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Climate Wisdom Project Announcement

Thanks to National Lottery players, Outside the Box have received almost £1.5m from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, to launch ‘Climate Wisdom’.

‘Climate Wisdom’ is an inclusive, dementia-friendly climate action project that will support people living with dementia, their care partners and their communities to feel inspired, empowered, and confident to take positive, practical action on climate change. The 5-year partnership project led by Outside the Box, a Scottish Charity and Social Enterprise, brings together Meeting Centres Scotland, The Institute for Place, Environment and Society at the University of Heriot-Watt and the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York.

The project will be delivered across Scotland within Meeting Centres – evidence-based social clubs which offer on-going warm and friendly expert support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their families. In the first two years the project will be delivered across 13 Meeting Centres in Fife and Angus.

By embedding climate activities within trusted dementia-friendly settings, the project will foster behaviour change, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance wellbeing and autonomy for people living with dementia.

The effects of a changing climate are becoming increasingly clear across the UK. Rising temperatures, heavy rainfall, increased frequency of storms and greater risk of wildfires are becoming part of the national experience. In Scotland the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1997, and from 2014 and 2023, average temperatures were a degree higher than the 1961–1990 average.

These changes are happening at a time when the UK population is ageing. In 2022, 19% of the population was aged 65 and above. By 2072, this could rise to 27% – equal to more than 22 million people.

Older people are more likely to be the most affected because of underlying health conditions, reduced mobility, unsuitable housing, social and economic inequalities, and their limited role in climate planning. As we respond to climate change, it is essential to ensure that everyone, including people living with dementia, can contribute to shaping our common future.

“Kirrie Connections are excited to be involved in this innovative project and our members are keen to share their stories of how recycling was always a big part of daily life, ‘hand me downs and no plastic tubs’” Kirrie Connections

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund will enable the project to support inclusive engagement through environmental arts, storytelling, reminiscence and nature-based activities. Centred on Scotland’s Meeting Centres, it will work across local, regional and national levels, combining place-based resilience planning with ambassador training, intergenerational events and resource co-production to embed inclusive climate learning and leadership.

‘Climate Wisdom’ brings to life the findings from the 2023 ‘Healthy Ageing in a Changing Climate’ report and the Scottish Government-funded ‘Climate Chat’  project.  It aims to close the policy and practice gap between climate action and dementia support, advancing a model of climate justice that is inclusive, accessible and community-led. This will ensure that older adults and people living with dementia are not only protected from climate risks but are leading the response.

“This is a practical hands-on and engaging project, working alongside people with dementia and their care partners and Meeting Centres to explore ways in which small everyday changes, that we can all do, will have an impact on climate change. Outside the Box is delighted to be leading a partnership of experts to ensure that older adults and people living with dementia are not only protected from climate risks but are leading the response.” - Outside the Box

Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on this exciting new project. Any questions related to the project can be sent to admin@otbds.org.

Climate Wisdom is a partnership between: Outside the Box, Heriot Watt University, Meeting Centres Scotland, University of York and Stockholm Environment Institute. Thanks to the National Lottery Players, Climate Wisdom has received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.