Our Community Plan 2020-2025 sets out 32 practical commitments the University of Edinburgh is making to our local communities. 3 minute, 29 second video on our commitment to local communities. Download a copy You can download a PDF version of our Community Plan 2020-2025. Foreword from Lesley McAra The University of Edinburgh has always been closely intertwined with the City of Edinburgh and its local communities. The 32 commitments We have worked with the community to come up with 32 commitments that we promise to deliver on over the next four years. Get involved Whether you are a student, member of staff, community member or community organisation, there are ways for everyone to get involved. Delivering on what we promise The University is committed to carrying out the actions of this plan between 2020 and 2025 and, as a University plan, it will require the whole institution to live up to these commitments. 2020 case studies Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Craigmillar community Dr Cathy Southworth, Community Science Engagement Manager at Edinburgh BioQuarter has worked with the Craigmillar community since 2016.The partnership project has included work with Castleview, Niddrie Mill, Prestonfield and St Francis’ Primary Schools and Castlebrae Community High School, all close to the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the Edinburgh BioQuarter.Partnership activities have included a community science festival, a holiday science club, continuing professional development for teachers and free boxes of STEM activities for families during lockdown. The work that Dr Southworth has done with Castleview Primary School won the Rolls Royce Science Prize in 2019.Community Science Engagement Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) EFI is a major strategic initiative of the University.It is being developed in recognition that almost all of the biggest challenges facing society are complex and multi-layered, and that insight and innovation can come from bringing together expertise from across different disciplines.The Institute is working with local communities, governments and industry to create a portfolio of research, education and wider engagement which is data-rich and aims to have demonstrable ethical, social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts.Once open, the Institute will offer a warm welcome into the newly redeveloped former Royal Infirmary building on Lauriston Place – fulfilling the Latin pledge above the main entrance: ‘patet omnibus’, open to all.Edinburgh Futures Institute Museums Dementia Socials Museums Dementia Socials is a partnership that offers people affected by dementia a regular, informal Friday morning guided visit of a museum, gallery or zoo.St Cecilia’s Hall, the University’s Concert Room and Music Museum, hosts once a month and the programme includes a cup of tea and cake, a discussion around some of the rare instruments on display, and a short concert.St Cecilia’s HallPlaylist for Life University of Sanctuary In July 2020, the University of Edinburgh became the first institution in the UK to renew its status as a University of Sanctuary, reaffirming a commitment to creating a culture of inclusivity and awareness for those seeking sanctuary on campus, and within the city.We will continue to enhance our leading role in the Universities of Sanctuary stream at a national and local level, working with other Universities of Sanctuary and City of Sanctuary colleagues in Edinburgh, to achieve collective aims.This work will include using research to shape national policy, improving access to information and support for sanctuary scholars, and building up Refugee Week activities.City of Sanctuary Slurp Slurp is a student-run social enterprise aiming to support individuals affected by homelessness in Edinburgh.Slurp runs bi-weekly cooking sessions at Streetwork’s Holyrood hub where they make up to 50 hot meals alongside Streetwork’s service users.Slurp also aims to build a forum for educating the student community on the causes of homelessness and misconceptions surrounding it.They create campaigns, organise events and try to develop innovative ways to convey messages to the student population and wider community in Edinburgh. All the work they do is funded by selling cooking vouchers and sustainably-sourced shopper bags. The Students as Change Agents project The Students as Change Agents project brings together students, staff, and external partners to tackle real-life challenges and generate fresh thinking.It involves students from multiple disciplines who want to make a social impact during their time at the University.The culmination of the programme in June 2020 saw 150 students taking part from across the world, working together with partner organisations to address challenges like youth homelessness in Scotland and exploring what an environmentally sustainable future might look like for Edinburgh in the revival of its tourism industry and festivals post-Covid-19. This article was published on 2025-07-08