FOCUS ON

Climate Action Hub Seed Fund 2026-27
Community groups can apply for up to £1500 to start or scale up any community projects which support moving towards a sustainable world. For example, projects which: 
– Help reduce emissions or other environmental damage
– Protect or enhance local biodiversity
– Help build resilience, and adapt to climate change 
– Raise awareness and prompt climate action 
– Reduce waste through reuse, recycling and upcycling 
Applications close 5pm 31st July 2026. The fund must be fully spent, and end of project survey completed by 28th February 2027. We are happy to discuss your proposal with you prior to receiving your application form. You can contact the Hub Lead, Ruth at ruth@wdcvs.com for support. Find out more here

OSCR’s Corporate Strategy 2026-29
The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has recently published its Corporate Strategy for the period 2026-29. The strategy sets out how OSCR will regulate and support charities to deliver the services the people of Scotland need. The strategy contains their four main strategic themes for the next three years: 
– Driving compliance through proportionate and effective regulation
– Supporting the development of a resilient, effective and trusted charity sector through regulation
– Continuing to drive efficiency as a public body
– Supporting our people

Read OSCR’s Corporate Strategy 2026-29 here

The Big Scottish Scam Survey
People across the country are being targeted by scammers, who are taking advantage of their financial worries and uncertainties. Trading Standards Scotland are currently conducting the fifth Big Scottish Scam Survey. They want to find out about the most commonly experienced scams in Scotland so that they can help consumers recognise and avoid them. Complete the survey here

ACE Group: Paid Lived Experience Opportunity
Lead Scotland are recruiting people to join a lived experience group. This will be a one off, paid session exploring your experiences with cyber and online safety. The Accessible Cyber Experiences group (ACE group) is a paid opportunity for people who are disabled, learning disabled, learning differenced, neurodivergent, blind or visually impaired, D/deaf or hearing impaired, or a carer. The ACE group will meet once for one hour to answer a series of questions in a group discussion setting. Deadline to apply is Sunday 12th July. More info here

Child Poverty Scrutiny Report 2025–26
The Commission has published its most recent Child Poverty Scrutiny Report and Executive Summary, giving its views on progress made during 2025-26 towards meeting Scotland’s statutory 2030 child poverty targets. In preparing the Scottish Government’s annual  Child Poverty Progress Report, Scottish Ministers must consult the Poverty and Inequality Commission on the progress that is being made towards meeting Scotland’s statutory child poverty targets. The report highlights that, while there has been important progress in a number of areas and policies such as the Scottish Child Payment, which continue to make a tangible difference, Scotland remains some distance from the 2030 targets. While there are things to welcome in the Scottish Government’s new delivery plan, on the current trajectory, and based on the available evidence and modelling, the Commission’s clear view is that the pace and scale of change is still insufficient to deliver the required reductions to meet the 2030 targets. The Commission’s report reiterates the recommendations that were set out in the Commission’s previous advice, which was intended to support the Scottish Government in accelerating progress and closing the gap to the targets. It calls for the Scottish Government to immediately set out the additional action it will take and how this will enable it to reach the 2030 targets. You can read the full report here

A Well-Adapted UK: 4^th Assessment of UK Climate Risk
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is an independent body which keeps the UK government accountable to climate change targets. In their 4^th Assessment Report, they discuss key areas that the UK needs to address to be prepared for the impacts of climate change. The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists today and will be increasingly distant in years to come. At a minimum, the UK should prepare for the weather extremes that will be experienced if global warming levels reach 2°C above preindustrial levels by 2050. At the high end of possibilities, reaching 4°C above preindustrial levels by the end of the century cannot yet be ruled out. Climate change and adaptation are complex and there are a lot of things about 2050 that we don’t know. But there are plenty of areas where we have enough evidence. Better cooling, flood protection, and a more secure water supply.

This 4^th Assessment report is about hope, not fear. The Climate Change Committee come with as many answers as questions, and focus on solutions, not risks. 

Watch and read more