Communities
Inspired by the Gaelic cèilidh — bringing people together — Science Ceilidh connects communities, research, and culture to drive social change.
We support people across Scotland to be curious, get creative, and build knowledge and networks to influence wellbeing, climate change, and democratic processes.
We work alongside grassroots groups, community and cultural engagement professionals, youth workers, and rural communities to provide facilitation, bespoke training and resource development that empowers social action.
As capacity builders, connectors and system intermediaries, we share our learning to inform, train and consult with national and international funders, practitioners, and organisations. Our goal is to advocate for more equitable knowledge and cultural democracy in Scotland and beyond.
Our work ranges from:
supporting New Scots in Edinburgh to explore and share art and science as culture with Multicultural Family Base
engaging young groups through creative STEM with our Curiosity Club
supporting equitable community-researcher partnerships around mental wellbeing and climate change
developing resources to support singing groups to be more mental health-inclusive in Singing Side by Side
delivering interdisciplinary community programmes and training
exploring the role of libraries and culture to support connectedness and research around social isolation and wellbeing with communities in the Western Isles
Communities
Explore some of our programmes and projects below to find out more about our work with communities across Scotland.
Community Knowledge Matters
Community Knowledge Matters is a network bringing together people interested in community-led research shaping practice and policy change, especially in rural and island Scotland. We are building connectivity and collective capacity through our regular activities, collation of resources and wider opportunities along with specific programmes designed to build stronger community-led research systems – from new models of community-led priority setting for rural research, ethics processes led by lived experience and community data infrastructure.
Curiosity in Action
Curiosity In Action was a programme (2023-2025) involving building an evidence-base, capacity and a network in Scotland to explore the impact of STEM in youth work. The action research strand included pairing youth groups with researchers involved in STFC research in a collaborative action research process. Together, they trialled STEM activities and looked at the impact this work has on young people. This learning shaped a series of resources developed for Community Learning and Development practitioners, researchers and science educators.
New Scots Connect
We believe in the importance of culture in the widest sense to connect people. Our New Scots Connect programmes have been working in partnership with Multicultural Family Base for over 7 years building relationships and support through sharing arts, sciences, crafts, music, research, culture and stories for, with and by New Scots - people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds who are currently living in Scotland.
Featured Resource: HICCCN Training Programme
This bespoke training programme for the Highlands & Islands Climate Change Community Research Network (HICCCN) was developed to address capacity issues for community-led research on climate change in the Highlands & Islands. The training series explores:
- Navigating Challenging Climate Conversations
- Managing Volunteers & Community Leadership Skills
- Policy, Impact & Community Engagement
- Measuring Environmental Impact from Community Perspectives
- Burn Out Prevention & Recovery for Climate Activists.
Training & Support
Science Ceilidh also supports participatory funding and peer networks for groups in the Highlands and Islands to lead community-based research projects around mental wellbeing and climate change, as well as provide bespoke training and free resources for a more community-driven work across the culture and research sectors.
Other case studies/projects
Le Cheile/Together
A library and community project exploring people, places and connectedness in the Western Isles, with Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar, UHI Division of Rural Health and Wellbeing and Carnegie Trust.
Singing Side By Side
An academic research and a community action research programme to develop a toolkit to support singing groups to be more mental health-inclusive by incorporating lived experiences, with Universities of Derby, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Highlands & Islands Communities Climate Network
A support network of community groups to build relationships with researchers for climate action, in partnership with the British Science Association and funded by UKRI. The programme also explored how funding communities directly can enable more meaningful knowledge exchange and capacity building.
Culture & Wellbeing Community Network Scotland
A network connecting grassroots groups, artists, libraries, researchers and organisations to support more community-led and inclusive culture, with the Scottish Libraries and Information Council, Fun Palaces and Eden Court.
PAST PROJECTS
Leith Labs
A Scientist-in-Residence Programme in a shopping center taking place in Ocean Terminal in Leith, Scotland, from 2016-2020.
MUSE Programme
A long-term programme exploring science, music and skills for communities with additional support needs including with Beeslack Family Disabled Club.
Rural Health Past Present Future
A project marking the anniversary of the NHS working with communities in Shetland and Inverness to explore memories of what healthcare was like, hosting conversations across generations, and crafting a vision for rural health services.
More of our community projects
Explore more of our work with communities across Scotland.
How to Get Involved
Join the Community Knowledge Matters Network
For conversation, connection and support towards community-led research. The CKM network seeks to platform grassroots communities and organisations, though anyone is welcome to join including researchers who are keen to support more equitable processes and partnerships that centre communities through an ethics of care. We also welcome practitioners and decision-makers interested in being more driven by community-led research and working together to support a more equitable and diverse system evidence-base.
Join the Curiosity in Communities Network
For conversation, connection and support for embedding STEM in youth work. The Curiosity in Communities network is open to everyone interested in the role of STEM to support Community Learning and Development (CLD) practice outcomes with and by young people. This includes but is by no means limited to youth workers, CLD practitioners, researchers, STEM students and science educators.