The Challenge Facing Community Events – and What We’re Doing About It
Introduction
Volunteer-run community fairs, gala days and traditional events are a vital part of life across Scotland. They bring people together, support local organisations, encourage volunteering and help keep community traditions alive.
However, organisers are facing growing pressure from complex licensing requirements, inconsistent advice, late decision-making and rising administrative and financial burdens. These challenges risk making it harder for volunteers to continue delivering the events that enrich our neighbourhoods.
This page explains the problems that have been experienced, what the Edinburgh Community Events Federation (ECEF) is doing in response, and how you can support the campaign for change.
The Problems We Have Faced
In 2026, Corstorphine Fair experienced significant difficulties during the licensing and occupation process. Despite submitting applications and detailed information well in advance, key decisions and documents arrived very late — in some cases less than 24 hours before the event opened.
Particular issues included:
Uncertainty and late granting of the Public Entertainment Licence
Problems with the Market Operator Licence, including a restrictive stall limit that did not reflect the information previously supplied, and confusion around the application of the Section 40 exemption (Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982) for charitable, community, youth and recreational activities
An amended Licence to Occupy for St Margaret’s Park that arrived too late for proper volunteer governance review or Committee approval
Additional payment requests and technical problems arising while volunteers were already on site setting up the event
These difficulties created high levels of stress for the volunteer committee in the final days before the Fair. Similar experiences have been reported by organisers of other community events across Edinburgh and beyond.
The concerns are not new. In 2024, representatives from a number of Edinburgh gala days met with councillors and licensing officials and were given assurances that improvements would be made. Two years later, many of the same problems remain — and in some respects have become more pronounced.
What We Are Doing
In response, the Corstorphine Fair Committee is working with organisers from across Edinburgh to establish the Edinburgh Community Events Federation (ECEF).
ECEF aims to:
Provide a collective voice for volunteer-led community events
Share knowledge and best practice between organisers
Engage constructively with the City of Edinburgh Council and other stakeholders
Push for clearer guidance, more consistent advice, earlier decision-making and processes that properly recognise the realities of volunteer-run events
We have also submitted a detailed post-event report to all City of Edinburgh councillors and are actively following up with elected members to seek leadership on these issues at a city-wide level.
Scottish Parliament Petition – PE2228
To raise these concerns at a national level, a petition has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament:
PE2228: Protect Scotland’s volunteer-run community fairs and gala days
What the petition calls for: Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the increasing licensing, regulatory and financial burdens placed on volunteer-run community fairs and gala days across Scotland.
The petition highlights the growing administrative and financial pressures facing volunteer organisers, the lack of proportionality for non-commercial community events, and the need for a clearer and more consistent approach across Scotland.
You can support the petition here: https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2228
Every signature helps demonstrate the strength of feeling on this issue.
How You Can Help
Sign the petition and share it with friends, family and other community groups
If you organise or support a community event, get in touch with ECEF so we can share experiences and strengthen the collective case for change
Contact your local councillors and MSPs to raise the importance of supporting volunteer-led community events
Contact
For more information about ECEF or to share your own experiences, please get in touch via the contact details on this website.
Edinburgh Community Events Federation (ECEF) Keeping the Traditions Alive