Community Group: Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh (Eriskay Historical Society)

Researchers: Bobby Macaulay, Social Scientist (Research Fellow from the Centre for Mountain Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands)

Location: Isle of Eriskay, Outer Hebrides

Developing a Community Climate Action Plan through Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh (Eriskay Historical Society)

Bobby Macaulay, Research Fellow from the Centre for Mountain Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands, working with Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh, said: 

[V]ery much a learning from this was recognising who, in this kind of partnership approach, is best at doing what. I can do research, I can create research instruments and methods and collect data and conduct robust research, but a community organisation can corral the community.

Phase 1 community-led research project

Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh (Eriskay Historical Society) worked with researcher Bobby Macaulay (University of the Highlands & Islands) to raise awareness within their community of the effects of climate change and what actions can be taken.

This took the form of creating a tailored Climate Action Plan, based on extensive community engagement in the form of community open days for their local and adjoining communities, meetings with leaders of community action groups, work in schools to involve young people in the project and a widespread survey to gain a sense of existing knowledge about climate change in the area.

Capacity Building Project

In Phase 2 the capacity building grant helped the group to continue their partnership with researcher Bobby Macaulay, who supported them to re-engage with a wider spread of community members through a climate symposium, bringing together wider community members to identify future opportunities and priorities.

The capacity building grant also enabled them to develop plans for their future funding and sustainability as they take forward key actions from their plan.

Research impacts

Both the group and researcher recognised that partnering together was crucial in getting a climate action plan in place and valued by the community, as they were each able to bring different, yet complementary, skills and perspectives into community research and engagement alike.