Help us replace stolen items

Aim: While we were away on holiday, someone came to site and helped themselves to essential tools. We really need your help to replace them.

As a social enterprise, we operate on a pretty tight budget. So when something like this happens - the theft of a number of pretty expensive bits of kit - it really sets you back. We're looking for various sources of funding to help us replace what's been taken, but we're looking at all the avenues we can. So we're hoping you can help!

What happened?

While we were taking a short break from site (having a fantastic time on holiday in Derry - if you haven't been, we can thoroughly recommend it!), some people came to our site in rural Stirlingshire and helped themselves to two chainsaws and a chainsaw mill (STIHL 231 and 661 with Alaskan sawmill attached), a generator, a welding machine, a circular saw, a full set of chisels, some planes and - randomly - our pallet breaker. There may be other bits and bobs as well, but that's what we've found missing so far. It seems they pretty much ransacked our container looking for easy-to-sell items. 

About our social enterprise

Green Aspirations Scotland CIC is a woodland-based social enterprise with a mission to reconnect people with the natural environment and inspire a love for the outdoors through woodlands. We're a very small operation - run by Directors Paul and Jo and helped out by Craig and a small but wonderful group of core volunteers. We were established in 2013 and, since then, we’ve worked with different groups of people – community groups, corporate teams, young adults, school pupils, kids, and crafters – to develop traditional craft skills, create an appreciation of the woodlands, and encourage sustainable and healthy environments. Our focus is on working with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, creating opportunities for them to get outside, experience nature first hand, have fun, and learn new skills. We have worked with groups experiencing mental ill-health, as well as young people in residential settings or at risk of being excluded from education, and deliver workshops to a range of community-based groups. We also run regular volunteering groups, with volunteers ranging in age from 14 to mid 70s. Here's a video showing a wee snippet of what we do. 

We don't get much external funding, so the vast majority of our income comes from what we can generate ourselves - through workshops and events, our kids holiday club, and by selling products we make on site, including charcoal, traditional games, and other metal and wooden items. It's always a balancing act when it comes to paying other people to work, paying our bills, and - very seldomly - paying ourselves (Paul and Jo both have other jobs to pay the mortgage). And while we do a lot of our work using hand tools, this loss of equipment is a real blow. We need them to help us process wood to make into Scottish Charcoal, prepare for some of our workshops, and help with different parts of the process of making our games.

What we need from you!

We really need your help. We will be looking for other funding to help us replace the equipment but anything you can do to help would be very much appreciated - whatever amount, big or small. We're also hoping to replace with electic items (rather than petrol) wherever we can. And if you know of anyone who might like to donate any of the equipment we've had taken, then you can drop us an email at [email protected]. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 30th July 2025 at 12:27pm