Edinburgh Local

Sowing the seed for successful local projects

The University is proud to be able to support, and work alongside, local organisations and charities in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas through our Community Grants Scheme.

Y2K project 2018
Y2K project 2018

Applications are open twice a year for grants of up to £5000, and eligible organisations can apply for micro-grants of up to £500 at any time throughout the year.

But it doesn't just stop at the funding. The aim is to develop local projects, community activities and sustainable local action through collaboration too, by building relationships and links between local organisations and our staff and students. Which is why it's great to hear how far a project has come from some Community Grant Scheme funding back in 2018.

Mayfield and Easthouses Youth 2000 Project (Y2K) is situated in the centre of Mayfield where young people can come, as often or as little as they want,  to activities that are organised around their needs.

The University of Edinburgh awarded Y2K a grant for their Involve U/180 pilot project to develop and deliver a programme of issue-based workshops and diversionary activities for young people aged from 11 to 18 years. The hope was that these activities would help reduce youth offending, anti-social and risk-taking behaviours.

From the wee seed of the community grant back in 2018 our 180 service is still going strong (and more in demand than ever due to these challenging times!)

Project manager, Carol Flack

The project has grown from strength to strength, and is now adapting their service to young people by doing ‘drop-off’ deliveries of health and wellbeing activity packs, helping their youth workers maintain contact with the participating young people.

The team have secured further funding to continue the project for at least another six months, and has launched a new outreach support initiative which had been planned pre-Covid, called ‘180+’.

Find our more

Watch a video from Y2K young person: https://www.facebook.com/stvnews/videos/1026519864349291/

Mayfield and Easthouses Youth 2000 Project (Y2K)