Uncategorised

Challenging poverty with digital inclusion

image

Written by Georgina Bowyer, UKSPF Grants Manager, Capital City Partnership  

Today we’re highlighting the ongoing importance of digital inclusion in the context of Challenge Poverty Week and today’s theme of Better Investment in Life’s Essentials.  Like so many drivers of poverty, digital inclusion has been well understood and has had successful initiatives implemented over recent years - and yet the available solutions tend to ebb and flow according to funding and can be dependent on where you live.  Despite rapid and continuous digital evolution at one end of the spectrum, there continues to be those who do not have access to the basic tools to complete essential tasks online – the latest data from Good Things Foundation has found that 7.9m adults across the UK lack basic digital skills.   

Not having a suitable device or internet connection often places individuals at a significant disadvantage whether that is in managing finances and accessing the best rates on bills; keeping in touch with a child’s school and finding health information; or navigating public transport.  At Capital City Partnership, where a lot of our work focuses on employability and skills, we frequently hear about how important digital access is for those looking for work or seeking better work.  In today’s world, we rely on digital not only to produce CVs and write job applications, but also to build networks, access training opportunities and to source advice.   

Whilst there is lots of positive work happening across the city, in recent months we have been aware that people in Edinburgh cannot always find the digital support that they need.  That is why we have been working alongside colleagues in the Edinburgh Partnership to help bring together a Digital Inclusion Working Group.  The aim of the group is to better understand the landscape in Edinburgh and to assess what might be required in order to ensure that every resident can access an appropriate digital device, adequate connectivity and the skills support that they need in order to carry out essential tasks safely.   

We know that people need support across these different elements of digital inclusion and that it should not be difficult to find or navigate support, particularly given that people are often looking for support at stressful points in their lives.  In addition, some best practice principles shared by experts on the group include that digital inclusion is best delivered by or with trusted partners in the community; that drop-in and ongoing support is required to help with maintenance issues or minor problems that can otherwise set someone back; and that support should start with the needs and interests of the individual to be most effective.  

To find out more, we will shortly be issuing a survey open to anyone working on poverty prevention or alleviation in Edinburgh.  The survey asks people about their experiences of supporting people with digital inclusion and/or referring people to other organisations.  This will help to inform discussions and recommendations going forward.   

If you would like to participate in the survey, or if you are interested in joining the Digital Inclusion Working Group in Edinburgh, please feel free to get in touch with me via ge*************@********************ip.org 

Building Better Futures at Work: How Advance is Supporting Edinburgh’s Workforce

Fair work should never be a “nice to have”

Work plays a huge role in all of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, it shapes our routines, builds our skills, and brings us into contact with people who influence our journey. But work should be more than simply “a job.” It should be a place where people feel valued, supported, and fairly rewarded.

Fair pay and sustainable jobs should not be seen as a bonus, they should be the standard. Yet, for many, progressing at work or finding roles that fit their lives can feel out of reach. That is where Advance comes in.

What is Advance?

Advance is a city-wide partnership funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, bringing together three organisations: Enable, Forth Sector, and The Action Group. Together, we provide a unique blend of employability and welfare rights support.

Enable and Forth Sector guide individuals through employability journeys, whether that is preparing for interviews, building confidence, or exploring new career paths. Meanwhile, The Action Group delivers welfare rights advice, ensuring that people have access to the right information and support to make informed choices.

By working hand in hand, these services empower people to take the next step in their career while also feeling secure in their wider circumstances.

Supporting progression and retention

Advance focuses on two key areas: in-work progression and retention.

Progression might mean exploring opportunities for better pay, more responsibility, or roles that offer stability and sustainability. For some, it is about taking the leap into management, and Advance can provide training in resilience and leadership to make that step feel possible. For others, it could be moving into a new sector, such as customer service, where they can transfer their skills into a fresh environment.

Retention support is just as important. Sometimes the key to thriving in work is ensuring that the role you are already in works well for you. Advance can help facilitate conversations between employees and employers, exploring reasonable adjustments or ways of working that ensure both sides feel heard and supported.

Taking the first step

Looking for, applying to, and starting a new role can be overwhelming. Even knowing where to begin can feel daunting. Advance provides practical tools, from CV support to interview preparation, as well as ongoing encouragement to ensure people feel confident about their decisions.

The following examples have been anonymised, but reflect the real experiences of participants we have supported through Advance.

One individual had been working with Wingstop for some time but felt unsure about how to take the next step into management. Through engaging with Advance, they took part in resilience training and received tailored application and interview support. With this guidance, they progressed into a Team Leader role, gaining more responsibility and better pay in a workplace they already enjoyed being part of.

Another participant had been self-employed for several years but found the uncertainty of irregular income difficult to manage. With support from Advance, they were able to secure a permanent contract as a delivery driver with Iceland. This shift provided them with greater job security, consistent income, and the stability to plan for their future with confidence.

Advance also provides specialist welfare rights advice, which can be just as important for ensuring people feel secure and able to move forward. For example, one participant whose job was unexpectedly ending received a benefit check, guidance on Universal Credit and Scottish Child Payment, and advice around mental health support. This gave them a clearer picture of their entitlements and the confidence to plan ahead while searching for a new role.

In Your Corner

Advance is about more than employability. It is about fairness, confidence, and helping people believe that the next step in their working life is possible. Everyone deserves a job that not only pays fairly but also supports growth and wellbeing.

If you are ready to think about what you want from your job, whether that is a step up, a shift to something new, or simply making your current role work better for you, Advance is here and in your corner.

Meg Wilson - Performance Manager, Enable Works

UKSPF: End Poverty Edinburgh – Annual Citizen-led event – Challenge Poverty Week

Challenge-Poverty-Week-Event-4

6th October 2025

Written by the End Poverty Edinburgh team at the Poverty Alliance.

The End Poverty Edinburgh citizen group will be holding their third annual citizen led event at the Grassmarket Community Project during Challenge Poverty Week on Wednesday, October 8th, 09:30-15:00.

This follows End Poverty Edinburgh’s previous events in 2023 and 2024, which were attended by many representatives from well-known organisations, elected councillors and the leader of Edinburgh Council. Like in previous years, the event will focus on important issues around poverty, identified and shared by those living with and with lived experience of poverty.

 

Specifically, we will focus on Marginalised Communities in the morning, and Prevention in the afternoon. Each section will feature a panel of relevant speakers. There will be opportunities for dialogue and networking, and lunch will be provided as will refreshments. We hope to bring together a room full of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, organisations and professions to maximise our impact together.  We’ll share a full agenda nearer the date.

 

Please feel free to bring a friend or colleague, or pass to someone you’d like to attend on your behalf. If you would like to attend with a colleague, please share the registration link with them. (For capacity reasons, we ask each organisation to stick to a maximum of 2 colleagues) To register, please follow the link here.

 

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

From Stigma to Support: Edinburgh’s Collaborative Approach

1759398035595

6th October 2025

Written by Stacey Cuthbertson Grants Manager – Parents and Families 

For Challenge Poverty Week, we’re highlighting how collaboration across Edinburgh’s advice and employability networks is helping people access the support they’re entitled to. 

Asking for financial help isn’t always easy. Some people worry about being judged. Others don’t realise they have a right to support. 

Social security is a public service, part of the same infrastructure that keeps us all going when life takes a turn. As one member of End Poverty Edinburgh put it, “The line between living a comfortable life and being in poverty is a very thin one.” In fact, almost one in five working households in Scotland are now living in relative poverty (Scottish Government, 2023). Work no longer guarantees security for many individuals and families. 

Across Scotland, huge sums of support go unclaimed every year - around £7.5 billion in Universal Credit, £3 billion in Council Tax Support, and £2 billion in Carer’s Allowance. Here in Edinburgh, it’s estimated that households may be missing out on around £80 million in benefits they’re entitled to (Edinburgh Poverty Commission, 2020).  

Research from Policy in Practice (2024) found that up to a quarter of people eligible for Universal Credit didn’t claim because of stigma. Others simply don’t know what they’re entitled to or find the process too complex. When people don’t claim what is theirs, the cost isn’t just personal - it’s social. Poverty drives higher demand for health and social care, education support, and crisis interventions, costs that far outweigh early income support (JRF, 2024). Policy in Practice notes, “Stigma remains one of the most damaging barriers, making people feel benefits are for someone else.” 

Edinburgh has a strong advice and employability sector that works with citizens to make the system easier to navigate. Through the Intensive Family Support Service, we have seen how families benefit when advice is part of a wider team. The Maximise! Early Years partnership between Children 1st and CHAI brings family support, advice, and employability together within early years settings, giving parents wraparound support that helps to steady their household finances and plan ahead. That kind of joined-up approach prevents crisis and helps families build longer-term stability. 

Advice services across the city are connected through the Edinburgh Advice Network (EAN), a collaborative space to share learning, coordinate support, and strengthen relationships across services. Later this year, EAN and the Joined Up for Jobs network will host a joint session on building stronger relationships between advice and employability providers. 

This week also marks the launch of Change the Story, a regional campaign co-designed with families and frontline staff to tackle poverty stigma in practice. The campaign builds on the good work already happening across Edinburgh, highlighting the difference it makes when people are treated with dignity and respect, and when services work to remove the barriers created by stigma. 

That approach is already visible across the city. Advice and employability services lead by example, offering practical, confidential support that people can trust. From a benefits check in a school to advice on childcare or in-work progression, these services show what it looks like when systems are rooted in fairness and understanding. 

For most of us, needing help is temporary. What lasts is how we’re treated when we ask for it. That’s what people remember. 

Change the Story: Tackling Poverty Stigma is taking place on Thursday 9th October as part of Challenge Poverty Week. We invite you to join the launch event for the Change the Story Commitment, which aims to tackle poverty related stigma. You’ll leave with tools, examples, and resources to embed dignity-based practice and take action through the Change the Story campaign. You can sign up to join the webinar here 

 

References 

  • Policy in Practice (2024). Missing Out: £23 Billion of Support is Unclaimed Each Year. 
  • Scottish Government (2023). Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2019–22. 
  • City of Edinburgh Council (2023). Campaign Shines a Light on Capital’s Unclaimed Millions. 
  • Edinburgh Poverty Commission (2020). A Just Capital: Actions to End Poverty in Edinburgh. 
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2024). UK Poverty 2025: The Essential Guide to Understanding Poverty in the UK. 

 

 

 

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

UKSPF: Vintage Vibes Celebrates 10 Years with ‘Ten Years Bold’ Campaign

Picture1

1st October 2025

Written by Vintage Vibes Team

Vintage Vibes Celebrates 10 Years with ‘Ten Years Bold’ Campaign to Challenge Ageing Stereotypes and End Loneliness in Edinburgh’s Older People.

Edinburgh charity Vintage Vibes is celebrating its 10th anniversary on International Older People’s Day with the launch of a striking new campaign ‘Ten Years Bold’ designed to challenge stigma around ageing, celebrate incredible older people and raise vital funds to tackle loneliness across the capital.

Launching on Wednesday, 1st October, International Older People’s Day, the campaign shines a spotlight on six remarkable Edinburgh residents in their 80s and 90s (Sheila, Robin, George, Pat, Fay and Norma) whose lives have been transformed through Vintage Vibes friendships, groups and advocacy. Each Vintage Vibes ‘VIP’ is portrayed in bold sunglasses and preloved fashion against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s vibrant street art, spreading a message of resilience, joy, individuality and confidence of local older people.

“This isn’t just a celebration”, says Georgia Artus, Director of Vintage Vibes, “It’s a bold call for change. To change perceptions of older people and celebrate them as unique and fantastic individuals. To change our Vintage Vibes community by widening our reach, as we see more and more older people in Edinburgh facing chronic isolation. To change the story of a small local charity to one that is even bolder, braver and more inclusive in the years ahead.”

The campaign comes at a time when over 12,000 older people in Edinburgh have the television as their main source of company, and with Vintage Vibes’ referrers telling them that there are more than 2,000 individuals currently in immediate need of friendship services. Since launching in 2015 in response to research identifying Edinburgh as ‘the loneliest city in the UK for older people’, Vintage Vibes has delivered 40,000 hours of friendship, with some matches lasting every week for up to 7, 8 and even 9 years.

Vintage Vibes philosophy is simple but impactful: create real, lasting friendships and groups based on shared interests between VIPs (isolated over 60s) and volunteers (aged 17 to 93!). In the past year, they have supported hundreds of mutual friendships based on everything from a love of Love Island, to learning Russian, to gluten-free cooking, to computing and gaming together.

For Ten Years Bold star Sheila, 86, who got her first tattoo aged 70, Vintage Vibes proved to be life changing:

“I like to be different, but I became very depressed when I was alone. I just absolutely love Vintage Vibes. I’ve never looked back. It gave me my life back.” About the Ten Years Bold campaign shoot, Sheila said: “It was amazing, I had no idea it was going to be like that. I love my jacket, I love this colour. I started to blossom again when I got involved in Vintage Vibes. I am so different to how I used to be. Vintage Vibes have empowered me, just to do things, and I just love it.”

Fashion stylist and Vintage Vibes friendship volunteer Michelle Oberg, who styles the photoshoot using preloved clothing, said:

“My philosophy is that fashion is for everyone, and everyone deserves to feel bold and beautiful. This experience livened my spirit, and seeing everyone’s gigantic smiles looking at themselves in the mirror and how the day shifted their energies is all the more reason to see how something seemingly small can make such a huge impact, and how important this charity is. No one was lonely that day – myself included.”

Michelle, BonnieBags, and her dog Cinnamon meet with Vintage Vibes VIP Bill to go on adventures across the city, with Cinnamon often catching a ride in Bill’s mobility scooter basket.

Vintage Vibes’ ambitious campaign hopes to show real, local, isolated older people in a way they are rarely depicted, a far cry from the traditional campaigns surrounding ageing. Vintage Vibes aims to demonstrate the incredible potential of each of us, no matter our age, and what can happen when lives are transformed through friendship.

To support the Vintage Vibes ‘Ten Years Bold’ Campaign and help end local loneliness in Edinburgh, go to https://vintagevibes.org.uk/support/.

The Vintage Vibes team kindly shared a story about one of their VIP’s Norma, 89 (“Actually 23”). Norma, born in Edinburgh during the war, is in a Vintage Vibes friendship and a member of the Vintage Vibes Film Group and an active member of Armchair Adventures, a digital Vintage Vibes group to help those who are temporarily or permanently housebound to explore Edinburgh through regular Zoom tours of Edinburgh sites.

She was previously a teacher and taught at the old Victoria Primary, now Heart of Newhaven, where Vintage Vibes is based. Her confidence has increased so much as part of being in Vintage Vibes that, alongside having a friendship volunteer, she is now also a volunteer herself and phones someone every week.

Norma’s Friendship volunteer, Sarah, said Sarah said, “Norma is just wonderful; I’m so enjoying her company.”

Norma talks about how valuable Vintage Vibes has been to her, and says of Vintage Vibes, “I don’t get to see family much, that’s the trouble. That’s why I feel alone and why I like to get a visit from someone from (Vintage Vibes). I’d go mad if I didn’t! I really would, it would be awful!”

Norma said of the photoshoot and make-up chair experience: ‘I just loved the wee brushes on your face. It’s like being a kid and being taken care of. That’s what it takes you back to. I’ve never had my makeup done before; I always did it myself. To have it done was really special. I was magic. I’ll be giving out autographs soon!

What does being bold mean to Norma? “It means taking a deep breath in and speaking about something that you find is very important at that moment.” Norma is a member of VIP Voices, a committee of Vintage Vibes VIPs who advocate on behalf of older people – “I just did it and it made me felt quite good actually. I felt supported by the Vintage Vibes community [to have a voice]”.

To find out more about Vintage Vibes, visit their website here.

 

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

From Barriers to Opportunities: Employer Engagement Project for Ethnic Minorities

The Employer Engagement Project for Ethnic Minorities (EEPEM) grew out of Capital City Partnership’s wider mission to address inequality and poverty in Edinburgh. For years, CCP’s frontline work with employers, third-sector partners, and communities highlighted a persistent reality: ethnically diverse individuals and New Scots were still facing systemic barriers in employment, despite Scotland’s established equity standards. CCP’s own data showed that ethnically diverse groups’ meaningful employment outcomes in Edinburgh remain disproportionately low (CCP, 2023).

 

This was confirmed by wider evidence. In 2023, the employment gap between white and minority ethnic groups in Scotland stood at 13.8%, and poverty rates were disproportionately high for minority groups, with 50% of Asian or Asian British and 51% of Mixed, Black or Black British, and Other communities living in poverty (Poverty and income inequality in Scotland, 2025).

How it began?

CCP had already been delivering inclusive initiatives such as the Whole Family Equality Project, which worked directly with ethnically diverse households to improve employability outcomes. Meanwhile, the Joined Up for Business team at CCP was supporting employers struggling to fill key positions by creating bespoke training programmes to help skilled individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds move into those roles.

 

Building on the successes of both initiatives, the EEPEM emerged to bring these strands together to identify what are the systemic barriers that individuals face when looking for employment and what are the challenges employers face when recruiting New Scots and people form ethnic minority backgrounds.

 

Through the project, our aims are to:

Where Are We So Far?

So far, we have delivered on the first two aims, and we are now moving into the third, engaging directly with employers and partners through a series of events. One of those events is Stories of Change on the 6th of October 2025 at the National Library Of Scotland (book here, spaces are limited). We have also developed a TOOLKIT that pulls together useful resources for employers to hire and retain ethnically diverse talent. The toolkit directly supports themes identified in the report.

 

We invite you to read the full report and explore its key findings. It highlights the barriers New Scots and ethnically diverse workers face in accessing, retaining, and progressing in employment and, just as importantly, the opportunities for employers and policymakers to make change. In this report our participants identified systemic issues which place significant barriers to gain, retain and progress employment, such as:

We also highlight a significant gap: while all employers track diversity at the recruitment stage, 45% of organisations that took part in the survey do not track pay progression, absenteeism, or professional development by ethnicity.

 

Read the full report here

Visit the Toolkit here

Celebrating Our Collective Impact: Edinburgh’s Employability Journey 2022–2025

As the 2022-25 funding cycle draws to a close, everyone at Capital City Partnership wanted to pause and celebrate the incredible impact that has been made across Edinburgh’s employability landscape. Thanks to your dedication, creativity, and commitment, thousands of people across the city have taken steps towards brighter futures.

 

The Power of Partnership

 

At the heart of everything we do is partnership. Through the Joined Up for Jobs network, third sector and statutory services have worked side by side to build a system where employability support isn’t just a service – it’s a lifeline rooted in compassion, dignity, and inclusion.

This collaboration has allowed us to create safe spaces where people can rebuild confidence, discover their strengths, and take positive steps forward. It has also shown, once again, that when we align our efforts, we achieve more than the sum of our parts.

 

Lives Transformed

 

Over the past three years, more than 11,000 people engaged with employability services in Edinburgh. Among them:

 

 

But behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a story of change. But the real success lies in the journeys taken and the distance travelled. These stories show the strength of our network when people are given the right support at the right time.

 

Looking Forward Together

 

As we move into 2025-28, we look to  carry forward this momentum. The next phase of services such as Blended Employability, the recommissioned NEST programme, and continuing programmes like Moving Forward and Vocational Training Framework, will ensure stability while opening new opportunities.

Our shared ambition is clear: to keep breaking down barriers, reducing poverty and inequality, and to keep building a city where everyone has the chance to thrive.

 

A Heartfelt Thank You

 

To every practitioner, mentor, adviser, and partner who has played a part in this journey: thank you. Your dedication and creativity have transformed lives and strengthened communities across Edinburgh. Together, we will continue to reduce poverty and inequality in our city-and create a future where every person has the chance to thrive.

 

For more detailed analysis on the information above, please see our impact report below.

 

EDINBURGH EMPLOYABILITY FUNDING IMPACT REPORT 2022-25

 

UKSPF: Capital investment for local community projects

10th September 2025

Written by Georgina Bowyer, UKSPF Grants Manager, Capital City Partnership  

                                                                                                        Wilson Memorial Church

Over the next few months, several community-based projects in Edinburgh will benefit through capital investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).  This is the fourth and final year of UKSPF, which was brought in by UK Government in place of European Structural Funds following Brexit. 

Following confirmation of this year’s UKSPF allocation to City of Edinburgh Council, councillors agreed that in order to make effective use of the budget within the short 12-month window for spend, the majority of the money should be used to support applications that had come through the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) process.  This Scottish Government fund provides support and co-ordination for regeneration that is shaped by the needs and aspirations of local communities.  PBIP aims to promote economic recovery and tackle inequality, objectives which complement the overarching aims of UKSPF.

   

 

The City of Edinburgh Council had an application process in place for the fifth and final year of PBIP through which local community organisations were invited to apply.  When UKSPF capital funds were confirmed for 2025-6, applications for PBIP had already been assessed and scored and the PBIP was oversubscribed. Therefore, priority projects that could be completed before the March 2026 deadline were approached with the offer of UKSPF funding in lieu of PBIP funding.  As a result, the following projects will receive UKSPF capital funds and are swiftly moving ahead to undertake the work: 

 

  • Bellfield is a B-listed former church owned by Action Porty, a charitable community benefit society, and now used as a community space.  The Bellfield redevelopment project will further improve the space by removing fixed pews, installing a mezzanine floor at the bottom of the balcony, increasing toilet provision and installing a lift.  A later phase of the project will also see smaller, more flexible spaces created on the ground level to increase usage, address operational issues and conserve energy.  You can read more about Bellfield here. 
  • The Bridgend Walls project is rebuilding around 30 metres of historic stone walls at Bridgend Farmhouse community centre using traditional techniques, and providing opportunities for people to learn as part of the process.  Bridgend Farmhouse runs a range of community, education and health related activities including celebrating the culture and heritage of the building and the area, and the adaptions to the walls will both improve access and help to future proof the building for years to come. 
  • The Covenanters Memorial Restoration project will undertake conservation repairs to the 1937 category C listed Covenanter's Memorial in the Grassmarket, along with improved interpretation to foster more respectful behaviour around the Memorial.  Read more about the Memorial here. 
  • The new Greenway Adventure Playground will serve Dumbryden, Murrayburn, and Hailesland in line with the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan.  The design is based on consultations carried out in 2019-20, and some playgrounds in other areas of Scotland, which use Robinia wood which is very long lasting and makes amazing shapes.  There will be a ‘flying fox’, swings and climbing structures.  You can read more here. 
  • The Spylaw Coach House is a community owned asset which will be converted into a community hub providing an open, informal meeting space, gallery and exhibition area, workshop/wellbeing/events space, and a refreshment “Pit-Stop Café” for walkers, cyclists, and visitors to the Hub.  You can find out more via the Facebook page here.   
  • At the Byre - An Open Place, a new multi-use space will be constructed within a derelict building on community-owned land at Duddingston.  The work will include building a new wooden structure; connecting the byre to water and electricity mains; resurfacing and lighting the lane providing access; and creating a new bicycle storage area. 
  • A new wheelchair accessible path will be installed at Wilson Memorial Church. 

 Joining up the processes and budgets available from these funding streams means that capital budget can now be used to support projects brought forward by the community, despite the short timescales for spend.  Project leads are now working hard to turn these ideas into reality.  In each case the work represents not just an improvement to a physical space particularly valued by local people, but also the enabling and enhancement of activities which are bringing the community together.  We look forward to seeing the positive impacts of these projects in the months and years to come and hope to share updates and photographs here on the UKSPF blog in due course.  

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

UKSPF: Creating volunteer connections across Edinburgh’s localities

20th August 2025

Written by Heather Yang, Core Services Manager, Volunteer Edinburgh  

Volunteer Edinburgh exists to build strong social connections, reduce inequalities and support vibrant communities through volunteers and volunteering activities.  This work is delivered through a series of different programmes, one of which is Local Volunteering Gateways, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  

Local Volunteering Gateways engages local partners in each of the four localities of Edinburgh to develop a holistic programme of gateway opportunities, formal volunteer opportunity development, and capacity building.  The team includes Will Toms, the Volunteering Development Officer for Northeast Edinburgh, who is regularly based in Craigmillar, Portobello, Restalrig, and Craigentinny to meet people and help find the right volunteering opportunity for them.  Natalie Lyons Ballantine is the Volunteering Development Officer in the Northwest and Southwest of Edinburgh. She has experience in supporting and developing opportunities for volunteers and employees across a variety of roles.  

The team have been incredibly busy this year as they gain recognition in local communities.  They have expanded their drop-in sessions throughout Edinburgh and the number of referrals is on the rise, thanks to their reputation for providing a trustworthy and high-quality service that encourages individuals of all ages to take their first steps into volunteering.  

 

People have had the chance to explore a variety of activities, from gardening to new roles at places like Lauriston Castle, St Giles Cathedral, and Street Soccer. There has been a surge of exciting new opportunities for those looking to volunteer, with the team actively working on creating diverse options that are both fulfilling and rewarding.  

Will and Natalie are always ready to assist Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) and individuals interested in volunteeringYou can find details about drop-in locations and activities on the Local Volunteering Gateways website here or Facebook page here 

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

Capital City Partnership marks Net Zero Awareness Week

benjamin-huggett-2xeej_k5W5k-unsplash

8th July 2025

The drive to reduce our impact on the environment around us is a key priority for us as a society if not as a planet, and it is a theme that filters through many facets of life and work.  Reducing emissions and improving our environmental practices is at the core about humanity’s long-term survival, but these priorities also offer opportunities to do business in a more efficient way, reduce costs, and create new and better jobs on a regional and national scale. 

This is why we at Capital City Partnership increasingly find ourselves connecting with the net zero agenda as we carry out our work in employability, skills and poverty prevention.  To mark Net Zero Awareness Week this July, we are sharing a snapshot of our climate related work and highlighting the important work of many of our partners on this. 

Edinburgh 

  • In Edinburgh, we manage UK Shared Prosperity Fund grants, one of which is allocated to the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce to deliver their Net Zero Edinburgh and BCorp 500 programmes.  Both programmes are focussed on supporting local businesses to improve their green credentials, with the BCorp scheme offering an opportunity to go on beyond this to think about broader issues such as social impact and fair work. 
  • Also in Edinburgh, Capital City Partnerships runs Vocational Training Framework courses. Each training has a Green Skills Awareness Session added to educate participants in how to reduce their carbon footprint within their homes as well as within workplace. Our training also offers free recruitment support to Green Skills employers.  

Edinburgh and South East Scotland Region  

Under the Regional Prosperity Framework, Capital City Partnership has commissioned a range of projects focused on accelerating the transition to Net Zero across Edinburgh and South East Scotland. These include: 

West Lothian College successfully delivered a feasibility study for a Net Zero Accelerator Hub (NZAH), co-authored with the University of Edinburgh. This comprehensive report laid the groundwork for a regional hub by conducting detailed skills mapping, early-stage planning, and strategic development, with valuable contributions from West Lothian, Borders, Edinburgh, and Fife Colleges. 

Architectural plans and designs for future training facility expansions were developed by Fraser Livingston Architects. The study also drew on a wider regional analysis led by Fife Council and funded by Innovate UK, which examined projected Net Zero activity across all six local authorities in the City Region. The feasibility study marks a significant step toward realising the region’s Net Zero ambitions through collaborative and strategic action. 

Led by The Verdancy Group, a three phase assessment project was commissioned to evaluate the current skills landscape to identify critical gaps and develop actionable strategies to equip the workforce with the necessary competencies. Through extensive collaboration with industry experts, educational institutions, and policymakers, the project aligned training programmes with national policies like the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES). 

 Additional Projects Across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Region: 

  • The Integrated Regional Employability and Skills (IRES) programme contributed to the development and rollout of the SCQF Level 5 ‘Understanding Domestic Retrofit’ qualification—one of the first of its kind in Scotland. Now being delivered by multiple colleges across the country, this qualification equips learners with essential skills to support the national transition to Net Zero. 
  • Launching a new ‘Skills for Sustainable Retail’ qualification that brings together essential learning in net zero practices, industry-recognised accreditations, and circular economy principles, all integrated with core customer service skills. This comprehensive course will be rolled out this summer to young people across our region, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a more sustainable retail future. 
  • In Fife we will be piloting the Skills Bootcamp model in key growth sectors: retrofit, advanced manufacturing and offshore wind. Skills Bootcamps offer short courses (typically 8-16 weeks) designed with employers to help individuals gain (above entry level) sector specific skills and progress into employment or higher skill roles. The Skills Bootcamp Pilot will conclude by the end of March 2026 and our future ambition is to extend the model and enable those seeking to progress in work (in high demand sectors) to fast track to a better job. 

The journey to net zero represents not only a serious challenge for the coming years but also an opportunity to live and work in a way that delivers increased benefits for both people and planet.  We are excited to be working with partners to maximise that potential and would welcome conversations with other interested parties working in the City of Edinburgh or wider city region.  

CONTACT US

Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.

Don't miss an update, subscribe to our blog!

Newsletter Sign-up

Get the latest news direct to your inbox

Copyright © 2025 | The Edinburgh Local Employability Partnership