Council Leader Jane Meagher writes about the need to support Edinburgh’s third sector
With our population growing and more people struggling with the cost of living, Edinburgh’s third sector is in a precarious position.
According to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, seven in 10 charities now cite financial trials as their biggest challenge, up significantly in just two years. Traditional funding streams from the public sector, which provide vital grants to allow charities to operate in our local communities, are under growing pressure too.
Echoing these concerns, a report to the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee late last year made it clear that short-term funding cycles are creating financial instability for charities, diverting time and resources away from what’s important – delivering valuable services for vulnerable people.
This predicament came into sharp focus for Edinburgh earlier this year when the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) – which oversees health and social care spend in the city – had to make difficult decisions to help it make necessary savings of close to £30m. Dozens of local projects and charities have seen their funding pulled as a result.
Immediately, councillors united to intervene and see what could be done to prevent the devastating closures and redundancies these cuts could bring. Thankfully, we’ve been able to step in to provide emergency £2m funding, providing short term relief for 46 projects.
Yesterday at Policy and Sustainability Committee, we also agreed how to spend a contingency fund worth £273,473 to further support primarily small, local projects and organisations in our communities which have lost EIJB funding. Grants of £10,000 will be made available this autumn to help with the resilience of the sector.
Yet, the fact remains that the council also faces significant financial challenges. We remain the worst funded council in Scotland and plugging this gap will be difficult in future years. To that end, we need to find a longer-term sustainable way forward for this sector which provides so much good.
Tackling poverty is one of our city’s top priorities and we cannot achieve this without the support of projects which focus on prevention.
To get ahead of this, we’ve engaged the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh, and to ultimately find solutions for improving funding certainty in future years.
This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.
We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and collaborate to help those who need this sector’s support most.
You can share your views through our Consultation Hub webpage, or by attending a workshop from now until Thursday 5 June.
Results will be shared with those who take part and with the wider third sector, and will be reported to our next Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.
In a successful city like Edinburgh, it is unacceptable that 80,000 people are living in poverty– including close to a quarter of all children – which makes tackling inequality and preventing poverty one of the biggest challenges facing the capital.
From Monday June 9, the city council will begin implementing a series of speed reduction measures, from 40mph to 30mph, in locations across the city.
The new speed limit signs will be installed through June and July, beginning with Biggar Road. Once the new 30mph speed limit signs are in place, the new speed limits will be enforceable.
Motorists are being urged to look out for the new signage and respect the speed limit.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:“Road safety is a key priority for us and I’m glad that we’re moving ahead with this important process. Whilst this has taken longer than we initially anticipated, I’m confident that these measures will make many of our roads across the city safer.
“The evidence is clear – lower speed limits make roads safer for everyone. A pedestrian or cyclist has twice the chance of surviving a collision at 30mph compared to 40mph. Any action that we can take to make sure all road users are safer is a positive step.”
You can view a map of the roads with new 30mph speed limits on our website.
The full list of streets and road where the city council is installing new signage and reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph is below:
Biggar Road
Calder Road
Frogston Brae
Glasgow Road (East section)
Glasgow Road (West section and Old Liston Road)
Gogar Station Road
Hawes Brae and Bankhead Road
Hillhouse Road
Lang Loan (section at the junction with Lasswade Road)
Early-bird tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and Torchlight Procession on sale Friday, 30 May at 10am
Ahead of releasing early-bird tickets for this year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and the ever popular Torchlight Procession on Friday at 10am, event organisers Unique Assembly today publish the report on Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals 2024-25.
Encompassing both Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year festival, the report highlights the substantial positive impact these events have on both the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole.
Created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council, the seven weeks of winter events and attractions not only brought festive cheer to residents and visitors to the city who came together to enjoy the capitals world famous celebrations, but also provided significant economic and community benefits which continue to impact positively year-round.
Visitors to the city centre enjoyed a feast of festive fun in the heart of the capital – discovering the traditional Christmas Market including the iconic Christmas Wheel and Around the World Starflyer, visiting the outdoor Ice Skating and new Ice Bar experience, enjoying family funfair rides and illumination trails, watching live music concerts, festive shows and community events, and of course that all-important visit from Santa himself.
Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals continues to support local communities with over 160 local community groups and charities engaged with through the Edinburgh’s Christmas Schools & Communities Initiative, distributing more than 8,000 free community tickets and ride tokens to people across the city.
In addition, being a platform for local talent and community events is an important part of Edinburgh’s Christmas, including the Winter Windows Schools Competition, which showcased artwork by pupils from 24 schools, displayed beneath the Castle in the beautiful setting of Princes Street Gardens.
While many people want to join and enjoy the city centre festivities it is not that simple for some and therefore a new Silent Light Projection Show brought Christmas cheer and festive illumination to communities across the city.
In 2024, working with the Council’s Education Team, the Winter festivals were able to bring that cheer to Granton Primary School, Stockbridge Primary School, Gilmerton Community Centre and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
The report underscores the Winter Festivals’ commitment to the local community through its charity partnerships.
This year, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival directly raised funds for local charities One City Trust and Simon Community Scotland, supporting crucial work in fighting inequality and homelessness within Edinburgh.
Furthermore, the festivals continued their support, both financial and operational, for Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness and When You Wish Upon a Star through the annual Santa Fun Run, confirming the commitment of both organisers and festivalgoers to giving back.
The Concert in the Gardens also played a role in charitable giving, with donations from ticket buyers for supporting Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Overall more than £15,000 was donated by visitors through both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay events.
While audience and sales data for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay was impacted by the cancellation of the major outdoor events, pre-cancellation data confirms that Edinburgh’s Hogmanay continues to attract local audiences (33%) as well as visitors to the city (31% international and 36% from the rest of the UK).
Edinburgh’s Christmas data shows that a similar mix of Edinburgh & Lothians residents (37%), visitors from Scotland (21%) and elsewhere in the UK (32%), while a good number of international visitors (10%) attended this winter.
Across a total attendance of over 2.8million to Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions, strong attendance from international visitors demonstrates the international appeal which not only boosts the local economy but also enhances Scotland’s global tourism profile.
In addition, 74% of market stall traders in the Christmas Markets were Scottish, supporting the local creative crafts, drinks, food and gifts industries both financially and through profile. While 76% of artists and creatives who took part in Edinburgh’s Winter festivals events were local.
In the annual audience survey over 70% of visitors from out with the city cited Edinburgh’s Christmas as the primary reason for travelling to Edinburgh, staying an average of 1.85 nights.
Over 90% of respondents were satisfied to extremely satisfied with their experience with over 95% agreeing that Edinburgh’s Christmas is a valuable and iconic part of Edinburgh’s winter identity, bringing a festive spirit to the city.
90% also said they are more likely to return to Edinburgh during the festival season because of their experience. The average spend was £537 across eating out, attractions, retail and in bars and pubs.
An increasing number of local residents are taking up their special ticket offer at Edinburgh’s Christmas with 101,500 discounted EH postcode tickets sold this year.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh’s world-famous winter festivals don’t only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city’s vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh’s local communities, businesses and charities.
“This is despite the cancellation of last year’s outdoor events, showing just how far reaching the programme events is. I look forward to finding out more about this year’s plans, which look set to brighten the city in the winter months.”
Roddy Smith, CEO of Essential Edinburgh said: “Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals are a crucial period for our city centre and again it is very pleasing to see our residents and visitors coming in such large numbers.
“With such a varied and appealing Festival programme, combined with the high quality hospitality and retail offering in the city centre, Edinburgh continues to be an attractive destination to enjoy the festive season. We are already looking forward to what’s in store for this year.”
Louise MacLean, Business Development Director, Signature Group, said: “The Winter Festivals in Edinburgh provide a vital boost for hospitality in December. The surge in footfall, driven by visitors seeking festive entertainment, food, and drink, brings a much-needed increase in sales to all our venues across Edinburgh but particularly George Street and the New Town.
“Since the eastward shift in footfall with the appeal of St James, the Winter programme is not just welcomed by us, it’s crucial to our Christmas trade which often sustains us through the hard month of January.
“We can plan for this due to knowing that Unique Assembly’s festivals will bring revellers to the city. From there, we must ensure these visitors become our guests.”
Despite the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events due to weather conditions over the four days, the festival still welcomed significant numbers to its many sold out indoor events with over 25,000 attending over the four days including The Night Afore Concert with Idlewild and the Bairns Revels and New Year Revels in Assembly Rooms, the ever popular Hogmanay Candlelit Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral, as well as a late addition with Hot Dub Time Machine playing a quickly arranged intimate Hogmanay gig in Assembly Hall.
The new first of January club nights in Portobello Town Hall and Leith Arches closed this year’s festival on New Year’s night.
The popular free New Year’s Day First Footin’ Cultural Trail attracted an audience of over 15,000, including many family groups to 18 venues across the Old and New Towns, this year extending its footprint welcoming Portobello Town Hall and Leith Arches into the programme.
First Footin & Sprogmanay presented 44 acts with 298 performers for the event programme, and as part of its participatory music event, Come Away In, renowned folk artist Karine Polwart welcomed 150 participants to join a community choir for uplifting performances on New Year’s Day at St. Giles’ Cathedral.
Sprogmanay welcomed a family audience of 5,500 to take part in lots of New Year arts, crafts and activities, including magic, dancing unicorns and giant I-puppets through a collaboration with National Museum of Scotland. Free family ceilidhs took place in Assembly Roxy and Portobello Town Hall offering a truly Scottish experience for families on New Year’s Day both in the city and beyond.
Despite the cancellation of outdoor events, a survey of attendees at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay saw 71% say they were satisfied to extremely satisfied with their festival experience, 93% agreed it is a valuable part of Edinburgh’s winter identity, 89% said the event made them feel proud to be part of Scotland’s celebrations and 90% would recommend Edinburgh’s Hogmanay to friends or family.
Those who travelled to join the celebrations stayed an average of 2.25 nights spending £958 on their stay. 87.5% of visitors spent money on eating out, 79.5% in bars and pubs, 56% on attractions or tours, and 56% on retail.
The total economic impact of the Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals was calculated last year at £198M, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh’s Christmas (£150M) and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (£48M).
This represents a return of £244 for every £1 invested by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC funding contribution of £812,456 towards Edinburgh’s Hogmanay), whilst making a significant contribution to the year-round health and prosperity of the city.
Alan Thomson from Unique Assembly said:“We take a lot of heart from this report that even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay to weather, the Winter Festivals have still delivered not just wonderful and joyful opportunities for people to come together, but also huge benefits for the people of Edinburgh and for Scotland across traders, local families, communities and charities and our tourism businesses.
“We are working on our plans for this coming winter’s celebrations and look forward to sharing those with you very soon.”
This report demonstrates that Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals ‘continue to be a vital asset to the city and Scotland, providing not only memorable experiences but also significant economic benefits and valuable support to local communities and charities’.
The candidates standing in the upcoming Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election have been confirmed.
13 candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which will elect one new councillor, on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The candidates standing for election are:
Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
Derrick Emms, Independent
Lukasz Furmaniak, Scottish Libertarian Party
Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens
Kevin Joseph McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Catriona Munro, Scottish Labour Party
Gary Neill, Reform UK
Mark Rowbotham, Independent
Murray Visentin, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Steve Christopher West, Independent
Marc Wilkinson, Independent
Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “With nominations now closed and just over a month remaining until polling day, residents of the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward can start thinking about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election.
“Councillors play an important role in our democratic system, making crucial decisions that impact our city.
“I’d encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election. Please make sure you register to vote before the deadline and make your voice heard.”
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.
Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from Friday 23 May, including further information on when and where to vote.
If you live in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward you must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday June 10. For new postal vote applications, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday June 11 and for new proxy votes its 5pm on Wednesday June 18.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at:
Kingsknowe Golf Club
Edinburgh Corn Exchange
St Michaels Church Hall
Fountainbridge Library
Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club
Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall
Tollcross Community Centre
The electronic election count will take place on Thursday 26 June starting at the close of poll at 10pm.
The by-election follows the sad passing of Councillor Val Walker in April 2025.
Find out more about this by-election Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.
This reports also outlines the future decision-making process, with an annual update report covering any proposed changes.
Prioritisation was scored against 15 separate criteria points across three key areas: Objectives, Deliverability and Financial. Some examples include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality, and capital raising challenges.
Over 70 projects are set to be taken forward, including:
Walking, wheeling and cycling connection from the Meadows to the Union Canal, including better public space around the King’s Theatre.
Public transport and active travel route between West Shore Road and Waterfront Broadway, complementing the Granton redevelopment.
Major city centre projects, including a trial to reduce vehicle traffic on the Lawnmarket, Cowgate improvements, Meadows to George Street walking and cycling upgrade, and the transformation of George Street.
Over 50 projects are recommended to be paused, the vast majority of which are already on hold or not started. There are also around five projects which are set to be paused for this financial year only. Again, these are all either on hold or not started.
The report was approved with amendments from the Administration and the SNP group, along with an addendum from the Green group.
Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed this bold programme for our city. Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives.
“This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections.
“This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary.
“However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland.
“Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult, we need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we’re to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves.
“We’ll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.”
Living Streets Edinburgh calls (again) for more investment in everyday walking
LIVING Streets Edinburgh wrote to city councillors prior to the meeting. The campaigners said: “We’re surprised, and very disappointed, to see no mention of some key initiatives which we were able to get included in the CMP delivery plan.
“Especially disappointing after the committee decided to freeze footway maintenance while increasing spending on roads, only last month.
“We’ve therefore sent councillors this message:
Dear Councillor
I’m writing in connection with the report on City Mobility Plan priorities, Item 7.5 on the TEC agenda for 22 May bit.ly/43ktlep The recommendations do not adequately reflect the CMP’s ambition to effect “a transformational change in walking and wheeling in Edinburgh”.
Over two years ago, two new initiatives were introduced into the Active Travel component of the City Mobility Plan: ‘Action for Better Crossings” (ABC) and the “Edinburgh Accessible Streets Initiative” EASI). These programmes (both proposed by us) finally offered the prospect of a strategic, rather than piecemeal, approach to addressing some of the most fundamental problems with getting around the city as a pedestrian – for example:
the time that you have to wait for the green man at traffic lights,
the thousands of missing dropped kerbs on pavements,
narrow footways,
pavement clutter, etc.
As we understand it, effectively nothing has been done yet to implement either initiative as a coherent programme. We had hoped that they would form a key part of this report. However, there is no mention whatsoever in the report of either ABC or EASI, despite Council having confirmed them as at the heart of CMP policy only last year (see attached).
Instead, some elements of ABC and EASI are simply noted as part of the ‘rolling programme’ in Appendix 4b. Paragraph 4.14 of the report states an expectation that these will be funded at “an overall level roughly equal to recent overall investment”. This isn’t good enough: there is no indication of how much money is budgeted for these schemes; certainly there has been no systematic investment at all in recent years in widening footways. Many of the other aspects like the pedestrian crossing programme and the crucial school streets reviews have huge backlogs owing to lack of resourcing.
These vital programmes need to be considered alongside, and on the same level playing field, as the active travel and public transport listed in Appendix 1.
Councillors should be able to consider whether investment in school streets, road safety, ABC or EASI is more or less worthy than these projects, whether they be George Street, Hawthornvale-Salamander Street, the Lindsey Bridge or Dalry 20 Minute Neighbourhood.
Otherwise the opportunity to consider where best to invest both staff time and capital funding is lost and a ‘silo’ approach is entrenched.
We also have serious concerns with the overly-complex methodology for assessing projects in Appendix 1. It gives no weighting to walking and wheeling (“top of the travel hierarchy”) and doesn’t sufficiently value schemes relatively modest but important to pedestrians such as Calton Road and the Causey.
These projects fail to score highly enough only because work on them has already been “paused’ for years.
However, the fundamental weakness of the report is to take too narrow an approach to evaluating a limited set of projects. We would therefore like to see the report deferred perhaps for two cycles, and a new report brought forward with a more strategic approach to future investment, including the programmes mentioned above.
Projects to unlock economic growth and tackle poverty
Projects across Scotland will benefit from Scottish Government investment to help regenerate communities and drive economic growth.
More than £21.5 million from two Scottish Government funds will bring 24 disused or derelict sites and buildings into use, creating more than 160 jobs and support nearly 900 training opportunities.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes confirmed the 2025-26 allocations from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) during a visit to Powderhall in north Edinburgh.
City of Edinburgh Council will receive £1.4 million for remedial works at the former waste disposal site, paving the way for a housing-led regeneration project that will provide 259 homes, including affordable housing.
There’s also £60,000 for Spartans’ youth facility at Ainslie Park.
Other initiatives being supported include:
reviving a slate quarry in Cullipool owned and operated by the Isle of Luing Community Trust
converting a former tram depot in Dundee into a new transport museum
redeveloping a former derelict school into energy efficient housing units in Borrodale on the Isle of Skye
creating film production suites and a training centre at a former glue factory in Glasgow
extending Lochvale House community centre in Dumfries to include a café and soft play area
The announcement coincides with a call for expressions of interest in 2026-27 funding to support regeneration projects in disadvantaged communities. As set out in the 2025 Programme for Government, future Scottish Government support for regeneration projects will be channelled through one national fund – the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund – to streamline the application and delivery process.
The Deputy First Minister said: “This funding will help to transform derelict sites the length and breadth of Scotland, creating homes, jobs and facilities that drive economic growth, tackle poverty and help support and growing thriving communities.
“This funding forms part of a wider £62.15 million investment by the Scottish Government towards regeneration projects in 2025-26. This will help to revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites to benefit people across Scotland.
“The 2025 Programme for Government stets out our renewed commitment to supporting regeneration projects across the country with one streamlined fund delivering this vision from next year.”
The RCGF is delivered in partnership with COSLA.COSLA’s Spokesperson for Environment and Economy, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: “Today’s announcement sees the return of invaluable tools and resources for local authorities to help deliver on the regeneration aspirations of the communities which they represent.
“The diversity of successful projects on show demonstrates how localised approaches can deliver benefits across the country and showcase the best of partnership between local authorities and our communities to deliver economic and social renewal.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Scottish Government on regeneration in the months to come.”
City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “Our development plans at Powderhall are breathing new life into an excellently located, long unused industrial site, and are set to deliver hundreds of much-needed new homes and work and community spaces too.
“The transformation of Powderhall is already well underway with the restoration of the former stable block, which retains unique heritage features of the site’s former use.
“Regenerating a historic, brownfield site like Powderhall is complex, challenging, and costly therefore I warmly welcome this Scottish Government investment.”
Regeneration Projects supported through the RCGF and VDLIP fund in 2025/2026:
Fund
Organisation
Project
Award
RCGF
Angus Council
Arbroath Courthouse Community Trust
£2,138,985
RCGF
Argyll & Bute Council
Fyne Futures Local Food Production and Training Centre
£250,000
RCGF
Argyll & Bute Council
Isle of Luing Community Owned Slate Quarry
£1,747,936
RCGF
City of Edinburgh Council
Spartans Youth Work and Education Building
£60,000
RCGF
Clyde Gateway
Baltic Street Play
£850,000
RCGF
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Let’s Get Sporty – Lochvale House
£1,572,370
RCGF
Dundee City Council
Dundee Museum of Transport – A Catalyst for Regeneration of Stobswell
Cllr Neil Ross Regulatory Convener said: “We had always committed to reviewing the licensing scheme after it had been operating for a year and we did that last summer.
“We made some improvements to our policy at the beginning of year, following feedback from residents and the industry, and this is the final change agreed at Committee. The intention is to make our scheme as fair and reasonable as we can for residents, visitors and operators.
“I will also be writing to the Scottish Government’s Minister of Housing to ask for greater clarity on short term let licensing condition MC13 (planning permission), which some residents and short term let operators find confusing, and to see how this might be addressed.”
We have just installed a ‘bothy’ shelter in the park as a signal of intent to the community that the wider plans are being brought forward. This is the first of several shelters that will be installed across the park (writes ELGT’s ANGUS FISHER).
It was designed by SLR architecture in partnership with Old School Fabrications. OSF also built and installed the shelter.
It is a completely bespoke design based on the traditional Scottish bothy but featuring a stone boulder seat with hovering steel frame giving it its somewhat unique appearance.
Wider works info
West Pilton Park is undergoing an exciting, new development after receiving a significant amount of charitable funding.
The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and the local community have developed plans to transform West Pilton Park into the beautiful, bustling centre of the community.
Plans include planting hundreds of new trees and plants, a new skate park and bouldering wall, new play equipment, new accessible paths, seating, shelters, new toilet facilities, a community growing area, a wildlife wetland, and a proposed new cafe run by Scran Academy.
The shelter is the first part of the development to be installed, with construction of the rest of the park to take place over the next few years. The first phase is due to start in autumn 2025.
A phased approach will ensure that a part of the park will always remain open for the community during construction.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh hosted a Civic Reception at the City Chambers last night to honour the 25th anniversary of Volunteer Edinburgh as an independent organisation and its outstanding contribution to the life of the city.
The event brought together past and present staff, volunteers, trustees, and civic leaders to mark a quarter-century of innovation, impact, and service.
At the heart of the celebration was a powerful address by the organisation’s CEO, Paul Wilson, who reflected on the journey from a small volunteer exchange to becoming one of the city’s most dynamic and adaptive third sector organisations.
Paul said: “If anyone asked me what Volunteer Edinburgh is all about,I simply say: ‘people’.”
A Legacy of Innovation and Impact
Volunteer Edinburgh has supported over 60,000 individuals in their volunteering journeys and welcomed more than 20,000 visitors to its annual recruitment fair over the past 25 years. Its pioneering Health and Wellbeing Service, which began as the UK’s first “Voluntary Work as Therapy” project, has helped more than 2,500 people in the past decade improve their lives through volunteering — many credit it with literally saving their lives.
However, this world-leading project is currently under threat due to potential disinvestment from the Health and Social Care Partnership. The CEO called on civic leaders to recognise and protect this invaluable service that embodies Edinburgh’s compassionate values.
Leading in Digital, Crisis Response, and Community Engagement
From launching Scotland’s first local authority-backed Volunteering Strategy in 2006 to building the country’s most-used volunteer management resource at volunteerwiki.org.uk, Volunteer Edinburgh has consistently led the way in developing practical solutions that scale.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation rapidly built and deployed a Community Taskforce, onboarding 550 trained volunteers to deliver over 17,000 critical support tasks city-wide. This flexible model later supported displaced Ukrainians, NHS vaccination efforts, and even mobilised 200 volunteers during the vigil for the Queen at St Giles’ cathedral in 2022.
“We Just Get Things Done”
Described by peers as an organisation that “just gets things done”, Volunteer Edinburgh has continually reinvented itself — from launching an AI tool for volunteer managers to establishing city-wide hubs and community engagement tools. The CEO paid tribute to the team’s dedication, noting “for a tiny wee organisation, we regularly punch above our weight.”
A Shared Belief in Service
Reflecting on his own 27-year journey with the organisation, the CEO emphasised that the core of Volunteer Edinburgh’s success is a shared belief across its team that “service to others is inherently a good thing.”
He paid tribute to his predecessors, trustees, and colleagues past and present, saying, “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making Volunteer Edinburgh the vital asset it is today.
“Edinburgh needs it — and I hope it continues to flourish for decades to come.”
