1000 Better Stories

How does a struggling composting project accidentally become a thriving local circular economy hub? Our hosts Sarah, Kaska and Chiara head to Forres to meet Phil Mills, Manager of Moray Waste Busters, where perfectly good things are rescued from the local dump and used to build community wealth. From books for teachers and living wage jobs to affordable treasures and support for local organisations, Moray Waste Busters has become a place where things - and opportunities - are given a second life. They explore the busy reuse hub, meet its resident Scottish Womble, and get a sneak preview of an ambitious new home for Moray Waste Busters - complete with a café, department-store-style outlet and a roof full of solar panels. This podcast episode is a collaboration between SCCAN and SCVO and a companion piece to the In Real Life blog series which you can find on climateconfident.scot. It’s a part of SCVO’s Growing Climate Confidence project which supports third sector organisations in Scotland to reduce carbon emissions, take positive climate action and become more resilient. You read companion blog to the series here: https://climateconfident.scot/stories  Credits Interview: Sarah McArthur Production, recording, editing: Kaska Hempel Support and photography: Chiara Fingland Hosting: Sarah, Chiara and Kaska Resources Growing Climate Confidence: https://climateconfident.scot  Growing Climate Confidence In Real Life: https://climateconfident.scot/stories  Moray Waste Busters https://moraywastebusters.org/  CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme) Scottish Government Funding https://localenergy.scot/funding/  Highlands and Islands Enterprise www.hie.co.uk  Circular Communities Scotland https://circularcommunities.scot/  Highland Weigh Zero Waste Café https://www.thehighlandweigh.co.uk/ 

What is a swift caller and how is it bringing swifts and people together across Dumfries and Galloway? Our hosts, Sarah, Kaska and Chiara join Andrew Turney on a journey to meet swifts, swift brick pioneers and hear about how networking and collaboration turned a small group of swift enthusiasts into a rapidly expanding multi-partner Dumfries and Galloway Network. This podcast episode is a collaboration between SCCAN and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and a companion piece to the In Real Life blog series which you can find on climateconfident.scot. It’s a part of SCVO’s Growing Climate Confidence project, which supports third sector organisations in Scotland to reduce carbon emissions, take positive climate action and become more resilient.  You can read the In Real Life blog here: https://climateconfident.scot/stories NOTE: Unfortunately, since we met Andrew at the Sanquhar Shed have decided that at the moment they do not have capacity to embark on stepping up production of the solar PV callers alongside their other activities. This is disappointing for the Dumfries Swift Group from the swift conservation point of view, however the Swift Group said that they respect the decision made, and if there is a future decision to continue with the caller project they look forward to teaming up again. Credits Interview: Sarah McArthur Production, recording, editing: Kaska Hempel  Support and photography: Chiara Fingland Hosting: Sarah, Chiara and Kaska Resources Growing Climate Confidence: https://climateconfident.scot Growing Climate Confidence In Real Life: https://climateconfident.scot/stories The D&G Swift Network can be contacted via [email protected]. Save Our Swifts: local organisations get together to protect swift colonies - story on the UNESCO Biosphere on Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere website: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/save-our-swifts-local-organisations-get-together-to-protect-swift-colonies-in-the-unesco-biosphere/ Sanquar Men’s Shed https://www.facebook.com/SanquharMensShed  Prison swift box project BBC story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89e0gjy4vzo   Save Our Swifts project - UNESCO Biosphere Dumfries and Galloway https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/save-our-swifts-local-organisations-get-together-to-protect-swift-colonies-in-the-unesco-biosphere/

What does it mean to live well? And what does it take for a community to make it happen in the face of disappearing jobs, increased cost of living and a changing climate? Join Kaska Hempel, our Story Lead, as she visits Shotts in North Lanarkshire to meet Mags Murphy and Mark Slorance from Getting Better Together, one of Scotland's innovative Healthy Living Centres. Together they explore how their community has led for 25 years on helping local people live well - building better health and, more recently, weaving climate action into everyday community life. Hosts Laura McDonald (Scottish Community Development Centre) and Pam Candea (Scottish Communities Climate Action Network) reflect on the story, exploring how communities can improve health and wellbeing while creating a more resilient future, and what Unbound can learn from places where climate action grows naturally from the things that matter most to people. Becoming Unbound is the pilot podcast mini-series for the Unbound Scotland project, which supports community-led action on climate and health across Scotland. Through conversations rooted in lived experience, the series explores how communities are responding to climate and health challenges - and how these stories can help shape the future of Unbound. Chapters 00:40     Host Introduction 02:25     Welcome to Shotts 11:39     Something Had to Change 16:38     Making Things Happen 21:34     A Place for the Community 24:11     Living Well 30:01     When the Weather Changes 33:45     Building Resilience 39:01     Keep the Wheel Turning 44:13     Host Reflection: The Story Beyond Shotts   Resources  Unbound Scotland project website: https://www.unbound.scot/  Getting Better Together website: https://shottshealthyliving.com/  The Community Health Exchange (CHEX): https://www.chex.org.uk/  Healthy Living Centres - the origin story and long-term survival through Healthy Living Centre Alliance: https://www.seemescotland.org/media/7290/one-vision.pdf   Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing - An alliance of community led health organisations dedicated to promoting and delivering health improvements and reducing health inequalities in Scotland’s communities: https://www.schw.co.uk/  Health Issues in the Community resource: www.hiic.org.uk  Shotts Climate Plan: https://shottshealthyliving.com/downloads/Shotts_Community_Climate_Action_Plan_20.05.22.pdf  Story of how Shotts Climate Plan came together: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/blog/2022/shotts-is-acting-now-on-climate-change/  Environmental Key Fund:  https://environmentalkeyfund.com/  Info on Community Benefit Funds: https://www.gov.scot/news/communities-benefit-from-renewable-energy/  Investing in Communities Fund: https://www.gov.scot/publications/investing-in-communities-fund-round-2-approved-awards-2023-2026/  Credits  Kaska Hempel (design, production, interviewing, editing) Blip Blop Tuesday by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558270/ -- License: Attribution 4.0    

How does a run down public toilet turn a coastal village into a multi-award-winning community with a shared vision for the future? And what does it take for this community to feel safe despite growing challenges of coastal erosion, storms and flooding? Join Kaska Hempel, our Story Lead, for a conversation with Wendy Murray and Jerry Forteath from East Haven on the Angus coast, to hear about the incredible story of their journey with East Haven Together. Hosts Sam Jordan (Scottish Community Development Centre) and Ruth McLaren (Scottish Communities Climate Action Network) listen alongside you, reflecting on what this story reveals about community power, climate action and the questions shaping their work as members of the Unbound communications team. Becoming Unbound is the pilot podcast mini-series for the Unbound Scotland project, which supports community-led action on climate and health across Scotland. Through conversations rooted in lived experience, the series explores how communities are responding to climate and health challenges - and how these stories can help shape the future of Unbound. Transcript of the episode is available here: https://www.unbound.scot/podcasts/season-1-episode-1 Credits:  Kaska Hempel (design, production, community interview, editing) Blip Blop Tuesday by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558270/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Resources:  Unbound Scotland project website: https://www.unbound.scot/  East Haven Together website: https://www.easthavenangus.com/ 

This vignette explores the magic of people from all walks of life coming together in a protest for a cause, demanding a better future for their communities. It was recorded on 25 October 2025, the day of Scotland Demands Better march and rally in Edinburgh, organized by Poverty Alliance. Kaska speaks to Sandy Greene from ScrapAntics in Dundee who shares her personal experience as a lifelong activist and the way a peaceful protest can resonate throughout lives of individuals involved, local communities and a wider society. You will hear vox pops from members of Dundee Changemaker Hub, protest participants and ambient recordings from the day. Credits:  Production, interview, edit - Kaska Hempel Resources: Kaska's creative sound Substack podcast ("Pebbles"): https://kaykay2000.substack.com/  Scotland Demands Better Campaign https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/ Dundee Changemakers Hub https://www.dundee-changemakers.net/  Scrapantics https://www.scrapantics.co.uk/  Galgael Trust https://www.galgael.org/