£6 million for Scotland’s Climate Action Hubs
Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin announced funding for Scotland’s climate hubs during a visit to Buckie Thistle Football Club which is being supported by Moray Climate Action Network to reduce its impact on the environment and raise awareness of climate change.
Buckie Thistle Football Club, a beating heart of Buckie, is taking steps to reduce their own carbon footprint whilst engaging the wider community in what climate action can look like at the local level.
From left to right: Segun Adebayo, REAP Project Manager, who is working with Buckie Thistle to help them identify ways to reduce the Club’s energy use and decarbonise, Stephen Shand, Buckie Thistle General Manager, Jackie Maclaren, Chief Officer tsiMORAY, Raymond Cardo, Vice Chair Buckie Thistle, Louise Nicol, Moray CAN, Footballer Innes McKay, Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin.
The Club took the opportunity to announce it’s new Community Ambassador, centre-back Innes McKay, who will be working with Moray CAN and other community groups around climate action and the role sport can play.
The Club’s general manager, Stephen Shand said, “We’re very grateful for the support from Moray CAN – it’s helped us get our heads around what we can do as a club to be more environmentally responsible. We’re just at the start of the journey, but it’s exciting to learn more and see where small changes can make a difference. The help we are getting to find funding has been a huge boost to the club.”
Buckie Thistle was successful in receiving funds from earlier rounds of the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund and the Moray Local Action Fund, to purchase new led lighting for the pitch. This has made a dramatic difference to their energy consumption, not to mention the huge improvement in pitch lighting and visibility.
Club General Manager Stephen Shand welcomes Cabinet Minister for Net Zero, Gillian Martin.
Louise Nicol, Moray Climate Action Network manager, welcomes the Scottish Government’s continued support of the regional climate hubs. “We’re delighted to receive continued funding, it means we can keep supporting communities across Moray to take meaningful climate action in ways that work for them. Working with Buckie Thistle has been great, and we are both learning so much from each other. Football is more than a game – it’s a community hub, and it’s a great way to open up conversations about the environment.”
The Club is about to embark on carbon literacy training and is considering solar panels in the near future. Moray CAN will continue to work with Buckie Thistle, as it shows a way for local football clubs to take climate action.
