Edinburgh – partner to public services

The University of Edinburgh has a long-standing commitment to delivering change in local communities. This is done by supporting social impact, sharing knowledge and experience, building close connections, providing services to our community and opening our estate. The university provides civic engagement as it believes that meaningful relationships with the local community are fundamental.

The university provides a wide range of activities for the communities across the Edinburgh region. This includes language classes for residents to enhance their skills and embrace the local culture, music classes to develop the skills and creativity of the local community. The Centre for Open Learning’s short courses and ‘Languages for All’ programmes have attracted 8,000 registrations, aged between 18-92, establishing courses accessible to all learners within the community.

Staff and students piloted the remote teaching of basic digital skills to adults with disabilities and minority ethnic women in partnership with the charities LEAD Scotland and Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre. This has allowed local residents to enhance their digital skills through the community plan set up by the University of Edinburgh.

‘Slurp’, a student-run social enterprise aims to support individuals affected by homelessness in Edinburgh. Students help to make up to 50 hot meals bi-weekly alongside Streetwork’s service users to ensure those who are experiencing homelessness have a hot meal.