Day to make a difference

The Study and Work Away Service has been making the most of the University's 'Day to Make a Difference' initiative which gives staff members a day off each year to volunteer for a charity, organisation or cause.

As part of this initiative, Edinburgh Global is supporting environmental causes, encouraging staff to engage with social and civic responsibility, and make an impact on a local and global level.   

The Study and Work Away Projects team used their 'Day to Make a Difference' to pick up litter on the Portobello sea front as well as Leith Links. They braved the weather in order to clean up some of our local parks and to make them more enjoyable for residents.

Two members of the Study and Work Away team litter picking
Projects team litter picking on Portobello beach

Although it isn't ground-breaking, it was a nice team bonding experience, and a nice way to be able to give back and take pride in our community. Hopefully we inspired others to do some clean-up as well, or at the very least shame them into not littering!

Chelsea Ferguson Study and Work Away Projects Team

SWAY’s Placements team volunteered with The Welcoming, a charity which supports asylum-seekers, refugees and other New Scots in Edinburgh. The team got busy with trowels and saws in their Sustainable Garden, where participants and volunteers can learn about food growing, share green skills and food traditions from their home countries, and spend time in nature.

Find out more about The Welcoming

Group of people enjoying the sustainable garden
The Placements team in the Sustainable Garden

Members of the Study Abroad and Exchanges teams spent a day with drills, saws and hammers at the Salisbury Centre, building a bug hotel and learning more about the range of community activities on offer in this tranquil space, a stone's throw from George Square.  

Find out more about the Salisbury Centre

SWAY team members in the garden at the Salisbury Centre
Study and Work Away team and their new bug hotel

The Day to Make a Difference is always such a great opportunity to come together not only with your colleagues but also with these amazing organisations all over the city! It's wonderful way of spending your time while helping out and learning new skills and also getting to know new people and initiatives that you had no idea about before.

Sigrid Persson Study and Work Away European Programmes Team

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