect-swift-colonies-in-the-unesco-biosphere/

What does it mean to live well? And what does it take for a community to make it happen in the face of disappearing jobs, increased cost of living and a changing climate? Join Kaska Hempel, our Story Lead, as she visits Shotts in North Lanarkshire to meet Mags Murphy and Mark Slorance from Getting Better Together, one of Scotland's innovative Healthy Living Centres. Together they explore how their community has led for 25 years on helping local people live well - building better health and, more recently, weaving climate action into everyday community life. Hosts Laura McDonald (Scottish Community Development Centre) and Pam Candea (Scottish Communities Climate Action Network) reflect on the story, exploring how communities can improve health and wellbeing while creating a more resilient future, and what Unbound can learn from places where climate action grows naturally from the things that matter most to people. Becoming Unbound is the pilot podcast mini-series for the Unbound Scotland project, which supports community-led action on climate and health across Scotland. Through conversations rooted in lived experience, the series explores how communities are responding to climate and health challenges - and how these stories can help shape the future of Unbound. Chapters 00:40     Host Introduction 02:25     Welcome to Shotts 11:39     Something Had to Change 16:38     Making Things Happen 21:34     A Place for the Community 24:11     Living Well 30:01     When the Weather Changes 33:45     Building Resilience 39:01     Keep the Wheel Turning 44:13     Host Reflection: The Story Beyond Shotts   Resources  Unbound Scotland project website: https://www.unbound.scot/  Getting Better Together website: https://shottshealthyliving.com/  The Community Health Exchange (CHEX): https://www.chex.org.uk/  Healthy Living Centres - the origin story and long-term survival through Healthy Living Centre Alliance: https://www.seemescotland.org/media/7290/one-vision.pdf   Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing - An alliance of community led health organisations dedicated to promoting and delivering health improvements and reducing health inequalities in Scotland’s communities: https://www.schw.co.uk/  Health Issues in the Community resource: www.hiic.org.uk  Shotts Climate Plan: https://shottshealthyliving.com/downloads/Shotts_Community_Climate_Action_Plan_20.05.22.pdf  Story of how Shotts Climate Plan came together: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/blog/2022/shotts-is-acting-now-on-climate-change/  Environmental Key Fund:  https://environmentalkeyfund.com/  Info on Community Benefit Funds: https://www.gov.scot/news/communities-benefit-from-renewable-energy/  Investing in Communities Fund: https://www.gov.scot/publications/investing-in-communities-fund-round-2-approved-awards-2023-2026/  Credits  Kaska Hempel (design, production, interviewing, editing) Blip Blop Tuesday by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558270/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

How does a run down public toilet turn a coastal village into a multi-award-winning community with a shared vision for the future? And what does it take for this community to feel safe despite growing challenges of coastal erosion, storms and flooding? Join Kaska Hempel, our Story Lead, for a conversation with Wendy Murray and Jerry Forteath from East Haven on the Angus coast, to hear about the incredible story of their journey with East Haven Together. Hosts Sam Jordan (Scottish Community Development Centre) and Ruth McLaren (Scottish Communities Climate Action Network) listen alongside you, reflecting on what this story reveals about community power, climate action and the questions shaping their work as members of the Unbound communications team. Becoming Unbound is the pilot podcast mini-series for the Unbound Scotland project, which supports community-led action on climate and health across Scotland. Through conversations rooted in lived experience, the series explores how communities are responding to climate and health challenges - and how these stories can help shape the future of Unbound. Transcript of the episode is available here: https://www.unbound.scot/podcasts/season-1-episode-1 Credits:  Kaska Hempel (design, production, community interview, editing) Blip Blop Tuesday by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558270/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Resources:  Unbound Scotland project website: https://www.unbound.scot/  East Haven Together website: https://www.easthavenangus.com/

This vignette explores the magic of people from all walks of life coming together in a protest for a cause, demanding a better future for their communities. It was recorded on 25 October 2025, the day of Scotland Demands Better march and rally in Edinburgh, organized by Poverty Alliance. Kaska speaks to Sandy Greene from ScrapAntics in Dundee who shares her personal experience as a lifelong activist and the way a peaceful protest can resonate throughout lives of individuals involved, local communities and a wider society. You will hear vox pops from members of Dundee Changemaker Hub, protest participants and ambient recordings from the day. Credits:  Production, interview, edit - Kaska Hempel Resources: Kaska's creative sound Substack podcast ("Pebbles"): https://kaykay2000.substack.com/  Scotland Demands Better Campaign https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/ Dundee Changemakers Hub https://www.dundee-changemakers.net/  Scrapantics https://www.scrapantics.co.uk/  Galgael Trust https://www.galgael.org/

In this crossover, we share a standalone podcast episode from Transition St Andrews about their reuse and repair initiative. You will hear about the programme’s projects and activities and its positive impact on students, staff and local residents within the community.   Enjoying the podcast? Share the story with others, review or rate our show.   Credits: Ruth Sanderson, Senior Communications Manager at the University of St Andrews.   Resources: Sharing, Reuse & Repair: Transition St Andrews: https://transitionsta.org/sharing/  Transition St Andrews website: https://transitionsta.org/

In this crossover, we share an episode of the CycleHub Stories podcast A Journey of a Bike Time. Cycle Hub.Org director Scott Francis talks about why the organisation was formed. We meet David, who comes to the Dundee Cycle Hub to donate a bike with a story. We also hear from Fiona Brunton, Engagement Coordinator for the Students Association at Abertay University.   Enjoying the podcast? Share the story with others, review or rate our show.   Credits: Production, interviews and editing: Sally Pearson - volunteer for Cycle Hub.Org.   Resources:   CycleHub Stories A Journey of a Bike Time podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uJ2e2McKNUujOYkKmIVf3?si=23d88782a74d46cd    Cycle Hub.Org’s website: https://www.cyclehub.org/ Abertay Students Association: https://www.abertaysa.com/

In this crossover, we share an episode of Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network’s new podcast series Climate Jam. Host Eirini talks to Pianodrome’s co-founder Tim Vincent-Smith about the story behind building the world’s first Pianodrome in Edinburgh. They discuss the importance of community, circular economy and how a project needs a soul to make it work. Enjoying the podcast? Share the story with others, review or rate our show. Credits: Production, interviews and editing: Eirini Chatzidaki. Resources: ECCAN’s Climate Jam Podcast: https://www.eccan.scot/climatejam-podcast Pianodrome website: https://www.pianodrome.org  ECCAN’s website: https://www.eccan.scot/

In this episode, Kaska Hempel explores the ideas behind the Narrating Change workshop - a creative experiment in using storytelling to bring community voices into climate adaptation policy-making. You will hear from researcher and workshop lead Emma Yule, and community participant Luke Fraser who is based in Orkney. They share what they got out of the session, and reflect on their wider ideas of adaptation and resilience in our communities and how the current Scottish Government policy fits into the picture.  The workshop was delivered by SCCAN in partnership with King’s College London, and funded by KCL’s Impact Accelerator. Credits:  Production, interviews, editing - Kaska Hempel Resources:  Community Adaptation Routemap - Adaptation Scotland: https://adaptation.scot/take-action/community-climate-adaptation-routemap/ Preparing for climate impacts resources on SCCAN website: https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/    Scottish National Adaptation Plan 3 (SNAP3) explainer https://adaptation.scot/about/about-the-scottish-governments-national-adaptation-plan-snap3/    Climate Change Adaptation: A primer with Emma Yule on the Local Zero podcast: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/c2z1qopayyftugl6stj9cocguu9vsp    Luke Fraser’s “hats”: https://www.aquatera.co.uk/  https://northronaldsaytrust.com/  https://www.scottish-islands-federation.co.uk/     Carbon Neutral Islands Project: https://cni.scot/  National Island Plan: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-plan-scotlands-islands/   UK Met Office analysis of weather in Spring 2025 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/double-record-breaker-spring-2025-is-warmest-and-sunniest-on-uk-record

In this cross over we share a 2022 episode of The Highland Good Food Podcast, published by Highlands Good Food Network. Host, Laura Dorantt, speaks to Anna from Planet Sutherland, Mairi from the Fearn Free Food Garden and Emma from the Auchtertyre Community Garden. They discuss the importance of community food projects, which offer a space for learning, a place to gather and grow. Enjoying the podcast? Support us with a donation on ko-fi or simply share the story with others, review or rate our show. Resources: Donate to 1000 Better Stories podcast https://ko-fi.com/1000betterstoriespod Highland Good Food Podcast (you can also find it on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcasting distribution apps) https://highlandgoodfood.scot/podcast/ Highland Good Food Partnership https://highlandgoodfood.scot/ Fear Free Food Garden https://easterrosspeninsula.com/listings/fearn-free-food-garden/ Planet Sutherland https://planetsutherland.com/ SCCAN membership map https://sccan.scot/about/members/ (Community members involved in growing: https://new.opengreenmap.org/browse/sites?icon=62e6a4a3b8121f0100b0e7fa&map=62e6a19ae0fc1e0100a2a115&search=growing)

In this cross over we share the first episode of the Paperboats podcast, associated with the Paperboats collective of Scotland-based writers focussed on nature and environment in a time of climate and ecological breakdown. Host, Ian Grosz, talks with Paperboats co-founders Sandy Winterbottom and Elaine Morrison about the ideas behind the movement and its work so far. Enjoying the podcast? Support us with a donation on ko-fi or simply share the story with others, review or rate our show. Resources: Donate to 1000 Better Stories podcast https://ko-fi.com/1000betterstoriespod Paperboats collective https://paperboats.org/ Paperboats podcast https://paperboats.org/podcasts/

2024 marked the five-year anniversary of Greener Kirckaldy's ownership of their community building and 100 years of the community land ownership movement in Scotland. This is a story of this community’s journey to community ownership and how that empowered them to do more on climate, build resilience and help people in need. SCCAN podcast has lost it's funding. While we look for other sources, you can support us by donating through ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/1000betterstoriespod You can also join our collective and share your audio stories through our channel - get in touch with Kaska on [email protected]. Credits Production and recording: Lewis Harrower Field recording: Kaska Hempel Resources Greener Kirkcaldy https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/ Community Land Scotland and the Stove Network - urban journeys digital mural - a story of community ownership https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/project/greener-kirkcaldy-mural-a-story-of-community-ownership/ 100 Years of Community Ownership story archive https://100years.scot/ DTAS community ownership support service https://dtascommunityownership.org.uk/  Scottish Land Fund https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/scottish-land-fund

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to the creative duo behind Art Moves Fife, Gillian McFarland and Kate Downes, about slow movement through landscape as a means to mobilise creative response to climate crisis, creative patience in thinking about solutions and tails wagging dogs. You can find the audio tour illustrating the essence of the creative process during the first art move at Tayport Heath on izi.travel website or app here. Credits Production: Kaska Hempel Resources Art Moves Fife website https://www.artmovesfife.org/ Art Move at Tayport Heath - blog https://www.artmovesfife.org/blog/artmove-1b Art Move at Tayport Heath - audio tour https://izi.travel/en/browse/a20cf047-db75-4f72-93e4-9ab98171d1c0/en

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, speaks with Marie-Anne Brown, a manager at Magpie in Banchory, about embracing a circular economy lifestyle, balancing social and climate responsibilities, and planning for extreme weather. This is a final episode in our mini-series on climate driven extreme weather and adaptation in Scotland, marking the first anniversary of the devastating October floods in North East Scotland. Credits Production, recording and editing: Kaska Hempel Resources Magpie Shops https://www.magpieshops.org.uk/  Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/  Aberdeen Voluntary Action https://www.avashire.org.uk/  Aberdeenshire South Food Bank https://aberdeenshiresouth.foodbank.org.uk/  DeesideCAN https://www.deesidecan.org.uk/  Number One https://www.facebook.com/numberonebanchory  SSEN powering communities to net zero fund includes funding for community-led physical and environmental resilience for communities within their supply network areas https://www.ssen.co.uk/about-ssen/our-communities/powering-communities-to-net-zero-fund/  The Scottish Government’s New Build Heat Standard will now allow wood burning stoves from 1 January 2025, based on rural and island community feedback (amendment on 8 November 2024)  https://www.gov.scot/news/wood-burning-stoves-to-be-permitted-in-new-homes/  SCCAN Adaptation resources https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/

We continue on our theme of climate change fuelled flooding and how we are adapting to it in Scotland. In the last two episodes we touched on responses from creative organisations and farming. Today we focus on future-proofing of newly built public buildings.  In a podcast crossover, we share an episode from CampusCast series at Fife College, which focused on their Dunfermline Learning Campus as a pathfinder project for The Net Zero Public Sector Buildings standard. It’s the only pathfinder project that incorporated adaptation into their work, supported by Scotland’s Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network. The new campus is featured in the newly published Scottish National Adaptation plan as a case study. CampusCast hosts, Sharrell Carroll and Naomi Wadsworth, are joined by industry expert Jonny Casey (Head of Climate Ready Leadership, Sniffer) to introduce climate adaptation, highlight what they are up to at Fife College and what you can do to get started with climate adaptation.  Credits:  CampusCast: Showcasing Sustainability podcast Hosts: Sharrell Carroll & Naomi Wadsworth Creative Director: Sharrell Carroll Producer, Writer & Editor: Sharrell Carroll Project Manager: Hayley Williamson Researchers: Sharrell Carroll, Hayley Williamson & Naomi Wadsworth Contributors & Advisors: Hayley Williamson & Naomi Wadsworth Additional contributors: Lucy Jackson, Ethan Moss, and the Fife College community. Music: Uppbeat Resources CampusCast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/110lS6bEVS0JcEIuU6XV1M?si=6b976a1750d74128 CampusCast on Adaptation Scotland website: https://adaptation.scot/our-work/fife-college-podcast-on-climate-adaptation/  Net Zero Standard https://www.netzerostandard.scot/  National Adaptation Plan for Scotland https://adaptation.scot/about/about-the-scottish-governments-national-adaptation-plan-snap3/ Scottish Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network  https://adaptation.scot/our-work/public-sector-climate-adaptation-network/  SCCAN Adaptation resource pages https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/

In this episode, we share a recording of a panel discussion on Farming and Water held at the Groundswell Outreach regenerative farming meet up at the Falkland estate in Fife, last July. The session explores how landscape-level, regenerative management can help us adapt to the climate-induced extremes of floods and droughts. It also touches on the barriers to implementing such an approach.  The panel was led by Ian Davis and included Alister Leggatt, Lyn White, and Cees Kamp and Anthony Ellis.  This is the second in a short series focusing on flooding and adaptation stories this month. Credit Recording and edit: Kaska Hempel Music extracts from “Song Shall Be Our Measure”, by Jessica Kerr, performed by herself, Kirsty Orton and Aaron McGregor Poem written and performed by Sophie Cooke “The overpromised land” Both works were commissioned as one of the creative inputs into the Scottish Ecological Design Association’s (SEDA) session on integrated land use at GO Falkland. Resources Groundswell https://groundswellag.com/  GO Falkland https://falklandestate.co.uk/go-falkland/  Videos from GO Falkland 2023 and 2024 https://www.youtube.com/@GOFalkland/videos Video of SEDA’s session on Solving the Land Use Jigsaw Puzzle at GO Falkland 2024 https://youtu.be/8TxnHG9JwU8?si=RcNYuRmVXMDlU_JP Integrated Trees Network - Scottish Forestry https://www.forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/farm-woodlands/integrating-trees-network  Affinity Water https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/  “Water is Love” film https://www.waterislovefilm.org/  5 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture https://groundswellag.com/principles-of-regenerative-agriculture/