Edinburgh University Settlement

He suggested that if the fellows and students of the University could do anything to 'brighten the lives and bring sympathy and gladness to some of the homes in those dark spots they would be going some way to repay the debt the College owed to the city.

[1] The basis of the settlement idea was that undergraduates, academics and researchers would be resident in 'Settlement Houses' which were situated in underprivileged communities.

The buildings however, were not always in a good state of repair and repeated calls were made to donors and current students for support for their upkeep.

The settlement movement believed that if men and women from universities lived for a while amongst the poorer communities of their city they could ‘do a little to remove the inequalities of life’.

Settlement work was considered to afford to students experience of "coming up against the problems and understanding their cause and consequence, which would be of the utmost value to them in their subsequent professional and personal lives"[4]'and a valuable part of students training was to leave the lecture-room and 'get in touch with the facts of everyday life.

'[3]' There was an emphasis on practical work and making things with one's hands 'the separation of hand and brain is an evil for both'[2] Edinburgh University students established 'Settlement Day' and then 'Settlement Week' which was later replaced by RAG week to raise money in support of the ongoing work.

[6] In 1993 EUS bid unsuccessfully to turn the disused Elsie Inglis Hospital into Scotland's first ‘Care Village’.

[9] In 2000 the EUS was sued by a Barlinnie prisoner for the loss of a Christ statue, a work that 'marked his transformation from murderer to artist'.

[10] The Warden of Cameron House, Grace Drysdale campaigned tirelessly for support for the women and children of the surrounding Craigmillar area.

In 1936 she made a film about the everyday activities of the settlement community and proposed the creation of a 'Thrift shop' based on an American idea.

Reports confirm that bargains: crystal, evening shawls and furniture were to be found and that one woman left delighted with 'a handsome suit once worn it was whispered, by a professor'.

But for many, I hope simple training in computers will be the clear light before the dawn of new employment and a fuller, richer life.

[19] University of Edinburgh Policy and Strategy Committee minutes of 22 March 2011 report that 'Edinburgh University Settlement, a voluntary organisation providing a range of social care, educational and arts services and venues, closed on 29 October 2010 as a result of severe financial difficulties.'

The majority of the 40 employees were made redundant with immediate effect, a small team was retained to help with the maintenance and disposal of the buildings.