2. Share knowledge and experience

Sometimes, it’s the small things that make a difference. This year, we supported local education and digital inclusion by:

Local charities including The Welcoming and the British Heart Foundation have benefitted from items left behind by students moving out of our accommodation. Over 100 student volunteers, supported by Edinburgh University Students’ Association, collected items and sorted them ready for reuse.

Our staff gave almost a year of time – 338 days, to be exact – to good causes this year, using their Day to Make a Difference.

The journeys of students and staff who have come to the University of Edinburgh after being forcibly displaced by conflict, war, violence, or persecution were honoured in our exhibition ‘From Sanctuary to Community’. Displaced scholars co-produced the exhibition, supported by Edinburgh Beyond Borders.

We saw our knowledge out in the (local) world and brought some of the wider world in, too. 2,848 learners from Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Scottish Borders took short courses with our Centre for Open Learning this year, with the chance to benefit from the brand new Resource Centre. 

“The Resource Centre is a new space designed for lifelong learners. Located on the ground floor of Paterson’s Land on Holyrood Campus, it offers a comfortable environment for both individuals and groups to relax or catch up before classes. The Centre offers a library of course-related books and a diverse programme of events to complement, inspire and support learning.” (Lee McCulley, Customer Experience & Events Coordinator, Centre for Open Learning) 

Commitment 8: “Actively look for ways in which we can place more of our resources (buildings, equipment, vehicles) at the service of local communities and groups, whilst still using them to deliver on their core purpose.”

We responded to global crises in local ways: we helped supplies reach Ukraine by loaning our forklift truck and driver to load a charity lorry; we provided a community with power by loaning a generator during severe weather; we assisted people in getting online during Covid-19 lockdowns by working with our supplier Balfour Beatty to hand-deliver computer monitors. We also supported everyday life that continued, helping a charity to keep its building clean by providing free pressure-washing and playing a role in the vibrant Craigmillar Festival parade by loaning our tractor. We helped more local people to get around by donating 276 bicycles to a local charity, The Bike Station.

Commitment 9: “Encourage staff to take part in the University’s new ‘Day to Make a Difference’ scheme (staff can take one day of paid leave each year to volunteer on a community project of their choice), and highlight ways members of the local community can take part in University activities.”

We took steps to get more staff volunteering in local communities through a twelve month project that ran from 2020 to 2021. This initiative supported staff in using their annual day of paid volunteering leave, AKA ‘Day to Make a Difference’, with involvement from the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) and Volunteer Edinburgh. Uptake of the Day has almost doubled over the last two years, from 183 to 338 staff using it. More staff are aware of the day, supported by repeated internal communications campaigns. Local residents have gained skills, experience and companionship by volunteering with us, such as by assisting in our museums.

Commitment 10: “Continue to support the Edinburgh University Students’ Association in their work running the Student Volunteering Service and recognise students for their voluntary efforts, including through the Edinburgh Award.”

Students have been able to get their volunteering efforts recognised in a nationally recognised way since our Students’ Association adopted the Saltire Award, with 192 students having a total of 10,810 hours recognised in the last year. Recognition via our in-house Edinburgh Award has also continued. 40 local charities had the opportunity to connect with over 400 students at the Association’s most recent Give it A Go Volunteering Fair, and our students have supported language education in local schools through the Volunteer Language Assistant Programme. Our Student Volunteering Service has continued to meet students’ needs, with 89% of respondents reporting satisfaction in its most recent members survey.

Commitment 11: “Work more closely with our alumni in Edinburgh and the wider region as a source of expertise, volunteers and a vital link to our local communities.”