Keeping Climate in Mind
Festival preparations are in full swing! Organisations are planning their events being held across Highland, Orkney & Shetland throughout September. The Events Map is filling up with lots of unique events which is very exciting!
Along with financial support, we’ve equipped groups with a toolkit for event planning. Our Resources detail Health & Safety protocols, Marketing & Branding, and Sustainability considerations.
We’ve complied this blog as a round-up of local resources available across Highland, Orkney & Shetland that perhaps aren’t as well known, but very handy! Make the most of being able to hire resources instead of buying new ones, and support your local organisations. Hopefully these tips allow your events to run smoothly & sustainably.
Catering for your Event
It’s no secret that nothing brings people together quite like food! You can put a whole buffet together, whilst being good to the planet by sourcing food from Community Fridges. Located all across Highland, Orkney & Shetland, Community Fridges take food on the cusp of being out of date and provide it at low costs for the community. The reduced cost & normal quality make it a great financial choice aswell as being sustainable.
Check out these Community Fridges - Greener Orkney, The Sharing Shed (Thurso Community Development Trust), Kilmallie Community Fridge, Ullapool Community Pantry, Dingwall Community Fridge, Crown Connects Community Fridge, Nairn Food Nest, Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub
Hire a Party Kit
Instead of investing in a whole set of crockery for an event, or relying on disposables, utilise the Party Kit Network. Across the Highlands & Islands, 4 organisations offer the hire of tableware kits for events. Simply book out your desired kit, use it, wash it & return! Wash up services are also offered.
Available in Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, & Tain to Nairn
Building your Event
Need some equipment set up for your Event? Plan ahead and book out any equipment you need from a Tool Library, to prevent needing to dash to a hardware store and buying tools for 1 time use.
Clachworks Tool Library, every Saturday 9am-1pm
Becoming Musical
In Lochaber, the Buzz Project allows young people the chance to connect with music in their refurnished bus which is now a mobile music studio. They also offer opportunities to hire out instruments, so if you have a budding musician in your community, or a member of you event team who has a musical talent, why not add it to your event?
Find out more about the Buzz Project
Reach Out
If you don’t ask you won’t receive ;) By reaching out to local organisations you can make the most of their resources & talents in your event. Think the likes of Development Trusts and larger Community Interest Companies. By using organisations close, you are also embracing the Festival theme of localism!
You can find a map of organisations with sustainable values here.