Communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians are to benefit from a £70,000 project to support groups tackling vital social issues. The University of Edinburgh’s Community Grants Scheme will help to provide support for children with disabilities, tackle the causes of poverty and aid vulnerable women.
Among the first 16 projects to be awarded funding of up to £5000 is a programme of workshops to help reduce youth offending and anti-social behaviour in Mayfield, one of Scotland’s most deprived communities. There was funding, too, for North Edinburgh AArts Pop-In Community Café. The grant to expand North Edinburgh Arts’ Community Café will fund local people who are having difficulty accessing mainstream employment with the aim of growing their skillset, as well as extending the cafe’s opening hours to meet growing demand.
Comas, a charity that supports marginalised and vulnerable people in communities, will support women suffering from domestic abuse, poverty and poor mental health by offering them a programme of outdoor activities to improve their wellbeing.
The Community Grants Scheme is part of Edinburgh Local, the University’s strategy for continuing to make a positive contribution to the city. The Scheme, funded by the University’s Corporate Services Group, will support further collaborations and partnerships.
A broad area across the region is benefitting from the grants, including Midlothian’s Mayfield and Easthouses district and Edinburgh’s Northfield and Willowbrae communities.
Fiona Morrison, chief executive officer of Comas, said: “We’re delighted that The University of Edinburgh has awarded us a grant which will help our organisation deliver even more important programmes for local people.”
Hugh Edmiston, Director of Corporate Services Group at the University of Edinburgh said: “We hope we can contribute to communities and support some of the fantastic local organisations who are doing great work in the Edinburgh region.”
A full list of organisations who have been awarded funding is available on the Edinburgh Local website: www.ed.ac.uk/local/community-grants.
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