I am proud to share a new report, which captures a snapshot of the incredible impact of Edinburgh’s third sector on the lives of the Ukrainians who came
to our city in search of safety.

Edinburgh’s Warm Scots Welcome: Four Years of Third Sector Impact 2022-2026

Тепла шотландська гостинність Единбурга: Чотири роки впливу третього сектору 2022–2026

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, our third sector partners and community groups didn’t hesitate. They stepped up immediately, providing meals, finding accommodation for families, and making sure everyone had the support they needed. As the weeks turned into months, that support grew into something even deeper. Our partners hosted English language classes, mental health, and job programmes that helped people not just survive, but start to build a future here.

At EVOC, we’ve been right in the middle of this effort. We’ve worked hard to bring different teams together, making sure that the voices of those on the frontline reached the people making the big decisions. By securing over £2 million in funding, alongside our partners, we’ve been able to support projects that foster real belonging, from community meals to counselling and art therapy.

This report shows what happens when a city and a sector choose solidarity. Together, we’ve created more than just a “Warm Scots Welcome”; we’ve built a community where people can truly belong.

John Hawryluk (Service Delivery Lead, EVOC)

Hi everyone! 

I’m Valerie McIntosh, and I’m delighted to have joined EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) as a Development Worker, with a focus on Community Planning and Supporting Place-based Networks. I’ve been lucky enough to call Edinburgh home for the past 12 years, and it is an exciting place to do this kind of work, a city that is full of passionate people, vibrant communities, and a real appetite for change. 

A Bit About Me 

I’m originally from Scotland, so there’s something especially meaningful about putting down roots here and now, channelling that connection into work that genuinely matters to communities across the city. 

 When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me outdoors exploring nature, on the dancefloor swing dancing, rolling out a yoga mat, or planning my next adventure. I’ve travelled extensively across Australia, Asia and the South Pacific, so I’ve always been drawn to exploring different cultures and ways of life, and that curiosity about people and places feeds directly into the work I care most about. 

My Journey Here 

My path to EVOC has been anything but a straight line, and I think that’s what makes it interesting. Over 20 years working across the third sector, higher education, international volunteering, and retail, I’ve developed a strong track record of delivering high-quality, impactful programmes and services. Across every role, a common thread has run through it all: fostering collaboration, championing diverse communities and empowering people to co-create and lead the changes that matter most to them. Each experience has shaped how I think about community, collaboration and change.  

One of the most formative experiences of my career, though, was volunteering in Nepal with Global Vision International — working alongside women and girls on skills development and co-creating resources that reflected local experiences and perspectives. Combined with professional training in Community Development, it gave me first-hand insight into what it really means to support communities to lead their own change. 

What Drives Me 

At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: that people, organisations and communities thrive when the right conditions are created for them. I’m not interested in doing things to communities. I’m interested in doing things with them. 

My grounding in psychology, alongside qualifications in Community Development, Mentoring, Carbon Literacy and Mental Health First Aid, gives me a holistic lens on wellbeing, inclusion and sustainability. I genuinely believe these aren’t add-ons to community planning — they’re central to it. Effective, lasting change must be rooted in the lived experiences of the people it’s meant to serve. 

I was drawn to this role at EVOC because of the opportunity to bring together everything I care about: collaboration, advocacy, community engagement, and social and environmental impact. I believe in the power of co-creation, of building trust, listening deeply and working alongside people to find solutions that are meaningful, relevant and lasting.  

What I Hope to Bring to EVOC 

I’m coming into this role with a lot of energy and a genuine commitment to making a difference. I hope to help strengthen the third sector in Edinburgh by connecting my skills in collaboration, advocacy and research with the incredible work already happening across the city’s communities and networks. 

I’m a collaborative person by nature. I thrive in team environments, I value peer support and knowledge-sharing, and I’m always looking to learn from the people around me. At the same time, I take real ownership of my work and hold myself accountable for outcomes. I’m reflective, resilient and motivated — and I’m excited to bring all of that to the work ahead. 

My First Three Months 

Getting out and meeting Place-based Networks and third sector organisations across Edinburgh has been one of the highlights of settling into this role. The passion, dedication and first-hand knowledge of community need I’ve encountered has been genuinely inspiring, and a reminder of just how much vital work is happening across this city every day. 

I’m still very much in listening mode, building my understanding of the landscape and the relationships that hold it together. But already, I can see the depth of commitment that exists across Edinburgh’s communities — and I’m excited to play my part in supporting and strengthening it. 

I’m also looking forward to meeting more people from third sector organisations who understand community needs first-hand at the consultation for Edinburgh’s Community Plan on Thursday, 26 February. 

If we haven’t connected yet, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you want to share what’s happening in your area, explore how we might work together, or simply say hello… my door is open. 

Valerie 

by John Hawryluk (EVOC Service Delivery Lead)

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In 2002, when Nelson Mandela accepted the Inaugural Laureus Sports Award, he opened with “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people”.  This summer, those words came to life at Peffermill Sports Centre, where the Integration through Sport pilot brought together refugees, students, and residents through the power of sport.

Delivered in partnership between the University of Edinburgh, EVOC, and identified organisations from Edinburgh and Glasgow, Big Hearts, Mission of Innocents, AUGB Glasgow, and Chesser Hearts, the project brought together communities.

Over the summer of 2025, Peffermill was transformed into a community space where over 75 participants enjoyed football sessions, a colour run, and post-match social gatherings. This pilot showed how spaces owned by the University could be utilised by the local community outside of the academic year.

We are delighted to publish the final impact report for the Integration through Sport pilot activity here.

Impact report: Highlights at a Glance

• ⚽ 30 children joined fortnightly football sessions with Mission of Innocents
• 🤝 40 New Scots took part in the community football match
• 🎨 50 participants from refugee communities joined the Colour Run
• 🍕 21 pizzas shared post-match (and no one had to cook!)
• 💷 £764.90 in-kind support from the University of Edinburgh
• 💰 £250 from the City of Edinburgh Council for community socials

Sport as a Bridge for Integration

Mission of Innocents hosted two football sessions for Ukrainian refugee families, giving children aged 6–15 the chance to play, connect, and feel part of a wider community. Parents watched from the sidelines while they were able to develop friendships and support networks that extended beyond the pitch.

Chesser Hearts brought even more energy to the field with a friendly match against a Ukrainian Select team, a celebration of sport, culture, and solidarity. The final score was 7–4, but the real success was seen in the smiles, teamwork, and laughter that followed.  After the match, players gathered for Pizza (thanks to Pizza Geeks), a simple but powerful reminder that food and sport go hand in hand in bringing people together.

Big Hearts, reflecting on the day, praised the collaboration between five key partners and highlighted how initiatives like this showcase the strength of working together to support New Scots and build inclusive communities.

A Burst of Colour and Connection

The University of Edinburgh’s Colour Run 2025 added a splash of vibrancy to the programme. More than 200 participants — including 50 New Scots from local refugee communities — took part in a celebration of movement and mental wellbeing on World Mental Health Day.

The event, supported by EVOC, Care4Calais Scotland, Edinburgh Refugee Sponsorship Circle, Chapter House, and Mission of Innocents, turned the Peffermill route into a festival of colour, energy, and connection. It was a vivid reminder that inclusion can be joyful, active, and full of life.

Looking Ahead

The Integration through Sport pilot has shown what’s possible when sport, collaboration, and compassion come together. Through partnership, shared vision, and creative use of community spaces, the project built not only fitness, but friendship, confidence, and hope.

Looking to 2026, partners plan to expand the programme with more regular sessions and cultural exchange opportunities, continuing to use sport as a tool for inclusion and understanding.

Because when we play together, we grow together.

by Katie Marson (Development Worker, EVOC)

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Since coming into post as a Development Worker at EVOC in January 2025, the final stage of the delivery of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund has been a major priority.

It has been a challenge, but I have been continually inspired by the work of the 103 community projects we awarded grants to, and the conversations I’ve had with community members.  

One of the most impactful parts of this process has been organising the delivery of training to support funded groups and organisations. Part of our agreement with Scottish Government is the option to set aside a portion of the budget to capacity building for the sector. Based on feedback from funded organisations and aligning with established priorities for this year, we focused the training in three areas – suicide intervention, trauma informed practice, and impact evaluation for charities – providing eight days of training to over 60 staff members across the sector.  

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) gave participants practical, evidence-based skills and techniques to intervene and support individuals contemplating suicide and also counted towards their CPD. Trauma Skilled Approach training focused on skills and techniques to develop safe and effective working relationships when working to support individuals who have experienced trauma.  

“The trauma training helped me to recognise tips when dealing with clients experiencing trauma, especially when doing groupwork, [I] will definitely put these into practise.”
Trauma Skilled Approach training participant

Introduction to the Basics of Evaluation provided a practical overview of how to effectively evaluate project outcomes. Off the back of the announcement of significant cuts from the EIJB, we considered the importance of the sector’s ability to evidence its impact with strong evaluation skills and hope that this opportunity has helped organisations feel better equipped to evidence the value of their work.  

As we make plans for the next year of the Communities Mental health and Wellbeing Fun, I am looking forward to continuing to work as part of the TSI Team. I believe in the fund’s community-based approach, and in EVOC’s commitment to fair funding which listens to the needs and asks of the community.  

by Alison Leitch, Assistant Service Manager (Edinburgh Community Link Worker Network)

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Since 2021, our Community Link Worker (CLW) team has introduced link working and social prescribing to almost 1,400 student medics at the University of Edinburgh.

These sessions contribute to the Health in Communities Practical – part of the Social & Ethical Aspects of Medicine module. Students meet with link workers and third-sector organisations, walk around the local area, and work on a case study involving social issues where a medical approach is not suitable.

We held our first sessions just as we faced the first national lockdown.  This meant that everything had to be done online and it stayed that way until 2023.

The sessions involve lots of planning meetings, booking of rooms and coordinating diaries of GPs, CLWs and Third Sector Organisation (TSO) managers which means that January and February seem to pass in a flash.  The sessions have evolved hugely over the years with experienced CLWs growing in confidence to speak publicly in person, to newer CLWs jumping in at the deep end and meeting students within the first 6 months of their role.  Including a walkabout of the area increases students’ awareness of the homes, shops, roads and services that are commonly found in areas of high deprivation providing an insight into the wider socio-economic challenges in life when discussing someone’s health and wellbeing.

Our involvement with the University has been highlighted at several events; some of the CLWs hosted an information session on medical students at the very first Scottish Community Link Worker Network Conference in 2023, there was such a buzz in the room from other CLWs asking how they could replicate this with medical schools in their area; it was highlighted during a presentation at the 2023 NHS Scotland annual conference as part of the Chief Medical Officers launch of his annual report entitled ‘Realistic Medicine, Doing the Right Thing’; and when our network won the award for ‘Best Local Social Prescribing Link Worker Team’ at the 2024 International Social Prescribing Conference, the judges highlighted the work with medical students when announcing us as winners.

There is no doubt that the session involves a lot of hard work and preparation, but the feedback from all involved makes this one of the highlights of our calendar. Whenever I’ve spoken about the sessions at conferences or events, it is the one subject guaranteed to prompt a flurry of questions or comments.  It would be incredible to think this could replicated with other medical schools in Scotland to ensure that every potential GP of the future learns the value of social prescribing at a very early stage and carries this with them throughout their career.

 

 

 

 

 

by Jennie Jeffrey (Senior Development, Organisational Development and Support)

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Anyone involved in running a charity knows it’s not an easy job.

From building your services, to recruiting and managing trustees, to producing budgets and accounts, to finding funding, and everything in between – the challenges can seem endless. Of course, it’s exciting, rewarding, fulfilling and hugely important too, but rarely straightforward.

Small charities in particular often struggle with gaps in the knowledge or skills they have access to within their Board, volunteers, and (in some cases) staff team. Which is why it’s so important to know where to find the additional support that you might not have in-house. EVOC, as part of Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface (TSI), is here to help Edinburgh’s charities across a wide range of areas including governance, fundraising, change management and much more.

Because we know how challenging grant fundraising can be for small charities, we’ve also just launched an application review service for EVOC members – so that you can benefit from an external pair of eyes looking at your application before it goes to a funder. Have a look at our webpage to find out more about the kinds of support we offer and how you can access it.

Of course, sometimes what you need is to feel connected and understood by others facing similar challenges to your own. Which is why EVOC also runs a range of Forums connecting charities working in similar areas to each other. Find out more about our Forums and Networks here.

We know running a small charity can be tough – not to mention lonely – at times, so please do get in touch with us if you think we might be able to help. We have expertise across a range of areas, and if we can’t help, we’ll try our best to find someone who can.

Finally, we are looking at ways we can provide more and better support to our sector in Edinburgh. If you have any feedback, thoughts or ideas, please complete this short survey.

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Other Organisations Offering Support

We’ll always do our best to help you ourselves, but there are plenty of other organisations offering different kinds of support (please note that, like EVOC, all provide support for free, but some also have paid-for services). Here are a few of them:

Volunteer Edinburgh – supports with recruitment, training and management of volunteers (part of Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface, alongside EVOC)

Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network – provides advice, training and support to all kinds of social enterprises (part of Edinburgh’s Third Sector interface, alongside EVOC)

Community Benefit Gateway – in-kind support via NHS suppliers

Glasgow CVS – offers service including HR and payroll to charities across Scotland

SCVO – Scotland’s national membership organisation for voluntary sector organisations

Law Works – Edinburgh School of Law free legal advice clinic

Pro Bono Economics – provides services relating to data, statistics and economics to charities

Media Trust – supports charities with comms and digital skills through training and volunteer placement

Cranfield Trust – offers pro bono support, including management consultancy and mentoring, to social welfare charities

by John Beaton-Hawryluk, Ukraine Crisis Response Programme Coordinator (EVOC)

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It’s a little under seven months since the war started by Russia on Ukrainian territory at 5am on Thu 24 Feb.

It was an escalation of the war that started in 2014 in the Donbas region and with the annexation of Crimea.

In the weeks and months leading up to the day of invasion, it was clear something was happening.

There was intelligence of an attack, Russian troops were gathering near Ukrainian borders and political leaders from the G20 were making hurried visits to Kyiv and to Moscow, to assess the situation – throwing their support behind Ukraine and attempting to broker peace before what was about to unfold.

In the months since, we’ve seen nearly 7,500 Ukrainians seek safe refuge here in Edinburgh.

Coming from all corners of Ukraine, Ukrainians have started to quickly settle into their new communities, working in local employment and accessing the wide range of public and voluntary sector services across the city.

Since the City of Edinburgh Council’s call to action six months ago, the voluntary sector has been pivotal to the response of Local and National Governments. Whether it be the Volunteer Edinburgh Community Taskforce supporting the welcome desks at travel hubs, local employability providers providing Ukrainian focussed job programmes or local food providers ensuring no one goes hungry – the voluntary sector can be very proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time.

As the crisis in Ukraine has unfolded, EVOC has been involved in weekly partnership meetings to ensure we are ready to offer support on every level for the people arriving in our City. These meetings also include representatives from Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, Edinburgh Airport, Scottish Refugee Council and other key partners. EVOC’s particular role is to support the strategic and practical responses needed in vital areas of work such as Children & Families, Food Provision, Funding and Mental Health & Wellbeing.

As the Response goes beyond six months, it is important that we ensure it has the resilience to respond to the challenges ahead and make sure that the Ukrainian community is properly supported. With the support of Scottish Government, Baillie Gifford, University of Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh Council and One City Trust we are pleased to have confirmed four new response specific posts across the voluntary sector:

Volunteer Edinburgh: Anna Nevmerzhytska – anna.nevm@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

• Supporting the coordination of the community taskforce volunteers at travel hubs and coordinating volunteer drop-in sessions to support Ukrainian clients to access volunteering.

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain: Tanya Balanova – tanya@augbedinburgh.co.uk

• Coordinating community activities at the Ukrainian Community Centre and making referrals to partner agencies who can support clients.

Capital City Partnership: Nika Kozak-Herzallah – nika.kozak-herzallah@capitalcitypartnership.org

• Supporting Ukrainian clients to access and promote employability provision in city.

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council: John Hawryluk – john.hawryluk@evoc.org.uk

• Supporting and coordinating the voluntary sector to contribute to the city-wide Response and advocate to City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government for additional resource on behalf of the voluntary sector.

These new roles will work across the Ukrainian community and wider response to support access to volunteering, employability and support agencies as well as supporting the voluntary sector to connect with the Ukraine Crisis Response in the City.

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If you, or your organisation, want to discuss how you could engage with the city’s response to the Ukraine crisis please get in touch Ukraine@evoc.org.uk or reach out to one of the team to find out more.

 by Alice Tucker, Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities Development Officer (East region) 

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Earlier this month, I embarked on the 6-hour journey from my parent’s home in Cambridgeshire to Edinburgh to begin my role as a Human Rights and Equalities Development Officer with EVOC.

My move-in day marked only the second time I had been to Edinburgh, with the first being a month before to view flats. To the outside observer, this may have seemed like a radical decision. I was moving to a new country, hundreds of miles from my friends and family with very little knowledge of the city that was about to become my home. But, when I saw EVOC’s advertisement for the Development Officer role, it was too good to let fear get in the way. EVOC were looking for a new member of staff to support a project entitled THRE (Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities) that was about to be launched in partnership with two other Third Sector Interfaces across Scotland – the project’s goal being to support the third sector in putting human rights and equalities at the heart of what they do. For me, this sounded perfect.

I recently graduated from a Master’s degree in human rights and was looking for an opportunity to put this knowledge into practice. Being able to do so within the context of the third sector was ideal, as I have been involved with charities, volunteering and fundraising for the past 4 years in both paid and voluntary capacities. So, this role felt like the perfect fit for me…even if it was 300 miles away! 

Familiarising myself with how human rights are being tackled in Scotland was a reassuring experience. Whilst there have been prominent challenges to human rights in the UK in recent times, it quickly became clear to me that Scotland genuinely cares about human rights and equalities. From the Scottish parliament’s unanimous vote to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to the various training and events on equalities being hosted within the sector, human rights are being made a priority at all levels. This was a very welcome discovery, but I knew that this doesn’t mean things are perfect in Scotland, or anywhere for that matter. Rather, it was now my job to support the third sector to improve their own work on human rights and equalities. This will range from delivering training on what human rights and equalities mean, to creating resources and checklists highlighting what can be done, and what is already being done, by the sector.

So now, after fitting my life into my parent’s 7-seater and journeying with them up almost the entire length of the A1, it’s time for the work to begin! 

Find out more about THRE here.

Look out for more details and opportunities in EVOC’s e-newsletters and social media. 

 

 by Olga Wojciechowska (EVOC Development Worker)

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A little over a month ago the world stopped breathing… hoping that what they were hearing and seeing wasn’t real.

Poland (where I live) began welcoming people from Ukraine almost as soon as the war started.

My friends and family were rushing to help people at the border, taking complete strangers into their homes. Within a day, my Facebook feed was filled with friends asking for clothes, shoes, and food – any supplies that anyone could spare to support their new guests. I remember being on the phone with my friend and her telling me that she had taken in a mother and her family.

I wanted to do something too.

Enter EVOC.

I was asked if I would like to support Scottish efforts to prepare for and support Ukrainian refugees and welcomed the opportunity with open arms. 

I got in touch with the Warsaw Hub and was invited by Agata, the Co-ordinator there, to visit the 100 women and children they were accommodating. On the day of my visit there were 40 to 50 people expectantly waiting to hear about preparations, information, and opportunities awaiting them in Scotland. It was an emotional meeting. The reality kicked in that this could happen to any one of us, at any time. Most of them had less than an hour to pack their belongings and leave. Some had already heard that their homes had been flattened in the bombings. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the stress that they’ve gone through. It was completely different to hearing, reading, and seeing it online or on the news.

At that point, 400,000 Ukrainian people had fled to Warsaw, an increase of 23%. I started to hear and see Ukrainians everywhere. Going about their lives, on buses, in restaurants, walking on the streets. I still can’t believe it’s happening and there is a big knot in my stomach because, as I’m sure many of you do, I feel helpless.

I am grateful that I can help through the work I’m doing for EVOC.

I am proud of the Polish people, my family, and friends for helping the people where they can.

I am moved by the effort that Scottish organisations are putting in to prepare – everyone is hands on and it’s amazing.