As a member of the University of Edinburgh, there are many ways you can work with local communities to make a positive contribution to the lives of people in and around Edinburgh. Volunteer Day to make a difference The University’s A Day to Make a Difference initiative gives every member of staff an additional day of paid leave to volunteer for a charity, organisation or other good cause. Student volunteering Are you a student looking for a way to give back to your community? Volunteering is a great place to start. Not only can you make a positive impact, you can also gain core skills and experience. Connect Join the Edinburgh Community Engagement Forum The Edinburgh Community Engagement Forum is an informal, cross-University network that brings together University staff and students who are interested in engaging with local communities. Learning, teaching and research Engage with local communities as part of your degree Working with our local communities across Edinburgh and the wider region can provide you with experiential learning as part of your degree.Our HealthEdinburgh Futures Institute courses [login required]Community Engagement: co-constructing knowledge with communities [login required] Public engagement with research Public engagement with research describes the many ways we can share research with the public and listen in response. It is a two-way process that enables change and has mutual benefit.High-quality engagement can enhance the impact of research. In practice, much of the University’s public engagement activity takes place in the local area. Teaching Matters blog Best practice for community engagement Read our guide on how to reduce risk and increase benefits through your community engagement activity. This article was published on 2025-06-10
