Author: C. Gillespie

Learning for Sustainability Funding & Grants June 2026

Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups (UK)

Organisation: Woodland Trust

Deadline: August 2026

Link: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpv2TBhDoARIsALBnVnl4mX3ME2YPKMkKZu_l0kI5ujcVNuUrw9IhbLoocKo68CjWepkrLXQaAhtJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hundreds of thousands of trees are being given away to help the UK reach its 2050 carbon net-zero target.

 

Grow Wild – Youth Grants Programme

Organisation: Grow Wild

Opening: early 2027

Link: https://growwild.kew.org/apply-grant/youth

Grants of £500 are available for youth-led projects that celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants, and fungi in exciting and engaging ways.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Community Path Fund

Organisation: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport

Link: Path Funding – Walking Scotland

Supported by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the SPT Community Path Fund supports communities to deliver small capital projects that improve local walking and wheeling networks and infrastructure.

Applications close on Wednesday 12 August at 12:00pm. 

Aberdeen International Airport – ABZ Propeller Fund

Organisation: Aberdeen International Airport

Link: Aberdeen Airport Propeller Fund | Aberdeen Airport

Grants are available to charities and community groups in proximity to Aberdeen Airport for projects focused on education, sustainability, and economic regeneration.

The Fund aims to support local projects that will have a positive impact within communities most impacted by the activities of the airport.

Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants

Organisation: Tesco PLC 

Link: Fruit and Veg Grants – Tesco Fundraising | Tesco PLC

Tesco Fruit & Veg grants is now open for applications. Schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting children and young people can apply for up to £1,500 for projects that improve access to healthy food.

 

Target 2030 June Newsletter

Our Target 2030 newsletter focuses on the newly launched Sustainable Learning Setting Practitioner Guide.

 

Contents:

  • What is Learning for Sustainability?
  • The Learning for Sustainability in Scotland web page
  • Sustainable Learning Setting Practitioner Guide
  • Practitioner Support
  • Online Sessions
  • Share your views
  • Easy self-led nature activities

Get the full newsletter here:

Target 2030 June Newsletter

 

For advice and support contact: LfS@educationscotland.gov.scot

Get involved in COP30

COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, is taking place in Belem, Brazil from 10 November until 21 November 2025.

UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.

The COP is where the world comes together to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP30, including the member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders are also among the participants.

Officially, COP30 stands for the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC.

A Decade of Acceleration Must Begin in Belém

Leaders acknowledge that ambition gaps remain to keep 1.5C in reach and deliver on finance and adaptation. The technologies and tools needed to decarbonise energy, transport, and industry, protect forests, and strengthen resilience are already available. The challenge now is to accelerate scale.

With COP30 imminent, the Secretary-General urged all countries yet to finalise their NDCs to do so without delay: “COP30 in Brazil must conclude with a credible global response plan to get us on track.”

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said, “Leaders across the world have stood together to show that even at a moment of division and uncertainty, the resolve and determination to fight the climate crisis is alive and strong.”

More Information:
www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-summit-2025

COP30 and Climate Change Resources

UN Climate Change Conference – Belém, November 2025

Momentum Gathers Towards COP30 as Close to 100 Countries Signal New Climate Targets

The Countdown to COP 30: Why This Summit Is the Most Crucial in Years – The Sustainability Community

UN Climate Change Conference COP30 – Teaching Resources

The WildHearts Global Youth Summit – WildHearts Schools

Education Scotland Learning for Sustainability summary page
Weather and climate change
Learning for Sustainability – Resource Themes
Climate Action Live Lessons
Learning for Sustainability advice and guidance: Sustainable development education
COP30 Teaching Resources (twinkl.co.uk)
ECO2 COP30 Resources (Ages 9 – 11+)
Climate Ambassadors

STEM Learning has created a new subset of STEM Ambassadors called Climate Ambassadors. Employers and organisations can choose to be connected to Climate Ambassadors and filter requests of this type.

 

Join Free Online Course ‘Live at COP30’

How should we take positive action towards a sustainable future? The University of Edinburgh, Learning for Sustainability Scotland, and the British Council, have created a free, short, facilitated online course ideal for anyone interested in sustainability and of particular interest to educators.

  • Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP30 (starting 10 November)
    FREE ‘Learning for Sustainable Futures: Live at the COP’ MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) will return in November 2025 as COP30 gets underway in Belém, Brazil.Since its first iteration in 2021 for COP26, over 20,000 people from over 170 countries have taken part in this collaborative, facilitated learning opportunity.

    About the course

    This course offers you an opportunity to examine what the COP process is, why it’s considered to be important, and reflect on how you can add your voice to the call for collective action for a sustainable future.

    Throughout the course, you can get ‘live’ insights into the issues being discussed at COP30, as well as responses to the conference themes from children and young people, community groups and ministerial bodies, both nationally and internationally. Using these ‘starting points’, reflect on what you have heard, watched and read, and think about what these conversations and issues mean to you.

    Course content from ‘Learning for Sustainable Futures: Live at COP30’ will remain open, free and accessible as a legacy resource for school, community and individual use beyond the Conference.

Sign up here

Scotland’s Climate Week 2025

Scotland’s Climate Week, an annual event that encourages individuals and communities to come together to show support for tackling the climate emergency, begins on 29 September and ends on 5 October.

CLIMATE CONVERSATION PACK

Join communities, schools, businesses and individuals across Scotland taking action on climate change. Climate Week celebrates progress – and shows us all how to go further.

For more details and information on how to take part in Scotland’s Climate Week click here Climate Week | Net Zero Nation

Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Action Week

29 September – 5 October

Timed with the Scottish Government’s Climate Week, this year’s Climate Action Week follows the story of human induced climate change from past to present, with opportunities for collective action to create hope for the future.  

There is an all ages assembly  in English with Gaelic interpretation and Live Lessons to support your work on Climate Action.

Each lesson is accompanied by classroom resources.

Register for the Live Lessons here.

Climate Week resources

Personal learning opportunities

  • When we think of NASA, we think of space exploration.  But much of  NASA’s work  has focused on the Earth, and its climate . They have some amazing interactive tools that visualise our planet form space, showing the impacts of climate change, habitat loss and natural disasters.

If you are into podcasts here are a couple of climate learning ones:

  • TED Climate unpacks problems and solutions in bite-sized episodes (average 10 minutes)
  • Climate Vision 2050  – This podcast is set in 2050 and explores how the world radically reduced carbon emissions and saved itself from climate catastrophe. It contains 8 episodes that weave human stories with accessible explanations (average length 30 minutes).

 

Get involved in COP29

 

COP 29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 November until 22 November 2024.

UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.

The COP is where the world comes together to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP29, including the member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders are also among the participants.

Officially, COP 29 stands for the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC.

This is a decisive decade for climate action.

The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities.

Also in focus will be the next round of national climate plans, or NDCs, currently being developed by countries ahead of next year’s deadline and ensuring these bolder, fully implementable and investable strategies and targets are economy-wide, focus on transitioning away from fossil fuels, and keep the world on track to 1.5 degrees of warming.

unfccc.int/cop29

 

UN Climate Change Conference COP29 – Teaching Resources
Cop29: Key questions about the UN climate conference
Boost for UK clean energy growth as PM arrives at COP29
Climate change education at COP29
Education Scotland Learning for Sustainability summary page
Weather and climate change
Learning for Sustainability – Resource Themes
Climate Action Live Lessons
Learning for Sustainability advice and guidance: Sustainable development education
COP29 2024 Event Information and Teaching Resources (twinkl.co.uk)
Ways To Use COP29 In The Classroom – Teaching Ideas
ECO2 COP29 Resources (Ages 9 – 11)
Climate Ambassadors

STEM Learning has created a new subset of STEM Ambassadors called Climate Ambassadors. Employers and organisations can choose to be connected to Climate Ambassadors and filter requests of this type.

 

Join Free Online Course ‘Live at COP29’

How should we take positive action towards a sustainable future? The University of Edinburgh, Learning for Sustainability Scotland, and the British Council, have created a free, short, facilitated online course ideal for anyone interested in sustainability and of particular interest to educators.

  • Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP29 (starting 12 November)
    Investigate the broader context of COP29 and consider other associated frameworks such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • Consider local, national and global perspectives on COP 29 through a range of responses to the core themes of the conference.
  • Share ideas and inspiration as to how individuals, communities and organisations can take collaborative action for a sustainable future. Sign up here.

Learning for Sustainability – Call to Action spotlight

Learning for Sustainability

Etive House, St Modan’s High School

Our learners are responding to the Call to Action by connecting, acting and sharing Target2030 through our creative curriculum.  Learning for Sustainability is the golden thread linking our curriculum, and by working in partnership with organisations such as Artlink Central, Avon Outdoors, Princes’ Trust and RHET, our learners have been supported to use their knowledge of reusing everyday items in a creative way.

The school wide Christmas door competition has enabled Etive House learners to continue their Learning for Sustainability journey from the design stage to realisation.  Having watched the John Lewis Christmas advert, it sparked discussion, which concluded in a visit to a local garden centre to look for a Venus Flytrap.  Within this project it is visible to see commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 12; Responsible Consumption and Production, using unwanted clothes, cushions and necklaces to make our ‘Snapper’ grow.

Our learners are now redesigning the door, applying principles of the circular economy to reuse the different parts of door project in the creation of a standalone Snapper, which will continue to inspire learners about nature, biodiversity, and responsible consumption.  Etive House learners are demonstrating their commitment to Target20230 by sharing their door design within the school community, and local authority.

Alison Poole

Integrated Support Worker

 

Get involved in COP28

COP 28 the United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Dubai, United Emirates from 30 November until 12 December 2023

UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.

The COP is where the world comes together to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP28, including the member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders are also among the participants.

Officially, COP 28 stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC.

With the most important details of the Paris Climate Change Agreement negotiated and agreed over the last few years, COP 28 is all about implementing the Agreement and ramping up ambition and action.

This is a decisive decade for climate action.

The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

COP 28 is an opportunity to identify global solutions for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, develop countries’ preparations for revised and more ambitious national climate plans due by 2025, accelerate the green transition that is already happening and ultimately achieve the delivery of the Paris Agreement goals.

unfccc.int/cop28

COP 28 Education Day

As part of the conference 8th December is dedicated to Youth, Children, Education and Skills. This Education day will seek to empower young people to shape the outcomes of COP28 and beyond, considering the impacts of climate change for young people. Focuses will include investment in youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship, inclusion in policy-making processes capacity–building, and transforming education to close the skills gap for green jobs aligned with climate action – Youth Children Skills – COP28 UAE.

UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) – Teaching Resources
COP28, the key questions and what it means for Scotland
First Minister and global leaders at COP28
Yousaf warns ‘planet at tipping point’ as he attends COP28 in UAE
Climate change education at COP28
Scottish students debate on climate crisis at COP28 mock event
Education Scotland’s COP26 legacy materials – recycling, reusing, repurpose materials from COP 26 in Glasgow…because they were so popular and it’s good for the planet to use again!
COP28 2023 Event Information and Teaching Resources (twinkl.co.uk)
Ways To Use COP28 In The Classroom – Teaching Ideas
ECO2 COP28 Resources (Ages 9 – 11)
Climate Ambassadors

STEM Learning has created a new subset of STEM Ambassadors called Climate Ambassadors. Employers and organisations can choose to be connected to Climate Ambassadors and filter requests of this type.

 

Join Free Online Course ‘Live at COP28’

How should we take positive action towards a sustainable future? The University of Edinburgh, Learning for Sustainability Scotland, and the British Council, have created a free, short, facilitated online course ideal for anyone interested in sustainability and of particular interest to educators.

  • Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28 (starting 30 November)
    Explore global issues during COP28 and be part of the call for collective action. Find out more about the key international frameworks that support action on climate change, and explore national and international responses to the conference themes from children and young people, community groups, and ministerial bodies. Engage in community discussion and share your perspectives and ideas for the future. Sign up here.

Scotland’s Climate Week 25 September – 1 October 2023

Scotland’s Climate Week 

Scotland’s Climate Week, an annual event that encourages individuals and communities to come together to show support for tackling the climate emergency, begins on 25 September and ends on 1 October.

This year is about taking action in the areas that have the most impact.

For example, emissions from car use and home heating are the biggest contributors to climate change in Scotland from individuals. By choosing more climate-friendly ways to travel and by improving our home heating, we can do good for the planet and it feels good for us too.

CLIMATE CONVERSATION PACK

The climate crisis is already significantly impacting countries around the world, including Scotland. Together we can work to reduce our emissions to net zero and limit any further damage. By starting just one conversation with your students or colleagues you can create a ripple effect of positive actions that could help make the change needed to reach net zero and save the planet.

Climate change can be a hard thing to talk about, so the Climate Conversation pack outlines the important information you need to get started. It provides the opportunity to get to grips with all things climate change and identify topics and conversation starters to weave into your daily conversations, whether that’s on social media, at work, school or with friends.

Starting these conversations can help empower others and provide a sense of unity and community, but remember, it can be a challenging and emotional subject to bring up. No one should feel blamed, attacked, criticised or judged when talking about climate change. Always be mindful of where people are coming from – economically, societally, and emotionally.

For more details and information on how to take part in Scotland’s Climate Week click here.

Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Action Week

26 September – 2 October

Timed with the Scottish Government’s Climate Week, Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Action Week is a series of interactive lessons, inspiring stories and activities about climate change and what we can do about it. Click here to find out more.

There is an all ages assembly plan, secondary resources and interactive lessons aimed at helping upper primary learners understand what climate change is, its impacts, how we are contributing to this situation and how we can contribute to its solution. These lessons are supported with resources and activities that classes can carry out after each lesson.

Climate Week resources

Creative Collaborations for Sustainability conference 20 & 22 June

We are delighted to bring you the news of a forthcoming event run by Creative Scotland and Education Scotland. The Creative Collaborations for Sustainability conference aims to explore the opportunities for developing Learning for Sustainability in, about and through the arts, investigating through a variety of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary workshops how people and communities value and engage with the natural environment. Creative Collaborations for Sustainability seeks to support teachers in developing confidence to use arts approaches in their practice around Learning for Sustainability.

  • Tuesday 20th June will be for secondary practitioners
  • Wednesday 21st June will be for primary practitioners

See the dedicated website for more details: Creative Collaborations for Sustainability – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (rcs.ac.uk)

Sign up through the Eventbrite page: Creative Collaborations for Sustainability Tickets

Learning for Sustainability update November 2022

Children issue call to action on Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning

This latest report from the Children’s Parliament contains a clear call to all educators in all subject areas – our children want to receive their entitlement to Learning for Sustainability including learning about climate change, more frequent opportunities for outdoor learning and contact with nature. These findings echo the findings of other consultations such as the response to Prof Ken Muir’s Report: Putting Learners at the Centre. Hear what our children have to say.

Public consultation for the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment/Hayward Review is now live!

Links to the public consultation can be found below:

Professor Hayward’s Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Professor Hayward’s Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment – public consultation – Scottish Government – Citizen Space

The secretariat are happy to answer any questions that you might have – qualificationsreform@gov.scot.

Join the National Discussion on the Curriculum
https://consult.gov.scot/national-discussion-scottish-education/

The National Discussion was launched at SLF – please get involved and encourage others to respond, especially young people.

Resources are available on the national website: https://consult.gov.scot/national-discussion-scottish-education/

Complete the survey at: https://consult.gov.scot/learning-directorate/national-discussion-on-education/

The conversation is being supported by  Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA.

There are a number of live discussion events taking place online on 16 and 23 November, supported by Professors Alma Harris and Carole Campbell.

It is a tight timescale for responding – the National Discussion ends 5/6 December.

Take part in the LfS Scotland event on 7 Nov on the response to the Hayward Review Consultation.

Join the National LfS Practitioner Network

Practitioners with an interest or responsibility for Learning for Sustainability are invited to join the national Learning for Sustainability Network in Teams in Glow. Joining code: O4sj08j. 

The network provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded practitioners, hear about latest opportunities and to share approaches, practice, resources and ideas.

SCQF project on Learning for Sustainability qualifications is now officially live and open for submissions.

Through the national LfS Action Plan and with support from Scottish Government, SCQF is seeking to increase the number and range of SCQF credit-rated courses associated with LfS.  Organisations across Scotland are being encouraged to submit proposals for new courses that can be SCQF credit-rated.

Details can be found here:

Learning for Sustainability Funded Project 2022/23 | Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (scqf.org.uk)

The closing date for applications is 11 November. If you need any additional information, please get in touch with Nicola Smith: N.smith@scqf.org.uk

Learning for a Sustainable Future

5-week MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)

Join a personal and professional global learning journey towards a sustainable future. This course supports you to reflect, investigate, discuss and develop an informed response to the global challenges that matter to you.

Find out more and sign up here

‘Learning for Sustainability and the Professional Standards’

Learning for Sustainability Scotland are hosting a monthly Drop-In with GTC Scotland

Last Thursday of every month.

Join the Learning for Sustainability conversation. Our monthly Drop-Ins Connect you with other teachers and contributors to collaborate on, inspire, inform and celebrate Learning for Sustainability across your teaching, setting and learning community.

Find out more and sign up here

‘Learning for Sustainability and “Putting Young People at the Centre”’: a round-table discussion for the youth work sector

5 October, 16:00 – 17:00

The Scottish Government and COSLA are launching the ‘most inclusive ever discussion on education in Scotland, with learners playing a key part in decision-making’. In addition, a refresh of the national Learning for Sustainability Action Plan is currently underway. How do we ensure that youth work sector organisations can collaborate to support these important new developments?

Find out more and sign up here

Plastic Pollution Live Lesson, 7-11 November

The Plastic Pollution Live Lessons from Keep Scotland Beautiful offer tailored content for Early Years-P3, P4-P7 and secondary schools.

School Partnerships & Global Learning: CCGL Practitioner Research, 10 November, 16:30

The Development Education Research Centre (DERC) is hosting a second research webinar to introduce and celebrate further research studies produced through the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning (CCGL) Practitioner Research Fund.

John Muir Award, Wild Places and Education Priorities, 16 November, 16:00

Join the John Muir Trust online to explore how wild places and the John Muir Award can benefit learning and educational priorities in Scotland.

Rights Across the Curriculum: Teaching About, Through and For Rights, 17 November, 16:30

This interactive, two-part course from Scotland’s Development Education Centres will help you to develop a rights-based approach across your teaching, learning and wider school life.

Develop Arts-based Outdoor Learning in your School with Out to Play

Eco Drama’s 2023 Out to Play Residencies Programme is now available to book for primary schools in Glasgow and surrounding areas.

Positive Imaginings: Creative Climate Education

Positive Imaginings from Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education is a Creative Climate Education Project, which explores children’s imaginings of a positive future in the face of climate change. Expressions of interest are invited from primary schools for their Spring, Summer and Autumn terms 2023.

Introduction to Teaching Sustainability and Climate Action in Schools

Discover the role that learning for sustainability and climate action has to play in tackling the climate crisis. On this four-week course from the University of Glasgow, you’ll delve into the role of education in addressing the current climate crisis.

Dirt Is Good Schools Programme

The Dirt Is Good Schools Programme from Persil and its partners enables young people to take action on the environmental and social causes they care about; planning and delivering a social or environmental project that works towards one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Watch Again: Scottish Learning Festival 2022

The SLF 2022 ‘watch again’ facility is now live with more than 65 seminars, spotlights and satellite events from the two-day conference available to view online; including a range of seminars on Learning for Sustainability and Outdoor learning.

Scottish Junior Forester Award

Outdoor and Woodland Learning (OWL) Scotland are pleased to announce a range of courses this winter on the recently launched Scottish Junior Forester Award. Venues include Abriachan Forest Trust – Inverness, Kinnoul Hill – Perth, Pollok Park – Glasgow and Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith. The Newbattle and Abriachan courses will cover tree planting and the Glasgow and Perth course will cover tool use.

 

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