Examples of how Creating Connections has helped build Sustainable Empowered Communities
Strategic Campaigning & Organisational Capacity Development
My work focuses on supporting local action for change, and designing supporting people and designing systems that improve capacity and effectiveness
Innovate, implement and amend administrative and collective participation systems
Over several years, and by working as a team with other members of a small housing co-operative, we have consciously identified gaps, solutions/ methods to improve the management and development of our organisation and home. Includes facilitating financial management and procedures policy and procedures, recruiting new long-term members, many building improvements and much more!
2001 - current
Provider of 1 and 2 day Strategic Campaigning Training for More-then-Profit sector organisations
I have organised bespoke training courses on Strategic Campaigning directly for WWF Scotland and Scottish Green Party, as well as providing knowledge and skills to over 40 organisations through shared training events.
Jan 05 - Sept 06 Testimony
Householder campaigner with pilot scheme on Energy Efficiency Project with LEEP (now Changeworks)
As one of 7 households involved in LEEP's Top of Tenements pilot project on energy efficiency, I contributed to the successful local initiative by campaigning strategically to influence local planning policy. The result was the change in local regulation for the installation of renewables and the definition of criteria under which installations would be classified as 'permitted development', which means they no longer need planning consent, and avoids both the professional advisors costs and application fees.
This pilot also included liaison with contractors regarding installation of solar water heating, heat recovery ventilation and roof insulation and monitoring the effects of these. The project outcomes are now being used to develop further renewables initiatives, and as evidence for revising parliamentary Bills on renewables and planning regulation.
2004-06 Testimony
Participation in the John Muir Trust’s Journey for the Wild 2006
The Journey for the Wild comprises of four routes, 70 legs and covers 2,500 miles. The aim is to pass a message baton along each of the four routes. To do this, hundreds of participants from all over Britain, of all ages and abilities, took on individual legs between a day and a week long; traveling light and with the least possible impact on the environment through some of Britain's wildest places and most spectacular scenery.
Volunteered for a hard job – walking the Cullin ridge on the Isle of Skye – Britain’s most impressive and extensive high mountain ridge traverse. My role included: organising logistics, a mountain guide, PR and writing, and joining the fun. Unfortunately, the wild weather put a dampener on things...
August 2006
De-registration as an Registered Social Landlord from Community Scotland
A battle for autonomy and self-regulation of our small housing co-op. Working collectively with others in the co-op which, after enlisting legal support, we have become the only Registered Social Landlord to de-register from Community Scotland and their inappropriate - to our needs and size - bureaucracy. Others wish to follow in our footsteps...
2003 - 2006
Strategic Campaigning team training for WWF Scotland and Scottish Green Party
Organised 2 bespoke training days for staff on Strategic Campaigning, with Michelle Sheather (a Greenpeace International training consultant). Liaised with organisation, staff and venue, learning needs assessed, materials production, and ensured smooth running of the day.
Jan 05
Successfully campaign to change Scottish Executive legislation on the HMO Order
I initiated a cross-Co-op campaign group to work with the Social Justice committee of the Scottish executive to fight for an exemption to the HMO Order whilst there was still time to appeal. This legislation (The Houses of Multiple Occupancy Order) was established to protect vulnerable tenants from unscrupulous landlords. Hundreds of residents of all the small housing co-ops - an unusual mix of tenant/landlord - that exist in Scotland were under serious threat of loosing their lifestyles and homes due to the implementation of this legislation who's application across Scotland was ad-hoc. We succeeded in making our 'collective case', thus ensuring the survival and autonomy of all small housing co-ops in Scotland, and setting a precedent for England/ Wales to follow.
The HMO has swept south of the boarder - without our 'Co-op' exemption. Thousands of housing co-op members will suffer as a result. I have been supporting Co-ops UK Policy team through sharing information and ideas on our case. We wish them well with theirs.
2002 - 2004 Testimony