Sources of volunteering opportunities

Community councils are groups of people who care about their community and want to make it a better place to live. As well as representing the community to the council, Police and NHS, they run events and do things which promote the well-being of their communities.

Could you play a part in making things happen for your community?

You could represent your local area by attending meetings as a resident or even standing for election as a community councillor.

Community councils play an important role in grass roots local democracy; they bring local residents and interest groups together to help make things happen.

Community councillors advise, petition, influence and advocate numerous causes and cases of concern on behalf of local communities such as:

• issue community newsletters and bulletins
• conduct local surveys to represent and gain the views of residents and groups
• carry out projects to promote their community
• campaign on local issues
• organise community events such as local galas and festive activities
• represent the community to the Council.

Ahead of community council elections in February 2025, we’re working with both the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils and community councils to encourage people to attend their local community council meetings and get involved. Between November 2024 and February 2025, we’ll be in various venues across the city where you can drop-in for a chat to find out more.

You can find out when the drop-ins are and where Edinburgh’s community councils are located on our website. If you can’t make one of the drop-ins, email the Council’s Governance Team for a chat community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk.

There’s also a Scotland-wide community council website, developed by Improvement Service in collaboration with COSLA, which has a wealth of information.”