Testimonials from my clients
Jump to 2006, 2005, 2004 - 2003
2007
Community consultation to develop a long-term vision for Venture Scotland’s bothy at Glen Etive.
"Claire ran a community consultation project for Venture Scotland in Autumn 2006. Her approach was extremely professional and well organised and she delivered an excellent piece of work to a tight timescale.
Over her time working with us, she was able to quickly develop a good understanding of our organisation and its culture and was therefore able to run consultation sessions with staff, volunteers and the young people we work with that were pitched at just the right level.
The final report that she produced for us was focussed and insightful and laid out a practical plan of action for Venture Scotland to take forward into the future. The hard outcomes that were produced are also of an excellent standard. You managed both Joe and Dave well to produce the scientific and permaculture maps, which were a key part of the project."
Jane Bruce, Director
Venture Scotland
Bespoke information sharing, advice and networking for Scotland UnLtd and their Awardees
"Scotland UnLtd really values your ideas, honesty, support and input on many levels. Your passion for connecting people and sharing ideas and information is an inspiration to us all. Bring on the Melting Pot!"
Eileen Inglis, Development Manager
Organise and facilitate planning weekends for The Melting Pot volunteer development team
" I must say that last week-end was immensely inspirational. We worked well as a team - and covered an immense amount of ground. Your disciplined approach to chairing and directing the Meeting was admirable - and highly effective!"
James Wilson - Director and Member of the Core Development Team
Scottish Arts Council Creative Links at the Scottish Adult Learning Partnership
"Claire, what a valuable and thoughtful contributor you have been to the development of the Café Culture process through which so many inspiring women were able to share their aspirations and business plans. Your facilitation experience also kept us right in the pre-event planning and briefing for the Café Culture table hosts. I think your enthusiasm for connecting people together is infectious and I know that as a result of what we did together at the Women as Social Entrepreneurs one day event, Scotland UnLtd and myself are enabled to take the next steps in the nurturing and developing a national network for female entrepreneurs. I know that your skills and The Melting Pot’s opportunities will be of great benefit to us in that work, so thanks again."
Jacqueline Whymark, SALP
More information on Strategic Campaigning Course 2006
Participant feedback on my Strategic Campaigning 2006 course
"Thanks very much for sending over these resources and an even bigger thank you for putting on the course. I don't think my comments on the feedback form did it justice - I found it extremely useful and have no doubt that I'll be more effective as a result of it."
Ben Murray, Researcher, Scottish Green Party
Watersense (a WWF Scotland and Scottish Water project)
AIM: To gather information on projects, campaigns & organisations that work in the water/environment field, for inclusion in an informal networking database.
"I thought your contacts would be very useful in giving the work a kick start; and the name of your business fits perfectly with what I was trying to do so you must have been the right person for the job!"
Miranda Jacques-Turner
Southern Uplands Partnership
Feasibility study for shared office space in sustainable new-build offices in rural situations.
"We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Claire, her enthusiasm and commitment to the project has been clear from the start and at every stage she has gone “the extra mile” to ensure that we get as comprehensive a picture as possible as the basis for our feasibility study... A positive and enthusiastic approach"
Flora McDowall, Project Officer
Contribution of Resources and Information to Senscot (the Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland Exchange)
"The Senscot Exchange much appreciates the resources contributed by Creating Connections to our Tools and Templates web pages. This type of information sharing can only build capacity within the sector and save people a huge amount of time and effort searching for information that they can now put their finger on quickly. Many thanks."
Pat Bowie, Senscot Exchange Exchange Manager
Co-operatives UK Limited - Housing of Multiple Occupancy legislation
"Our group was trying to find out how the Scottish housing co-ops had managed to persuade the Scottish Executive to grant them an exemption to some new regulations and we were getting nowhere. Then someone gave us Claire's contact details. Within hours we'd got a response from her - the full story, plus names, emails addresses, ideas, encouragement. That was the breakthrough we needed and since then, inspired by the Scottish example, we've been making steady progress. Thanks Claire!"
John Goodman, Head of Policy and the Regions
Centre for Human Ecology
"Thank you for your presentation at the CHE Gathering last month. I have had a lot of feedback from people saying how much they enjoyed the event; your talk undoubtedly contributed to the success! I was both interested and impressed to hear about the development of the Melting Pot, and how your experience with CHE has fed into that process."
Osbert Lancaster, Director of CHE
World Development Movement
"Acting as a trouble-shooter Claire has been able to rejuvenate our Ullapool group with her organisation and enthusiasm, motivating the participants to become active citizens. Providing one to one facilitator training she has supported and aided the continuation of our Dingwall group.
We hope, and look forward to, making use of Claire's expertise and initiative in the future."
Kirstie Shirra, Head of Scottish Campaigns
From Harriet - a local group coordinator re advice on resources to make groups more effective: "Thanks Claire, this has been helpful in that it's making me think about exactly where we take this."
Bespoke Personalised Networking
"You are good at what you do, or should I say I enjoy the work you do, it meets my need for integrity, authenticity, inspiration and connectedness and more besides if I had the (NVC) list in front of me."
Sally Edwards
Scottish Business in the Community
SBC engaged Creative Connections to contribute research, information for a project developing a training module on Corporate Social Responsibility for Scottish Enterprise Business Advisors.
"Claire provided information on a range of subjects that are part of the CSR mix, including environment and community.
The work was carried out thoroughly and we were particularly pleased with the breadth and depth of information we received.
We were confident that the information we received from Claire was robust and up-to-date. The information has now become part of the material that Scottish Enterprise will use for the on-line training module."
Karen Moore, Development Manager
Youth Achievement Awards - Volunteer Development Scotland
"It has been very easy to work with you, you have done what you say when you say it, and you have picked up and worked with ideas and possibilities in a very pro-active way which helps me to have confidence in you."
Lesley Greenaway, ex- Deputy Chief of VDS
"Claire Carpenter's key contribution to this collaborative project was supporting the development of materials to contextualise Youth Achievement Awards materials for the Voluntary Sector. She provided a very personable contact for Volunteer Centres and completed a comprehensive evaluation of a very broad range of the stakeholders involved.
Claire demonstrated an enthusiasm and passion for the project work that was above and beyond the call of duty. Her enthusiasm and belief in the objectives of the project helped achieve a very positive result."
Steven Greig, Youth Scotland
Rhyddian Knight
Early work with Claire involved leading groups through wild places both in the UK and Europe as part of the educational arm of the John Muir Trust.
"Claire Carpenter has been invaluable to my professional development over the years, possessing a discerning eye, a keen ear to the ground and a conscientious heart for networking; forging connections between social/ecological entrepreneurs with a view to making a tangible difference in the community."
"Seldom do we find a person who so naturally weaves synergies between people doing real ground-breaking work. I am very grateful to Claire, and Creating Connections for tirelessly keeping a finger on the pulse; and keeping it real!"
Rhyddian Knight - Development worker, Venture Scotland
Strategic Campaigning - 2-day Course
"The course was an extremely practical tool in helping Concern Worldwide formulate our campaigning plans."
Mhari Owens, Concern Worldwide
"A fascinating and truly useful insight into the world of campaigning."
Richard Hamer, Director, Ownership Options
"The Strategic Campaigning course has changed the way I look at and approach issues. Thank you for organising this training, it has made a real difference to my work and I’m sure it has to a lot of other people! I come away with a conviction that campaigning is the most empowering approach to engagement in decision making processes."
Chris Ball, Quest SouthWest
"Really useful as a practical but yet strategic insight into campaigning and its various elements."
Emma Hutton Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition
"Thanks too for organising such a great course. I came away feeling very inspired."
Maureen Mack Pilton Partnership
"The Strategic Campaigning course was really useful to me as a first-time campaign coordinator. There was far too much to take in, and there was much of it I didn't understand until my own campaign came and slapped me in the face with it! However, it was really good to read over the course notes several months later and realise how much knowledge I'd assimilated without realising. The training helped make sense of the experience which, without the course, would have been even more of a nightmare than it was!"
Miranda Jacques-Turner, Watersense (WWF Scotland and Scottish Water)
The Centre for Human Ecology
From 2003 through to 2005 Claire has been involved with The Centre for Human Ecology (CHE). Since 2004 she has been a Fellow of the CHE and took part in a collaborative book-writing exercise on 'Human Ecology through our lives' with other Fellows. She has been a personal tutor to MSc students, organised the CHE's AGM and annual conference in 2003 and she acted as an Environmental Consultant in a Community Planning and Consultation exercise.
"Claire has brought enthusiasm, reliability and competence to all her work with CHE. I would have no hesitation in engaging Claire to work with CHE again. Claire has always been helpfully challenging and a pleasure work with."
Osbert Lancaster, Executive Director
Sikh Sanjog
Claire Provided preparation training to Duke of Edinburgh participants prior to expedition. Supporting them throughout their expedition, which included assisting them with routes, practicalities etc. She also provided advice to youth workers and parents on elements of expedition and to Youth Development Worker she provided advice on taking a group of young people away.
"[Claire was] very understanding of the fact that it was the young peoples first time away from home, camping etc. [She was] willing to ask about the young peoples cultures and limits on the girls ability to do things because of this. Very willing to get involved."
Lianne Scarlett, Youth Development Worker
LEEP
"Claire provided her property for the monitoring project. She has also been instrumental in getting council officials support in the planning applications of the solar water heating."
"Claire has been very helpful in providing external support to the Top of Tenement Project especially with regard to lobbying local councilors and MSPs. Her communication skills have been very valuable in obtaining support for micro renewables in Edinburgh."
Richard Witney, Renewables Adviser
Young Co-operatives
Working with schools, local authorities, businesses and other agencies to promote and support Enterprise in Education. Activities included research, consultancy, development work, publications and courses.
"Claire impressed everyone connected to Young Co-operatives with her dedication, commitment and enthusiasm for her work and the organisation. As her role required, she demonstrated great initiative in accomplishing the work she was asked to do - often having to overcome administrative and logistical issues that were not of her making.
Claire was always keen to identify new areas of work of benefit to the organisation. Her close contact with the pilot groups was greatly welcomed by all of those groups. Funding constraints meant that Claire was unable to continue her work with Young Co-operatives at the end of her contract but the formal and informal recommendations she made have helped to shape the further development of the organisation. "
Kevin McGrother, Co-ordinator
"[Claire was] well organised at all times. An excellent facilitator whose enthusiasm, ensured that the programme developed as envisaged. Excellent communication at all times - regular updates and prompt attention to any matters as required."
Linda Brownlow, Centre for Studies in Enterprise
World Development Movement
Claire facilitated group in the second 'project' phase at the Active Global Citizenship Project (World-wise Stirling 2004): during this phase the group identified an issue they wished to campaign on and worked together to organise their own campaigning event.
"The results speak for themselves. Claire's Stirling World-wise Group successfully produced a well- organised, imaginative and ambitious event which fulfilled the aims of the project. The event involved the wider local community and attracted press coverage. Group members felt empowered by the experience."
Hester Ross, World-wise
Craigmillar Adventure Project
Outdoor activities instructor and coach.
"High quality coaching of adults, leading to recognised qualification. High quality instruction to young people with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties in support of a range of objectives, i.e. personal and social development."
"Thorough preparation. Highly professional in approach."
Claire Pattullo, Coordinator
North Edinburgh Arts Centre
Claire delivered a 10 week educational course in ecology/biodiversity culminating in the planting of a Woodland in the Community Garden. Claire sourced and gathered resources as well as bringing in a diverse range of speakers/group workers specialist in a range of fields to co work in sessions.
"Claire was a really committed, enthusiastic, innovative contractor to work with. She devised and delivered a dynamic programme of events which was enjoyed by the groups."
"The programme threw up many challenges as people were coming to the course with a varied knowledge base and so this proved difficult as a 'one size fits all' kind of thing. Claire took this kind of stuff on the chin and dealt with it, by thinking on her feet and tailoring the course to the different levels of experience."
Elizabeth Geddes, Garden Project Coordinator
The Green Team
Claire set up the Green Team in 1995 as a way of providing young people experiences in environmental education and conservation activities. The opportunism for young people at this time was very limited, and conservation work tended to focus on task rather than the overall experience. We linked with 2 major Award accreditation schemes: the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the John Muir Award (which we helped pilot). Claire's role was to set up and run a programme of conservation projects and recruit volunteers to lead the projects.
"[Claire] was heavily involved in leading the projects herself and managed to put a stamp of excellence on the projects that has lasted to this day."
"Claire has continued to take an interest in the Green Team offering support and advice and helping out with projects at short notice. She keeps us informed about funding possibilities, publicity and networking opportunities which is helpful."
Penny Radway, Manager
The Duke of Edinburgh`s Award in the City of Edinburgh -
- Open expeditions instructor and supervisor
- Coordinator of `The Green Team`
- Development Officer for `Leap 21 project`
- Advice and support on funding and project development
- Trainer in a variety of training courses
- Supporting and promoting leader/volunteer networks
- Survey evaluation and review of volunteer involvement
- Regular contributor to events, courses and development initiatives
"Claire has fulfilled a number of very diverse roles within and for the organisation over the years. She has approached each of these with thorough planning and preparation, imagination and enthusiasm. She has related exceedingly well to colleagues and participants, and in so doing has inspired the very best in those that she has worked with. Her communication skills and methods have developed and diversified over the years, and this has ensured that information and ideas have flowed very effectively.
"Claire has demonstrated a talent for analysing situations and needs, and those with whom she has worked have obtained the benefit of this approach. Every piece of work she has carried out has been done effectively, and the funders or stakeholders have been pleased with the outcomes.
"With a flair for getting things done, Claire has played a significant part in the development of our work, and helped to shape its quality and effectiveness. She has talent for seeing the bigger picture, and enabling others to appreciate the context within which they are working or participating.
"Claire is a valued colleague, whose work, professionalism and positive in-put I value enormously. Claire has consistently given more to her work than was required, and this willingness to give added value has enriched both her contribution and the experience for all those involved."
Peter Wright MBE, Manager
