Plans to encourage cohesion within the Edinburgh community were set last week at the annual Student City Forum (SFC), hosted by Edinburgh University Students Association.

Local politicians and student representatives from Edinburgh's academic institutions were present including Georgi Badakhshan from Telford College, Stuart Campbell from Napier, Cecile Guilloteau from Queen Margaret and Simon Eltringham from Heriot-Watt .

Mr Eltringham spoke to The Journal about the significance of the forum: “The SFC provided an ideal opportunity for students to get together with other members of the community and discuss ways of working in partnership to make positive contributions to the local community."

MSP George Foulkes and Gavin Strang Labour MP for Edinburgh East also attended the meeting, along with various councillors and Anne Laird from the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council.

Mr Eltringham continued: “The event provided an ideal opportunity for networking and sharing of ideas and best practice and I am certain that, as a result of this, there will be a real positive impact for students and local communities through the whole of Edinburgh.”

The forum resolved to tackle community wide issues within four main categories. The first initiative involved suggesting ways of supporting students’ involvement in the community through volunteering opportunities. Plans for an Edinburgh wide web portal for students to offer their time through were discussed.

The second step was engaging young people in community councils. Emphasis was placed on the councils raising their profiles to make sure students are aware when they are discussing issues that directly affect them and ensuring young people know they are eligible to stand in community council elections.

The third measure was addressing the role of the city council in improving community cohesion. Suggestions that local councillors hold a drop-in across Edinburgh’s student associations were positively received.

Finally, the role of the students associations and universities in enhancing community relations was discussed. The steps agreed to be taken were based around a promise to improve the communication levels between students and non-students.

The forum also decided that Student Association's should host Neighbourhood Partnership meetings, invite community groups to university organised events and engage more with community organisations and projects.