Come and meet us for a coffee! We’re thrilled to be able to host our supporters at Augustine United Church this year for our Edinburgh churches drop-in session. Please join Christian Aid staff any time between 10:30am and 1pm on Wednesday 20 September for a cuppa and a chat. This is an informal time to meet other local Christian Aid supporters, ask questions of staff, and share ideas. For those able to stay a little longer, there will be an online event with our Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Watt, starting at 1pm. Anyone is welcome, so please do share this invitation and RSVP by emailing edinburgh@christian-aid.org if you’re planning to come along.
We are a third of the way through this crucial decade for climate action - yet Scotland is not on track to meet targets to reduce emissions, while worsening climate impacts are having devastating consequences around the world. We urgently need all decision makers to take bold action.
As part of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition, Christian Aid is helping to organise an event to help people to connect with other climate and nature campaigners and to learn more about how you can make your voice heard. Join us online or in person on Wednesday the 14th of June to explore some of the key issues relating to the climate crisis and how together we can encourage decision makers to take action now.
The Climate Policy Engagement Network is an important project seeking to bring together a range of stakeholders, organisations and experts who wish to input on key climate change policy milestones delivered by the Scottish Government.
Throughout 2023, the network will focus on the upcoming Just Transition Plans and Climate Change Plan. Eco-Congregation Scotland is actively supporting this for engagement activities, providing opportunities to feedback either on policy engagement plans or directly on policy development. The network has a first ask for us to respond to over the coming week and we are keen to read views from across Scotland's Eco-congregations and our volunteers.
Place-based engagement – places and communities of special interest
Background information During June and July 2023, the Scottish Government will be undertaking climate change place-based engagement across Scotland. To support the planning for this round of engagement, they want your views on which communities and places around Scotland they should engage with. Where would have a particular interest or experience in any of these four topics and that you feel are important to include in their place-based engagement?
1. Transport
2. Land use and agriculture
3. Buildings and construction
4. Adaptation to climate change
The Scottish Government are planning to do approximately 10 in-person events across the mainland and want to make sure they reach a range of places. They will also hold 3 events across the islands, and we are considering whether these would be best held virtually to allow as broad a range of people to engage as possible.
If you have any suggestions please answer the questions below.
Timescale Eco-Congregation Scotland needs to pass on your views by Friday 28th April so please submit any answers as soon as you can.
Fairlie Parish Church ran a very successful Bring and Buy sale on the 30th of May.
People outwith the church gave some delightful home made cards, dainty baskets for gifts and smaller ones containing a Ferrero Roche chocolate. There were donations of plants, books, marmalade, baking, pashminas, toiletries and jewellery. People were also wonderfully generous with donations of money. The final total raised was £198, which will be gratefully used to help support events in the region.
A selections of items for sale at the Fairlie Parish bring and buy sale
Fairlie first registered with us in 2002 and have done much work since then, for example in renovating their building to be more energy efficient, beach clean-ups, and community involvement. They have received three awards from us in recognition of this work. They also have a regular column in their newsletter highlighting environmental concerns which is a wonderful way to keep these issues fresh in the minds of the congregation.
