How Scotland links events with communities for long-term impact

At the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), volunteering and community impact are embedded into its sustainability strategy, shaping how the venue supports organisers as they plan their events. The EICC Impact Network is an incredible tool which connects clients with local charities and social enterprises who can help integrate social value into events. This includes volunteering options, donation initiatives, environmental projects and collaborations linked to conference themes.

One of the ways SITE Scotland encourages voluntary or community elements into events is to practice what they preach. Each year the membership association for incentive travel and events professionals partners with a charity, and in the past.

Cyrenians, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, Scottish Adoption, and Medical Detection Dogs have all been supported. Last year they abseiled for Cyrenians, which included lots of coverage on social channels so that the wider industry could support, and this year they collectively walked the circumference of Scotland, counted in steps, to raise funds for Scottish Adoption.

EICC offers organisers a wide range of opportunities through its EICC Impact Network. A recent example is the partnership between the SIU Congress and Exchange Initiative (EI), which enabled budding researchers to attend the SIU Congress at the EICC, giving them access to leading clinical and scientific discussions that would otherwise have been out of reach.

Because of its links with local charities and community groups, EICC was also able to facilitate an introduction between the homelessness charity Cyrenians and the organiser of the European Sleep Conference, leading to discussions about how the event can support Cyrenians’ work.

SITE Scotland connects its members with charities and third-sector enterprises such as such as Invisible Cities, Green Team and The Larder, making it easy to create meaningful partnerships. By emphasising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, SITE shows how events can deliver lasting benefits and leave a positive legacy.

SITE also works closely with the Business Events team at VisitScotland and the regional Destination Marketing  Organisations to maintain consistent communication on opportunities for volunteering at a regional as well as city wide level. 

EICC works closely with local organisations to understand their needs and design community impact opportunities that align with the goals of incoming events. EICC’s collaboration with the Edinburgh Remakery is a strong example. Earlier this year, EICC visited the Remakery’s facility to gain first-hand insight into their work extending the life of technology through reuse and refurbishment, supporting people in Edinburgh who may be experiencing digital exclusion.

As a result of this, EICC hosted an event to share practical ways that conferences can support digital inclusion. EICC has also hosted the Remakery’s tech donation boxes at several events, enabling organisers and delegates to donate devices to be repaired and redistributed locally.

EICC also uses Remakery as its Social ITAD (IT Asset Disposal) provider, ensuring the responsible reuse and recycling of their retired technology through a community-focused, circular-economy partner.

Looking ahead, EICC plans to broaden its EICC Impact Network so that more organisers can access structured, high-quality volunteering and community impact options. This includes expanding the number of charities and social enterprises they collaborate with, and developing clearer pathways that align specific event themes with meaningful local opportunities.

This is in addition to building on EICC’s existing partnerships to help organisers understand what meaningful legacy can look like. EICC will also expand its own volunteering activities, using first-hand experience to guide and inspire clients.

In 2026, SITE will support a new local charity in its Scotland chapter, working together to create a summer fundraising challenge for members and providing the charity with opportunities to connect with members and explore future collaborations.

SITE also plans to add a Sustainability Director to its board in 2026, responsible for advancing this initiative with measurable KPIs.

This International Volunteer Day, Scotland invites you to consider how business events can forge a deeper connection to place, purpose, and people. By tapping into the expertise of local groups, venues and convention bureaux, business events can build links with the local community that enrich the experience for delegates, as well as providing long-lasting positive impacts for the local community.

Scotland’s strong emphasis on community engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in business event planning means that you will find many opportunities for volunteering and supporting local sustainability projects.

Ready to create an event with impact and purpose? Connect with our team at business.events@visitscotland.com.