Community Plan 2025–30

We will support communities to create the change that matters to them.

Our work so far

We have an established practice of working collaboratively and collectively within research. In some of our projects, communities set the questions and work with the academics on the investigation, interpretation and implementation of findings. Our students already work in local communities by volunteering, creating charities and social enterprises, or working on challenges set by local residents. They also carry out community work placements and get involved with work-based learning such as the Free Legal Advice Centre, which is run by our law students together with staff and local solicitors. 

We have developed ways of working that prioritise partnering locally to support people into employment and welcome members of the public onto the University’s estate.

What we will do by 2030

Collectively-owned research

• We will continue to partner with communities to undertake research on topics of mutual interest.
• We will further improve the ways we respond to opportunities to collaborate on research that matters to local residents, communities, third sector and civic partners, particularly where it could benefit underrepresented groups.

Accessing and developing knowledge and skills

• Ensuring mutual benefit, we will make it even easier for local community groups to partner with Edinburgh University Students’ Association Volunteering Services.
• We will build on current activities where students undertake work commissioned by and for the benefit of community partners.
• We aim to make in-person and online lifelong learning even more accessible for local residents.
• We will improve the promotion of University opportunities like apprenticeships, mentoring, work experience and paid internships.

How we work

We will continue to support staff volunteering through our policies and will develop support for skills-based volunteering. We will provide a clearer contact point for any local resident who needs to reach a specific part of the University. We will participate in citywide and regional initiatives to support inclusive growth in our area, including as a member of the Edinburgh Partnership Board and with representation on the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and any successor.

We will advance the social, economic and digital inclusion of local residents and work to improve the life chances of those in need.

Our work so far

The University’s research in health and prevention of illness is world leading. There are numerous ways local patients and members of the public are involved with this, whether it is through our Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility or the many programmes run by our medical institutes.

The University’s research in homelessness and preventing inequalities in housing is informing both local policy development and national decision-making.

The University is reducing inequalities in access to knowledge and skills through its strong commitment to widening participation in education for under-represented groups. With civic partners, we are a hub for digital and data skills development. Our current teaching includes learning related to the prevention of future inequalities.

Across our work, we add value to inclusive economic growth, through our social investment portfolio and by embedding community benefits as part of our procurement processes.

We promote digital inclusion by redistributing our surplus computing equipment through local community partners.

Access to our sport facilities by residents enables them to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

What we will do by 2030

Collectively owned research

• With our partners, we will continue research that helps prevent future health problems, widens educational opportunities, supports pathways out of homelessness, and addresses other social and economic disadvantages for local residents.
• We will increase research-linked outreach that promotes healthy behaviours, such as vaccine uptake.

Accessing and developing knowledge and skills

• Recognising that from pre-birth to age five is a pivotal time for determining future life chances, such as access to education, we will continue to undertake a range of activity targeting this age group: through University-funded community grants; our teaching and research partnerships with local nurseries; our social investments; and more.
• We will maintain teaching that can help prevent future health, social and economic challenges for local residents, such as the support our students offer to young people through our Centre for Psychological Therapies, and will ensure that fairness in society continues to feature in our curriculum.
• We will continue our teaching of inclusion health with reference to our local area, such as through our Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health.
• We will continue to provide digital skills training to support access to employment across our region.

How we work

• We are committed to our socially positive investments and will evaluate the impact of those we make.
• We will deliver our commitments contained in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Community Wealth Building Pledge and any successor programme. This will help to ensure we support fair employment for local residents, drive the development of local small and medium-sized businesses, and promote the long-term financial security of people from all parts of society.
• We will pursue a more systematic and progressive approach to procurement community benefits, informed by dialogue with local communities, to maximise the additional value our purchasing brings to our region.
• We will continue to support the local circular economy and digital inclusion by, for example, distributing our used computing equipment to local communities with support from our partner organisations.
• We will further promote physical health and wellbeing for local residents by continuing to offer access to our sport facilities and to our social and cultural activities.

We will help to promote the many factors that ensure people thrive in local places.

Our work so far

The University currently plays an active role in the civic life of our region, including using our convening power to support multi-sector work.

Our local area is made up of a diverse range of environments, from the urban centre of Edinburgh to rural communities, towns and villages. According to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, the University has buildings and land in both the least and most deprived of Edinburgh’s neighbourhoods. We believe it is our responsibility to share our resources with communities in all of these areas.

We have maintained our University of Sanctuary status and created the Education Beyond Borders programme, ensuring migrants and refugees arriving in our region can continue their education locally. Many of our students and staff originate from outside the UK and become involved with community partners, bringing local and global together.

We currently undertake community engagement that increases the personal connection our neighbours feel to the research and cultural heritage on their doorstep, and we support volunteering and teaching that build community connections.

We recognise that living near to us may sometimes bring challenges. We continue to operate on a ‘no surprises’ basis with all neighbours about developments of our estate which could impact them. We listen to issues raised and work collaboratively to address them.

What we will do by 2030

Collectively owned research

• We will continue to contribute to research on biodiversity and wildlife in local parks and woodlands.
• Other research will continue to support local people of all ages, genders and abilities to be more active outdoors.
• We will be involved with even more research that preserves and promotes local cultural heritage.
• Through more than 200 staff and student volunteers involved with Edinburgh BioQuarter’s community impact work, and through the Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre, we will further enhance everyday engagement in science by nearby residents.

Accessing and developing knowledge and skills

• We will continue to develop community volunteering that promotes social connection, such as our students sharing their knowledge of languages other than English, or their digital skills.
• Through our curriculum, we will create more chances for experiential learning where students focus on local places and, where appropriate, involve residents directly.
• We will continue our Education Beyond Borders programme of funding, support, and collaborative and community-led initiatives, and maintain our University of Sanctuary status, ensuring more New Scots can access the skills they need.

How we work

• We will continue to respect cultural heritage in the development of our estate and consider the impact of these developments on local communities.
• We will learn from the recommendations of the University’s Race Review.
• We will award at least 20 community grants per year. We will continue to award these grants directly to groups and organisations because we recognise that local knowledge best supports a community’s ambitions. Our allocation of funds will prioritise the ongoing financial sustainability of these groups, strengthening social change and developing community leaders.
• We will increase the use of our public outdoor spaces and heritage and cultural assets for health and wellbeing purposes, including our site at Rullion Green Wood in the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
• We will provide greater support to community-driven events and will improve access for local residents to festival events in our buildings.
• We will maintain free-of-charge community use of our designated buildings.