A big thanks to West Dunbartonshire @citizensadvicescot.bsky.social for coming out speak to the Moments of Freedom group about what support they can offer members. We are looking forward to this continuing partnership! 🔈

Collaborative Leadership - Outside the Box In summer 2025 our former CEO retired, and with support from the Board, we piloted a new collaborative leadership model.

📣Some organisational news from OTB! Find out more about our new collaborative leadership model on our latest blog otbds.org/collaborativ...

Photo of summer event at Strathclyde University last year, discussing research opportunities with GCVS and third sector participants

📢 Take part in research on human rights in the voluntary sector!

Join relaxed discussions, with lunch provided, to explore how human rights-based approaches can support your work. Sessions run in May with @thre-equal.bsky.social and @sbs.strath.ac.uk

Please sign up:
forms.office.com/e/d8A7XGHCDc

Faded photo of women working at a polling place next to a ballot box with text that reads Register by Monday 20th April to vote in the Scottish Parliament Elections www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, with the Engender logo in the top right-hand corner.

The Scottish Parliament elections are on 7 May. Key dates:

Register to vote by 20 April
Apply for a postal vote by 21 April
Apply for a proxy vote by 28 April

If your details being on the electoral register could put you at risk, you can register anonymously.

Register: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Partnerships - Outside the Box We help people develop and keep good partnerships, and help them make existing arrangements that are a bit fraught work better.

LGBTQI+ families in Scotland often face barriers in accessing services and community spaces. We can support services and organisations to understand barriers and create supportive spaces for LGBTQI+ families. Email Leon@otbds.org to find out more.
otbds.org/what-we-do/p...

New guides: Starting LGBTIQ+ families in Scotland - Outside the Box Two new resources about starting LGBTIQ families in Scotland, written by the Queer Families community groups.

Our two guides from the Queer Families groups, written by and for LGBTIQ+ people in Scotland, aim to help make the possible pathways to starting a family clearer, and the journey feel more supported from the beginning. otbds.org/starting-lgb...

Welcome | Meeting Centres Scotland Meeting Centres Scotland provide community based support for people living with dementia and their care partners.

We love getting out and about in the communities we work with. Recently we visited Meeting Centres in Fife and Angus; community-based support groups for people living with dementia and their care partners. Find out about their amazing member-led spaces www.meetingcentres.scot

Two new resources to help you get ready for the Scottish Parliament Election - Outside the Box With the next election taking place on Thursday 7th May, we’ve launched two new resources to guide you through everything you need to know.

With less than 40 days until the Scottish Parliament election, get yourself election ready with our new resources otbds.org/two-new-reso...

We heard about the need for more community support, multi-year funding, financial support for utility costs and more. There is lots to be done to improve the lives of older people in Scotland. Thanks to all who joined us!

Last week we heard from 4 organisations at our Connecting Equalities webinar and asked them to put forward 3 asks to Scottish Parliament candidates and the new Scottish Government.
otbds.org/projects/con...

Climate Wisdom visits the Scottish Deer Centre  - Outside the Box The sun came out just in time for the Climate Wisdom team to visit to the Scottish Deer Centre in Fife, Cupar.

The sun came out just in time for the STAND Cupar and Dunfermline Meeting Centres and Katie & Christine from the Climate Wisdom team visit to the Scottish Deer Centre.
otbds.org/climate-wisd...

We're in Glasgow today at the @alliancescot.bsky.social Conference 'Hope to Action'. 'Hope' is a strong theme across our work supporting communities and we're excited to hear from other groups and organisations in workshops and talks. If you see us at the conference do come and say hello!

All this resonated with our #ClimateWisdom project which brings together people living with dementia, their care partners and their communities to co-create practical, creative and rights-based responses to climate change.

The common thread and clear message was the importance of reframing the climate change narrative (and language) so that it is meaningful for people's everyday lives, and as part of that ensuring ALL voices are heard and everyone can be involved in local community initiatives.

Last week we spent an energising day at the Fife Communities Climate Action Network and Fife Climate Hub Gathering in Kirkcaldy as part of our Climate Wisdom project. otbds.org/projects/cli...

We had an informative day at the Scottish Human Rights Commission's 'South of Scotland - Have your say on Economic, Social and Cultural rights' event at Borders College. Lots of interesting and insightful conversations.

Fattoush salad directions: Wash and chop all the vegetables, mix all the ingredients, add oil, vinegar, and salt, and finish with pomegranate and toasted bread. ingredients: Two tomatoes Two cucumbers Some lettuce leaves Fresh and dried mint 2 spring onions 2 green peppers Parsley Apple vinegar 1 pomegranate Drizzle of olive oil Toasted or fried flat bread And salt to taste.

On International Women's Day the women of Moments of Freedom shared some of their favourite family recipes. The group have decided to start publishing these and the first is fattoush salad! 🥗

Our Approach - Outside the Box We provide development support to groups and people across Scotland who want to make a difference in their communities. This is our approach.

Outside the Box’s vision is a society where communities are welcoming and inclusive, and where people can contribute to making their communities work well for them and for everyone.
otbds.org/about/our-ap...

Starting new groups for LGBTIQ+ families - Outside the Box Setting up community spaces for LGBTIQ+ families Since 2018/19 we’ve been supporting the Queer Families group in Glasgow, to help LGBTIQ+ families with children find ways to connect and build communit...

Since 2018 we’ve been supporting the Queer Families group in Glasgow, to help LGBTIQ+ families with children find ways to connect and build community. Over the last year, this grew a lot – with more families joining and new spin-off groups starting up. Check them out!
otbds.org/starting-new...

It was great to join Invisible Cities last week at their Glasgow networking event. Interesting to hear all about @mediaco-op.bsky.social and the power of storytelling.
These networking events are a welcoming and inclusive space for people from across the third sector and beyond to connect.

8 hand paint recycled glass jars on a table

Hand painted glass jar with flowers.

It was great to join
@moments_freedom
yesterday in Clydebank for a relaxing glass painting session. During Ramadan we are focussing on arts and crafts, with a goal of producing some pieces that could be sold to raise money for group funds.

Two new resources to help you get ready for the Scottish Parliament Election - Outside the Box With the next election taking place on Thursday 7th May, we’ve launched two new resources to guide you through everything you need to know.

With less than 3 months to go, make sure you are election ready with our two resources 🗳️ otbds.org/two-new-reso...

Two new resources to help you get ready for the Scottish Parliament Election - Outside the Box With the next election taking place on Thursday 7th May, we’ve launched two new resources to guide you through everything you need to know.

With less than 3 months to go, make sure you are election ready with our two resources 🗳️ otbds.org/two-new-reso...

We had a lovely session with the Moments of Freedom group yesterday. The group have now officially signed their constitution and we ate a lovely Syrian meal to celebrate in advance of Ramadan.

www.momentsoffreedom.org

Having a say about the Climate Change Plan - Outside the Box What we're hearing from supporting groups (especially people living with dementia) to take part in the Climate Change Plan consultation.

Having a say about the Climate Change Plan

Our blog shares some of the climate impacts and reflections from the groups and communities we work alongside, including our #ClimateWisdom partnership project.

otbds.org/climate-chan...

Pink and white pop up banner of Scotland's Annual Human Rights Conference 2026. Logos of The Alliance, Justice, William Grant Foundation, Corra Foundation and Law Society of Scotland funders.

Front page of pink and white paper hand out of Scotland's Annual Human Rights Conference 2026. Logos of The Alliance, Justice, William Grant Foundation, Corra Foundation and Law Society of Scotland funders.

4 panel members sitting in front of a table with glasses of water, notes and microphones. A projector screen is on the wall with the wording "The Workers' Observatory and Migrant Justice Edinburgh. The power of migrant-led organisations"

Yesterday our team attended the Scottish Human Rights Conference in Glasgow alongside over 150 delegates. We sat in on interesting workshops on Migration Rights in Scotland, Children's Rights and UK Human Rights Perspective and Priorities. A big thank you to Human Rights Consortium Scotland!

Approaches that nurture wellbeing and resilience - Outside the Box When we talk about the difference we make, it includes statistics and reach. But positive community-led change means more than numbers show.

At Outside the Box we work together with communities to help them adapt and grow to challenges, from healthcare access to renewable energy. We help more people use approaches which value communities’ strengths

otbds.org/wellbeing-an...

New guides: Starting LGBTIQ+ families in Scotland - Outside the Box Two new resources about starting LGBTIQ families in Scotland, written by the Queer Families community groups.

We recently launched two new guides from the Queer Families groups, written by and for LGBTIQ+ people in Scotland. We hope these guides help make the possible pathways to starting a family clearer, and the journey feel more supported from the beginning. otbds.org/starting-lgb...

Intergenerational National Network - Outside the Box The Intergenerational National Network connects people and organisations in Scotland - and beyond! - to share multi-generational ideas.

The Intergenerational National Network (INN) brings together people across Scotland, and further afield, who have an interest in intergenerational and multigenerational working and practices.
There are two events in February, find out when and where on our website:
otbds.org/projects/int...

Intergenerational National Network - Outside the Box The Intergenerational National Network connects people and organisations in Scotland - and beyond! - to share multi-generational ideas.

The Intergenerational National Network (INN) brings together people across Scotland, and further afield, who have an interest in intergenerational and multigenerational working and practices.
There are two events in February, find out when and where on our website:
otbds.org/projects/int...