In 2024 West Dumbarton Libraries were awarded The Green Libraries Scotland Grant Fund to undertake a sewing project for young people in the local community.
Threads of Change
Making a difference one stitch at a time, West Dunbartonshire Libraries - Utilizing local libraries to teach children and young people new skills that will allow them to adopt lifelong sustainable practices for them and their families through basic sewing, repairing, embroidery and customization. In a locality where 27.6% of children live in poverty, the fourth highest in Scotland.
Threads of Change will equip youngsters disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis to reduce their carbon footprint in affordable and accessible ways, whilst also educating the community about the environmental and ethical impact of fast fashion, which contributes around 300,000 tons of waste to landfill in the UK alone.
This is a little video with an interview of the library and information officers who are undertaking the project across 2025 in both Dalmuir Library and Clydebank High School.
Alexandria Community Garden
We have a wonderful community garden at Alexandria Library where our local community are encouraged to spend time, garden and grow their own food. We have biodiversity areas, home grown herbs, natural bird feeders and our own water butt.
We frequently host gardening and craft events for children to teach about gardening, wildlife and sustainability and work closely with the Community Payback Team and Green Spaces to look after the space for all of our community to enjoy. -
Photographs of gardening event in October 2024
Climate Action Film Academy Films
Climate ACTION was a week-long film academy for young people aged between 13 and 17. In five days, young people from across West Dunbartonshire: wrote scripts, designed costumes and props, filmed, edited, and finished a series of climate-related films.
With over 70% of young people feeling hopeless in the face of the climate and ecological crisis, our Climate ACTION Film Academy supported young people to navigate complex emotions, whilst empowering them - through professional guidance and learning practical filmmaking skills - to share their voice in what is the single biggest challenge that their generation will face.
The project was generously funded by Screen Scotland, and facilitated by Braw Talent.
- Fashion Animations: https://vimeo.com/855676679
- Breaking the World: https://vimeo.com/855676561
- Best Summer Ever: https://vimeo.com/855671871
- Sustainable Fashion: https://vimeo.com/855670291
After the films premiered in Alexandria Library, Sustainable Fashion was shortlisted for best documentary at the 2023 Scottish Youth Film Festival.