Isabel McLeish, Velocity

Changing habits and fostering hope

25-year-old Isabel McLeish is the Climate, Waste and Sustainability Project Officer at Velocity Café & Bicycle Workshop in Inverness. Velocity is one of eight founding community organisations in the Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP) which aims to reduce waste, promote a circular economy and build a movement for more sustainable consumption across the Highlands.

Tell us about your current role? What’s the best thing about your job?

As a project officer, I manage and deliver a diverse programme of projects, events, talks and campaigns to raise awareness, promote a circular economy and help build a movement towards more sustainable consumption across the Highlands. I love collaborating with a variety of groups to engage communities in taking climate action and pro-environmental behaviours.

Describe what Velocity does, why are organisations like it so important?

Velocity Café & Bicycle Workshop is a social enterprise based in Inverness since 2012. Velocity runs a vegetarian café, bicycle workshop and offers a range of projects to promote health, wellbeing and sustainability. We believe in positive social change through a fair, sustainable, inclusive, active and happy community and our aim is to be recognised as a local hub for a greener, healthier future by connecting and empowering individuals and communities in Inverness and across the Highlands.

Velocity promotes active travel and healthy lifestyles, and it is great for the organisation to be part of the Highland Community Waste Partnership and climate action project.

Where has your interest in sustainability come from? How have your life experience, and your qualifications in art and social practice brought you to a job focused on climate?

I grew up on the west coast and feel passionate about celebrating and protecting our landscape and communities across the Highlands and Islands. My master's degree and third sector experience have affirmed my belief in the power and significance of collaborative partnerships to drive meaningful social and environmental change.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the nature and climate emergency, and be anxious about the uncertain future ahead of us. I am keen to involve communities in the co-production of projects, inspire people to get involved and help foster hope.