About Us

find out more about earthtime

The West Lodge Community Hub Project

With thanks to funding by the Moray Pathways Local Employability Partnership, we are carrying out some improvements to West Lodge. With a more accessible toilet and homely kitchen area, our space in Cooper Park will be a relaxed meeting venue, a work and training space and a hub for information on getting outdoors. We also plan to have a community larder of toiletries and hygiene products.

Company information

Earthtime is a company which is limited by guarantee. This means that it is a company without any shareholders. Earthtime has members, instead of shareholders. Employees are not able to become members but anyone else who wants to support Earthtime’s objectives can apply to become a member of Earthtime.

Earthtime is a registered charity. Our income comes from the services we provide (nursery, out of school care, forest school sessions, training), grant funding, fundraising and donations. When Earthtime makes a profit, we keep this money within in our company and use it to meet the charitable objectives set out in our governing documents.

Earthtime, like all registered charities, has a Board of Directors (also known as Trustees) who are responsible for the strategic leadership of Earthtime and deciding how it is run. The day to day operations of Earthtime are led by a management team. The Board of Directors make sure that Earthtime carries out its purposes, that it follows its governing documents, that it is accountable and that it manages its resources responsibly. The Board does this by meeting around 5 times a year to review the quarterly reports written by the management team, make decisions on matters they need to approve and provide direction to the management team on the running of Earthtime. The Directors are all volunteers, most have day jobs and some are Board members of other charities or companies.

Meet the Board

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Childcare

From our Forest School nursery at Duffus Estate, we provide early learning and childcare (from age 2 to school age), out of school hours care for school age children and holiday care for school age children.

Our nursery

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Community

Across Moray, we provide Forest Schools programmes in schools (with groups and on a 1:1 basis), parent and child activity groups in public parks (Waddle Toddle and Nature Play) and walks for pregnant women and their families (Pregnancy Pathways). At Duffus Estate we run birthday parties and bigger events like our Elf and Fairy Fair. We love attending events too so please contact us if you’d like us to take a stall or bring some outdoor play to your event.

FIND OUT WHAT'S ON

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Training

We are an approved Assessment Centre to deliver the Forest and Outdoor Learning Award (FOLA) award with Newbattle Abbey College as the awarding body. FOLA is tailored to the Scottish curriculum and is a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) accredited qualification. FOLA Levels 2-4 are suitable for younger learners from age 10 upwards and cover nature conservation, working with tools, fire safety and arts and crafts. FOLA Levels 5, 6 & 8 are leadership awards for learners aged 16 plus (18 for Level 8) working towards becoming a Forest School Leader.

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A fair and just society: reducing poverty and inequality

We address the root causes of poverty by: paying the Real Living Wage to our employees; providing flexible employment opportunities to enable our staff to work and look after their children; and providing a reliable childcare service (including out of school care and holiday clubs, which enables parents to work/find employment). We provide opportunities to all families to build their confidence and resilience in the outdoors in a gentle, supported environment and improve their mental health. We offer free activities for all and specifically for families who need support with costs. We bring our play activities to communities, reducing the need for families to travel. Our activities raise awareness of the benefits of outdoor play and the free resources and spaces we have in our communities in Moray, such as parks and woodland.

Inclusion, equality and diversity

Earthtime has embedded diversity, equality and inclusion into its decision making and strategic planning. Our 100% female management team and 95% female workforce, the majority of which are parents, understands the needs and wants of families. We explore no and low cost options for all of our activities, constantly striving to ensure that cost is never a barrier. We all come from different backgrounds and with different qualifications. We invest in our volunteers, supporting them into qualification and employment. We are always willing to discuss flexible work arrangements and will accommodate them if it we can.

Reducing pressure of public services

Earthtime carries out an essential role in supporting children and families who might otherwise rely on public service provision. Our parent and child groups are open to everyone. They do not require a referral and at some, we are able to provide snacks and a take home activity, all at no cost to participants.

Our provision is as much about nurture as it is nature. We run nurture groups in schools for small groups of children. Sometimes the children in the groups have personal challenges of trauma or anxiety. Our child led approach can help children to re-engage with education on their own terms and improve their mental health and wellbeing.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Supporting health and wellbeing

Our relaxed, welcoming open space in public parks or woodland breaks down so many barriers. We see children and their parents/carers thriving in the outdoors, connecting with nature and forming friendships with others in their communities.

We provide opportunities for the whole family to connect with nature and get outdoors. People with nature on their doorsteps are typically more active, mentally resilient and have better all round health. We run activities in the public parks and community gardens of Moray, encouraging more people to visit them and understand the value of these spaces and their potential. Our events create opportunities for families to connect with other families, develop friendships and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Attend a community event