Green Aspirations Scotland was established as a Community Interest Company in 2013. Since then, we’ve been committed to providing services and products that are of benefit to individuals, the community, and the planet.
Our social purpose
We are committed to reconnecting people to the landscape, and to each other, through traditional woodland crafts and rural skills. We work with different groups of people – community groups, young adults, school pupils, kids and crafters – to develop traditional green woodworking skills, create an appreciation of the woodlands, and encourage sustainable and healthy environments.
We aim to support people to care for their environment and themselves by:
Enhancing and conserving woodland for biodiversity, the local community and for future generations
Making handmade products to demonstrate small-scale, sustainable production
Delivering workshops in traditional and rural skills
Working with vulnerable groups to raise aspirations within the green sector, with a focus on young people who have struggled with traditional schooling
Creating economic activity from local woodlands
Offering regular volunteer days for people to benefit from exercise while conserving woodlands and learning new skills.
“I've been having a great time volunteering with Green Aspirations. In part it's because I really enjoy engaging in outdoor work, and because I've been able to learn a lot of new skills, but the really great thing for me is to do this in the company of like-minded folk. Everything from silent companionship, through discussions about current projects, to lively conversation and laughter around the campfire.”
— Regular volunteer
Our impact
As a social enterprise, we focus on how we can benefit our local community. We trade on commercial terms, but do so with positive social impact firmly in mind. We measure our impact in three ways:
Social: We support communities to enhance their skills by enabling them to improve their local environment & become work ready. By participating in our activities, we support individuals to become more confident, better skilled, and improve their mental wellbeing.
Environmental: We help communities to learn positive environmental management skills to conserve their area for future generations. We are a low-carbon organisation.
Economic: We support people who attend our workshops to become skilled at making artisan products for sale in their own community and across Scotland, improving their own economic situation and promoting entrepreneurial ambitions. Our workshop participants often stay in local accommodation and eat in local pubs and restaurants. We are also passionate about building a local - and circular - timber economy.