Services
In this section you can read about the range of work currently being undertaken by Nick Cooke. I am happy to discuss potential projects of a similar nature – please see Contact Us.
Countryside Access
CLEAR Services provides secretariat support for the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum SCIO, a national network of organisations and individuals committed to the development of off-road pilgrimage travel across Scotland – see https://www.sprf.org.uk The Forum was established in 2012 following initial discussions facilitated by Nick. The Forum now has over 90 member bodies and has set up or enabled 10 local volunteer steering groups to identify and establish over 1,000 miles of walking routes linking Scotland’s historic centres of Christian pilgrimage, including Iona, Whithorn, St Andrews, Tain and Kirkwall. Nick has worked closely with all of these steering groups. In 2020, a new accreditation scheme was launched by SPRF to provide defined standards for the continuing development of these and other routes wishing to be promoted and branded as Scottish Pilgrim Ways ™.
Wildlife Habitat Management
CLEAR Services has carried out a range of surveys of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) to help land managers assess the overall environmental quality of given sites and measure their habitat value by recording their species richness. Since 2017, Nick has co-ordinated the very successful Trossachs Pearl-bordered Fritillary Restoration Project in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, Forestry & Land Scotland, RSPB, and the Woodland Trust. Other clients have included Carroglen Farm and the Doune Community Woodland Group. Nick has studied Lepidoptera all his life and believes strongly in working with the growing numbers of people interested in surveying and monitoring local butterfly and moth populations as a key indicator of environmental quality and habitats. All of Nick’s projects include an element of ‘citizen science’ participation, e.g. as part of National Moth Night, and this will feature in the work of the Carse of Stlrling Partnership SCIO in creating new ‘pollinator corridors’.
Charity Administration and Governance
CLEAR Services provides administrative and Company Secretary services to forthgivng, the trading name of the Sons of the Rock Society grant making charity – see https://www.forthgiving.org.uk/ Within the UK voluntary sector, Nick has carried out a variety of charity restructuring and governance reviews, including ‘change agent’ consultancy work, business and strategic planning, project facilitation and management. Nick acts as independent financial examiner to several smaller charities and is an Associate of the Institute of Charity Independent Examiners (ACIE). He also provides advice on updating charity constitutions and compliance with Scottish legislation and the requirements of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).