Edinburgh could celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a host of activities if plans for a special community fund go ahead

The money could be used to help pay for street parties to celebrate the occasion or fund more lasting legacies like planting trees.

Conservative Councilor Jason Rust said he suggested the move after being approached by the Oxgangs Neighborhood Center about possible council funding to hold a Platinum Jubilee celebration during the extended holiday on Thursday June 2 at Sunday, June 5.

And now Lord Provost Frank Ross has said he plans to recommend using the money the council has saved from civic receptions that had to be canceled because of Covid and channeling it into events for communities across the city.

Councilor Rust said he was considering small awards of £250 or £500 that groups could apply for.

He said: “The Queen’s 70 years of service is clearly a historic milestone as the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

“Her Majesty of course also has very close ties to Edinburgh, so I think it would be appropriate for non-profit community and voluntary groups to be eligible to apply for a small amount of help from the City Council for activities.

“This could help to allow early June during the Platinum Jubilee weekend, events, street parties, projects or the like to take place or even more lasting legacies such as the planting of memorial trees .

“As other authorities mark this occasion in the same way, it would be great if our capital could also do so for the benefit of the local community and I’m sure there would be interest across Edinburgh.

“I hope that the establishment of a small fund can be considered at the start of the course to ensure a short window for the processing of all requests and to allow preparation for the celebrations.”

The Lord Provost is expected to propose the move at the full council meeting in March.

He said: “Planning how the Platinum Jubilee will be marked in the capital has been underway for several months and we have ongoing discussions about appropriate ways for communities to get involved.

“Due to current Covid restrictions, we have unspent civic funds and what better way to use those funds than civic events in our communities. I intend to present a report to Members elected in March recommending that this money be reallocated to support small grants to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

The Scottish Borders has already set up a similar fund and invited not-for-profit community and voluntary groups, as well as schools and churches in their area, to apply for grants for projects or activities that benefit the wider community. .

Borders’ Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund was launched in January and says grants are expected to average £1,000, but could reach £2,500 for larger projects.

It says the money could generally be used for concerts, open days or street parties or to create a lasting legacy by improving public spaces like play parks or gardens, or planting memorial trees.

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