SWAN's NatureAware project, in partnership with Earthself, is one of 8 successful projects to receive support through the Climate Engagement Fund, aimed at increasing people’s understanding of climate change and encouraging individuals to take action
We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from the Climate Action Fund for our Nature Aware project.
From more than 180 applications to the annual fund, SWAN was one of 8 successful projects to receive support through the Scottish Government's Climate Engagement Fund, aimed at increasing people’s understanding of climate change and encouraging individuals to take action.
SWAN’s NatureAware project, developed by Tabitha Jayne from Earthself, will build upon the existing interest our community has for nature, giving 15 individuals from the SWAN network the opportunity to develop new skills and confidence to turn their love of nature into nature positive climate action and bring their voices into the climate conversation.
SWAN's project sits alongside other fantastic projects from organisations including the Princes Trust, Scottish Association for Marine Science, National Museums of Scotland and the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society.
Visit the Scottish Government website to read more about the fund and the other successful projects.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Gillian Martin said:
“The race to net zero is one that we must all win, and we know that public support is crucial in order to successfully achieve the transformational societal change required to achieve it.
As such, it is vital that everyone in our society understands the nature and scale of the climate emergency and has the opportunity to participate and shape decisions about our national approach to tackling it.
We need as many credible voices communicating about climate change as possible and by supporting grassroots action, the Climate Engagement Fund will help enable individuals and communities to directly contribute to tackling climate change and support Scotland in meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2045.“
SWAN’s NatureAware project, delivered in partnership with Earthself, will build upon the existing interest our community has for nature, giving 15 individuals from the SWAN network the opportunity to develop new skills and confidence to turn their love of nature into nature positive climate action and bring their voices into the climate conversation.
SWAN CEO Lyndsay Macadam said:
"Contributing to the climate change conversation is completely new for us at SWAN - but the value and importance of our connection to nature as autistic people is something that comes through so strongly in our work with the SWAN community.
Nature nourishes us and supports our wellbeing, it is a positive sensory environment that helps us feel calm, sparks our interest and fills us with joy!
So it makes sense that we harness our enthusiasm, knowledge and creativity and bring them to the climate conversation - to play our role in preserving the natural world that sustains us.
We are very fortunate to be working with Tabitha Jayne, who founded Earthself and developed the NatureAware approach. Tabitha has brought her expertise as a coaching psychologist specialising in the human/Earth relationship and how it can create sustainable behaviour - alongside her own lived experience as an autistic woman - to deliver this exciting project for SWAN."
Following our recent information event, we've completed the (very!) tough job of selecting 15 successful applicants to take part in the project.
Our first workshops start in September, where the project participants will each develop their own nature-based project or activity to bring the Nature Positive message to their local community - so watch this space to hear more see how each project develops!