So far this year we've been able to support even more groups than before through our Community Fund.
Up to £300,000 - more than double the 2023 total - will be awarded to community groups, social enterprises and charities this year, with applications now open through the airport website.
Priority is given to groups whose work reflects the pillars within Edinburgh Airport’s Greater Good strategy – Enhancing Scotland, Zero Carbon, Scotland’s Best Business and Trusted Neighbour.
The first round of funding awards were allocated during a meeting of the Community Fund board in April, before a further round in August. The third and final meeting of the year is scheduled for November.
The volunteer gardeners at Broxburn and Uphall Development Group benefitted from a funding award to purchase and construct a 10 metre polytunnel for a community garden.
The team behind Strathbrock Community Garden have also been able to install new water storage and pump capabilities, further enhancing the garden. As a result they've been able to grow even more vegetables.
Keith MacLeod, Chair of Broxburn and Uphall Development Group, said:
"[The funding allows us] to continue to enhance the garden which has been developed since 2022, providing an example of how fresh, healthy food may be grown, while highlighting environmental principles, for the local population to enjoy."
A sum of £5,300 was awarded to Whale Arts to develop a community garden for their Grow Cook Eat Repeat project.
It was able to buy outdoor tables and chairs to host garden meals, build access paths, and enhance the biodiversity of the area by planting trees, plants and hedgerows.
Whale Arts say:
“Grow Cook Eat Repeat is all about growing food and friendship and cooking and connecting our community.
"We work with volunteers in our community garden and allotment to grow food for our free weekly community meal, which is cooked by our community chef and volunteers and used by adults, families and young people.”
Whale Arts is a community-led arts charity and social enterprise based in Wester Hailes. Find out more about them here.
Among the groups to benefit from awards from our April 2024 round of funding was 46th Fife (YMCA) Scout Group.
A sum of £5,640 was allocated so it could buy a fleet of 12 mountain bikes, along with safety equipment, so group leaders could run activities and excursions to benefit young members.
Dave Kennedy, Group Lead Volunteer, explained the idea for the bikes came about after an activity camp where bikes and instructors were brought in for the young people to use - and it went down a storm.
He said: "This was the starting point and got us thinking about whether we could secure funding to purchase our own mountain bikes.
"For our scouts in Cowdenbeath this award will make a huge difference.
"It gives our leadership teams in the older sections of scouts and explorers the resources to get outdoors and utilise the amazing facilities which are on our doorstep, including the mountain bike tracks around Lochore Meadows Country Park and Fife Cycle Park."
The Community Fund allows the airport to support projects within the community, improving services and opportunities for local people.
In 2023 the airport shared £140,000 between 48 different groups operating in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk. Among them were...
£7000 was allocated to Coastwatch West Fife for the purchase of a new mobile lookout station.
Craig Somerville, Station Commander, said:
"The Edinburgh Airport Community Fund has been a pleasure to deal with. Our award allowed us to purchase a bespoke, mobile trailer which we can use to provide vital coast watch services to more areas in West Fife.
"Overall, a really positive experience that has made a big impact."
Coastwatch West Fife is a coastal safety and monitoring service. Find out more.
£7,000 was awarded to Venture Scotland allowing them to buy five new canoes and safety equipment - enhancing outdoor opportunities for young people in Edinburgh.
Robin Jeffrey, Operations Manager, said:
“This generous grant from the Edinburgh Airport Community Fund will allow our young people to continue to experience the transformative effects of the outdoors.
"Thanks to the Edinburgh Airport Community Fund, we can continue to support young people to achieve lasting personal change and #ChangeYoungLivesOutdoors!"
Find out more about Venture Scotland.
Fife Historic Buildings Trust was able to buy a gazebo and other items to allow attendance at public engagement events and festivals thanks to an award of more than £2,000 from the Community Fund.
Emma Griffiths, Training and Development Officer said:
"The Trust applied to the Airport Community Fund for some equipment to help when we run public engagement activities.
"Heritage isn’t a simple concept, and can mean different things to different people. Owning equipment to support our outreach, and help us achieve our goal of making heritage live in Fife, really helps our tiny charity achieve great things!"
Find out more about Fife Historic Buildings Trust.
For a complete rundown of different groups the Community Fund supported in the 2023 check out the annual report below.
