1. Support social impact

School-aged learners have had opportunities to gain key digital, data and artificial intelligence (‘AI’) literacies through work by the Data Education in Schools team, supported by the Kerr Fry endowment. For example, in February 2025, 140 S1 to S3 learners from Tynecastle High, Gorgie Mills, Preston Lodge High, Boroughmuir High, and the Royal High Schools came to participate in the science show, “Unbelievably Creative”.

Staff member Zohra O’Doherty helped local residents to acquire essential digital skills like sending email through her voluntary work with the City of Edinburgh Council's Get Online service.  At the end of 2024, Zohra was awarded an Information Services Group Staff Recognition Award for her service.

We learned that some of our investments have already had positive impact for people living in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Borders through our first Social Investment Fund Impact Report. This highlighted that funds we invest in have addressed issues like reducing inequalities, economic empowerment, and housing. Progress has been made against all seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

80% of IntoUniversity Craigmillar students due to leave school in 2025 progressed to university, further education, apprenticeships or employment. In the 2024/25 academic year, 1,359 local primary and secondary school pupils were involved in one or more programmes at IntoUniversity Craigmillar.

Because of the Careers in FOCUS programme, I’ve learnt more about different jobs and what an average day looks like at different workplaces. I’ve also learnt what to do and what not to do when going to a job interview. (S2 student, IntoUniversity Craigmillar)

Parents and carers of IntoUniversity learners have been equipped with the skills and confidence to support their children’s education through the launch of IntoUniversity’s Adult and Family Learning pilot in Scotland. Community consultations were carried out with families to identify local needs and aspirations. Through Family Steering Groups and coffee afternoons, parents and carers will continue to play an active role.

Commitment 1: “Sustain and grow activities related to our social impact pledges including: tackling homelessness and rough sleeping; promoting digital inclusion; supporting vulnerable groups and areas of multiple deprivation.”

We successfully completed two Social Impact Pledges, in 2023 and 2025.

In the last two years, the Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health, part of our first and second Pledges, has secured £5.9 million for activities including community engaged research with local partners like Cyrenians and Simon Community Scotland.

Commitment 2: “Develop training and support for student social enterprises, and invest up to £8 million by 2023 in social investments that help tackle social and environmental challenges, as part of our Social Enterprise and Social Investment Strategy.”

Many social returns have been realised from the University’s investments. All £8 million of social investment funding has been committed by the University. Five of nine funds we have invested in are now fully deployed.

In the last year, 21 new student social impact ventures have been created. In the previous year, seven out of ten student enterprise programmes supported social entrepreneurship skills. Our Student Enterprise Hub moved into new accommodation in our Bayes Centre, providing greater support for entrepreneurial collaboration. TechStars has now succeeded Make Your Mark for fast-track start-up support.

Commitment 3: “Grow our Community Grants Scheme and develop links with a more diverse group of organisations.”

Commitment 4: “Conduct an Equality Impact Assessment of our Community Grant Scheme and act on the findings.”

Commitment 5: “Create more opportunities to bring our community grantees together to share their experiences.”

Since 2020, £556,100 has been awarded to 203 local community organisations. We’ve also created 15 opportunities for current and potential grantees to come together.

A five-year evaluation of the impact of our community grant scheme published in 2023 revealed that funded projects particularly contributed to the reduction of physical and mental ill health and the promotion of social and financial inclusion. The evaluation also analysed which societal groups had benefitted from the scheme and the geography of supported projects. Themed rounds included one responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.