Thousands more low-income families will benefit from free school age childcare as part of a £15 million investment to help tackle child poverty

Existing services for eligible families in areas of Dundee, Clackmannanshire, Glasgow and Inverclyde will be expanded, with new services set up in other communities across Scotland.

The first cohort of Nature Pioneers has embarked on their journey to mobilise community action for nature as part of the Nextdoor Nature project being led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Twelve people from seven community areas have committed to undertake a skills development course over the next six months that will provide them with the understanding, resources and confidence needed to organise action for nature where they live.

A scheme aimed at boosting trade in town and city centres is going digital.

Scotland Loves Local (SLL) gift cards can be loaded with credit and used in participating shops and businesses within users’ local council area.

Supporting Outdoor Play

Children and young people will have more opportunities to play outside under new planning reforms.

Children will have access to high quality play areas, which will remain free of charge, as a result of new investment.

As part of a nationally representative sample, the survey by the Woodland Trust found deep concerns about the future among 16-24-year-olds, with almost one in four (24%) saying fears over the climate crisis mean they are willing to consider, or have already decided, to have fewer children than they would otherwise like.

Reviews of Scottish Government Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding for financial year 2021-22 have been published.

The Samaritans is the UK’s leading suicide prevention charity. They are now offering their ‘Conversations with Vulnerable People’ training course online over March and April to employers and communities in the West Highlands and Skye, free of charge.

With this week being nature Nature Restoration Skills Week, NatureScot and partners have put together a programme of free training events focussed on skills for nature restoration.