October Newsletter Roundup: News, Events and Opportunities Across Edinburgh
Autumn is well and truly here, and there’s plenty happening across Edinburgh this October! From community making and mending to exhibitions, workshops and gatherings, our latest newsletter is full of opportunities to connect, learn and get involved.
We’re also celebrating this year’s Greenlight-funded projects, reflecting on recent events across our network and looking ahead to our Autumn Assembly in November.
Here are just some of the highlights.
What’s been happening at ECCAN?
Over the past month, we’ve brought community members and political representatives together for our Political Roundtable with Hope for the Future, visited Gorgie Community Farm for Climate Bites and joined organisations from across Edinburgh at Gathering Resistance to explore opportunities for greater collaboration.
We’ve also finished announcing this year’s 26 Greenlight-funded projects, supporting community-led action across food growing, biodiversity, repair, active travel, neighbourhood planning and the arts. We’ll be sharing more as these projects develop!
Our ECCAN Members Survey is still open, and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Your feedback will help shape our priorities over the next three years. Complete the survey to receive 10% off at Edinburgh Remakery and enter a prize draw for a £75 voucher.
Upcoming events across Edinburgh
There’s plenty to get involved in over the coming weeks:
13–16 October | Kids Makers Club: Get creative over the October break with woodworking workshops at Edinburgh Tool Library.
14–18 October | Make It Yourself Festival: Five days of making, repairing and upcycling at Pianodrome Bruntsfield, with Remode Collective, Edinburgh Tool Library, SHRUB, BANZAI and others.
23 October–23 January | Our Stories: WHALE Arts’ annual exhibition celebrating the people, places and experiences of Wester Hailes.
26 October | Artist as Advocate: Join our Arts & Culture subgroup at the Scottish Poetry Library for a morning of poetry, conversation and creative practice with Samuel Tongue.
26 October | Just Do It Yourself: Draught-Proofing: Learn practical ways to reduce heat loss and keep your home warmer with Edinburgh Tool Library.
29 October | People’s Emergency Briefing: Join EICC Live and Greenpeace Edinburgh for a screening and discussion exploring the climate and nature crisis.
31 October | Sashiko Embroidery Workshop: Learn traditional Japanese mending techniques with Remode Collective at Out of the Blue Drill Hall.
Looking ahead: ECCAN Autumn Assembly
Wednesday 11 November | 11am–4pm | Greyfriars Charteris Centre | Free
Join us for Many Communities, One Table, our Autumn Assembly exploring how food can bring people together and strengthen our communities.
We’re planning a day of conversation, creative workshops and shared food, followed by People Planet Pint. Tickets are now available, with a choice of afternoon workshops.
Funding opportunities
Looking for support for a community project? There are several funding opportunities currently open:
Green Community Grants | Deadline: 21 October: Up to £25,000 for projects supporting nature recovery, climate action and access to nature-rich spaces.
Hugh Fraser Foundation | Deadline: 30 October: Funding for Scottish charities and CICs, including projects focused on the environment, arts, education and community facilities.
City of Edinburgh Council Community Grants Fund | Deadline: 31 October: Supporting small-scale community activities in Pentlands, South West and Western Edinburgh.
CARES Community Buildings Fund | Deadline: 31 October: Supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements in community-owned buildings.
International Tree Foundation | Deadline: 11 December: Funding and support for community-led tree planting projects.
We’ve also refreshed the Funding section of our website, making it easier to discover opportunities for community climate action.
Have your say and get involved
There are lots of ways to contribute to shaping Edinburgh’s future.
The City of Edinburgh Council is inviting ideas for City Plan 2040, which will influence how neighbourhoods, green spaces and development across the city evolve.
BANZAI is also seeking community input into Our Neighbourhood in 2040, developing a Local Place Plan and Community Action Plan for South Central Edinburgh.
If you’re looking to get involved more practically, you could join SHRUB’s free Sunday Sewing Café, take part in community woodworking sessions with Edinburgh Tool Library, or borrow an electric cargo bike for free through BANZAI’s Cargo Bike Library.
Jobs and volunteering
There are also opportunities to work and volunteer with organisations across our network.
Current vacancies include a Community Link Worker with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (deadline 20 October), a Finance Manager with The Welcoming (26 October), and a Community Organiser with Parents for Future Scotland (2 November).
Edinburgh Food Social and Edinburgh Open Workshop are also recruiting for a range of roles.
For those looking to volunteer, opportunities include helping establish Earth in Common’s new community growing space at Wellington Place, supporting Duncan Place Community Hub’s planter project, gardening at the Salisbury Centre and helping visitors repair clothing and electronics at Edinburgh Remakery’s weekly Repair Café.