Community action/Edinburgh
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The gift of climate and ecological emergency is that we all get to work together. Ordinary citizens and community groups naturally share what they learn, and what they know of what helps. Everyone can help, everyone has something to offer, everyone is welcome. We all need to design, make and grow a better future for ourselves, our communities and our world. Together we CAN. Yes we CAN.
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism across Edinburgh. It's an introduction to local networks, groups, events, community resources and assets.
- Edinburgh community climate action and ecological restoration is a separate page.
News
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Path well-travelled: the shared cycle scheme that’s succeeding in Edinburgh [Holyrood Magazine], Daily Alternative (Oct 12, 2026) - Did a tourist tax save Magaluf?, positive.news (Jul 30, 2026)
- Why the Arthur’s Seat burn is a cautionary tale for the UK’s wildfire management strategy, theconversation.com (Aug 19, 2025)
- Twenty years of Community Wealth Building, a rich global tapestry of cooperation, justice and local ambition [The Democracy Collaborative], Daily Alternative (Oct 22, 2026) — Twenty years on, Community Wealth Building is no longer an emerging conversation. It is an international movement of ideas and practice that continues to evolve in response to the crises and possibilities of our age. This compendium is both a reflection on that journey and an invitation to continue it
- From Protesting To Worldmaking, Alternative Editorial (Oct 18, 2026)
- Perth decided as location for launch of the Scottish People’s Meeting, peoplesmeeting.org.uk (Sep 09, 2026) — We are delighted to have Perth as the home for the launch of the Scottish People's meeting: it is a beautiful city right in the heart of Scotland with excellent facilities. Most importantly there is a very strong commitment from Perth and Kinross Council to making the event a success
- Firefighters voice growing concerns over water supplies to tackle UK wildfires, theguardian.com (Oct 21, 2026) — Housing development recognised as one of a number of pressures increasing demand on an already stretched water network
- Volunteers became salmon, deer and earthworms. Then they set out to save their river, positive.news (Oct 19, 2026) — What does a polluted river feel like to a salmon? An unusual experiment is helping a Somerset community see its landscape through the eyes of wildlife – and plot a 30-year route to change it
- Severe drought declared in six areas of England as reservoirs run low, theguardian.com (Oct 15, 2026)
- Citizens need to power Europe's future, demnext.substack.com (Oct 02, 2026) — The EU can enable new democratic institutions: in European countries; with a European Citizens’ Assembly as a 4th branch of government, and by legally enforcing the Global Citizens’ Assembly on AI, Claudia Chwalisz and Another Democratic Future
- Reclaiming the streets: the architects clawing back Europe’s car-centric spaces, theguardian.com (Sep 09, 2026) — The European Prize for Urban Public Space’s shortlist highlights projects helping people cope with climate crisis
- We’re the mayors of Paris, Milan and Phoenix. The heat crisis has us all facing the same question, Emmanuel Grégoire, Giuseppe Sala and Kate Gallego, theguardian.com (Sep 07, 2026) — Our three cities are learning from each other about how to protect residents. These climate policies are also public health measures
- Throw the best party!, demnext.substack.com (Oct 22, 2026) — Programme Coordinator Hannah Terry on finding hope with 30 young democracy builders in Croatia
- A Modest Proposal To Improve Democracy In Canada, davidmoscrop.com (Oct 22, 2026) — We must strengthen self-government by putting more Canadians in charge of the political agenda. David Moscrop
- Twenty years of Community Wealth Building, a rich global tapestry of cooperation, justice and local ambition [The Democracy Collaborative], Daily Alternative (Oct 22, 2026) — Twenty years on, Community Wealth Building is no longer an emerging conversation. It is an international movement of ideas and practice that continues to evolve in response to the crises and possibilities of our age. This compendium is both a reflection on that journey and an invitation to continue it
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Friends of the Earth Edinburgh on facebook.com, added 14:16, 27 November 2023 (UTC)
- (GreenerLeith, Former charity now dissolved...twitter.com)
CDC video
[edit | edit source]Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/United Kingdom/Climate emergency, Community action/United Kingdom/Community involvement, Community action/United Kingdom/Food activism / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
Edinburgh video
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UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Nov 9 - 15, 2026 (Mon - Sun) — Living Wage Week, livingwage.org.uk- Nov 13, 2026 (Fri) — Kindness Day UK, Nov 13 annually, aiming to increase the value of kindness in society as well as increase the amount of kind acts that take place, making kindness a greater part in our daily life, kindnessuk.com
- Nov 15 - 21, 2026 (Sun - Sat) — Road Safety Week, brake.org.uk
- Nov 21 - 29, 2026 (Sat - Sun) — National Tree Week, The Tree Council's annual tree celebration. People across the country planting thousands of trees to mark the start of the winter tree planting season. "Trees and hedgerows are some of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against climate change.", treecouncil.org.uk
Global or international events
- Nov 05, 2026 (Thu) — Media Liberation Day, Change the Media, Change the Future, mediarevolution.org
- Nov 13, 2026 (Fri) — World Kindness Day, Nov 13, annually, highlighting good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness for good which binds us, randomactsofkindness.org
- Nov 15, 2026 (Sun) — World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, third Sunday in November each year, worlddayofremembrance.org
- Nov 16, 2026 (Mon) — International Day for Tolerance, Nov 16 each year, fostering respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human, unesco.org
- Nov 19, 2026 (Thu) — International Men's Day, Nov 19, annually
- Nov 27 & 28, 2026 — Buy Nothing Day, en.wikipedia.org
- Nov 27, 2026 (Fri) — Citizen Friday, actionism.space
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Social inclusion
[edit | edit source]- The Welcoming, added 14:45, 11 November 2021 (UTC)
- The Welcoming, ashden.org
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty also known as ECAP, is a left-wing organisation which aims to be a solidarity network for working-class people particularly the unemployed and disabled. It is independent from government and operates by direct democracy.
It is one of many similar claimants groups set up with similar political purposes.
ECAP's website hosts benefit advice and articles about the group's activities.
The group has frequently been involved in opposition to benefit sanctions, opposition to workfare and fighting for the right to be accompanied at jobcentres ECAP has drawn inspiration from the advocacy of the Scottish Unemployed Workers Network and supported their member Tony Cox during his trial.
ECAP have held presentations alongside speakers like Lynne Friedli and the IWW.
Its affiliate, Edinburgh Claimants has been acting as an independent advocacy group and claimants union since the 1980s as part of the Edinburgh Unemployed Workers Centre. It has been based at the autonomous centre of Edinburgh since 1997.
ECAP is a member of the Action Against Austerity network and signatory to "From Yes to Action"
The group is featured in the end credits of Ken Loach's film I Daniel Blake due to its role in helping script writer Paul Laverty with researching the film.
Commmunity resources video
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Food activism
[edit | edit source]- Granton Community Gardeners, Local people growing, cooking and eating food together. Community led charity based in North Edinburgh. added 11:44, 24 April 2024 (UTC)
- The Food Assembly - Edinburgh - Leith Food Assembly
Community energy
[edit | edit source]- Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative, owns and operates 30 solar panel installations throughout Edinburgh including on Edinburgh Council schools, community centres and leisure facilities. After providing a fixed return on member’s investments, excess profits are invested in community projects throughout Edinburgh that promote sustainability and renewable energy. added 11:33, 2 November 2023 (UTC)
Community resources
[edit | edit source]- The Melting Pot, Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation, An inspiring community of people striving to make the world a better place. The Melting Pot Edinburgh on youtube.com. added 15:39, 31 October 2025 (UTC)
- Edinburgh Open Workshop, on youtube.com, news from EOW, added 16:29, 21 May 2025 (UTC)
- Edinburgh Tool Library
The Bridgend Farmhouse Community Project in Edinburgh, Scotland is a community-owned and community-run charitable organisation. The project restored an 18th-century farmhouse to provide a community meeting place, café, garden and workshops. The project runs classes, workshops and training courses in a variety of crafts and skills aimed at all age groups. It also provides facilities for performances, gatherings, talks, entertainment and small conferences. Given charitable status under the title Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG), the project was one of the first in Scotland to achieve community ownership in an urban setting. In 2018 it became the first organisation in Scotland to transfer from a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) to a Community Benefit Society with charitable status.
- Bridgend Farmhouse, Video: Bridgend Farmhouse channel on youtube.com
According to a news item on ACE's website (October 25, 2023), "The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh continues our activity, though currently we are without premises. ACE is working with other groups to form a new Edinburgh Social Centre with new longer-term premises which will be big enough to house the Scottish Radical Library and have more room for meetings, gatherings and organising." autonomous.org.uk
The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, also known as ACE, is an infoshop and autonomous social centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1997, although it follows on from previous groups.
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle
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The Edinburgh Remakery is a social enterprise that teaches repair. The shop sells refurbished computers and furniture, and hosts workshops where people can come along and learn how to repair their own things. There's a big vision behind it: "we want to generate a repair revolution. This means changing the way people use and dispose of resources, encouraging manufacturers to build things to last and to be fixable, and making sure the facilities are in place to allow people to repair and reuse."
About Edinburgh
[edit | edit source]Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. It is located in Lothian on the Firth of Forth's southern shore.
Edinburgh is Scotland's second most populous city and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. The official population estimates are 488,050 (2016) for the Locality of Edinburgh and 1,339,380 (2014) for the city region. Edinburgh lies at the heart of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city region.
The city is known for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the latter being the world's largest annual international arts festival. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. W
Edinburgh archive
[edit | edit source]Video
- Love Leith 2: Janet wins a cream tea in the Kirkgate for binning her litter, 2012, youtube.com
Past events
- Jun 17 - 18, 2017, The Power of Food Festival, weekend Festival celebrating community gardens in Edinburgh. Its purpose is to encourage greater societal wellbeing, environmental sustainability and social inclusion through the promotion of community food growing.
- Jun 9 - 19, 2016, Edinburgh Festival of Cycling
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Phil Green (2014–2026). "Community action/Edinburgh". Appropedia. Retrieved November 1, 2026. |