Campaign for lighting / safety · Forth

What “done” looks like

Route map, night photos, one-page ask sent, replies logged, works or written reason or clear escalation trail.

Effort: 4–10 hours over 2–6 weeks

Why this matters here

Forth · this ward only

After-dark routes in Forth matter for workers, students, parents and older residents. Use Crime only as context — do not invent path-level crime rates.

Before you start

Check community council minutes and any existing safety group before launching a parallel brand.
Never walk alone after dark — pairs only.
Tell someone your route.
Document environment only.
One route people actually use.
Single lamps → FixMyStreet; this guide is for route-level cases.
Never evidence-walk alone after dark.
Tell someone your route.
Do not confront people.

Letter for this ward

Prefills this ward. Fill the square brackets, then send. Councillor inboxes are not held — use WriteToThem.

Send to

Safer lighting campaign — Forth

Subject: Safer lighting campaign — Forth

Dear Councillors,

I am a resident of Forth ward (City of Edinburgh).

Residents on [ROUTE / STREET] want a proper look at lighting and sight-lines after dark. I attach [photos / a simple map].

Held public figures for this ward (Community Shield Scotland — official sources only):
• Police recorded 3,127 crimes in this ward in 2024–25 (675 more than 2023–24). Source: Police Scotland multi-member ward figures — management information, not official statistics.
• Children in low income: 12% — 679 children · before housing costs · FYE 2025. Source: DWP CiLIF.
• 24.7% of people here live in Scotland’s most deprived fifth of areas. Source: SIMD 2020v2, rolled from data zones to this ward.
• In the 2022 local election, Scottish National Party led on first preferences (31% of first preferences).
• Community assets held for this ward: 32 (6 schools · 4 GP · 3 pharmacy).

What I am asking:
1. Inspect the named route
2. Set out what can be done this financial year
3. A written reply within 14 days

These counts describe the ward. They do not say who committed a crime or who is to blame. I am not asking you to treat residents as offenders.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Street or area in this ward]
[Date]

Open blank email

Paste into WriteToThem — we do not hold personal inboxes.

Path from idea to done

Seven fixed phases — skip only when the guide says so

Pick one route
From A to B people actually walk.
~15 min
Listen first
2–3 neighbours: is this the worst stretch?
~30 min
Scan FixMyStreet
List open lighting reports.
~15 minFixMyStreet
Check community council
Offer to share pack rather than compete.
~15 min

Funding (if needed)

No-money first · local · national

No-money path

Most lighting campaigns need £0 from residents: evidence, letters, FixMyStreet, councillor pressure.

Local routes

City of Edinburgh — Community Grants Fund
small
Official council funding hub. Programmes open and close — check the live page for eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
Foundation Scotland — funds near you
small
Many local and thematic funds are searchable by postcode or council area. Check live eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland)
larger
Scotland programmes from micro to larger community grants. Always use the current official programme list.
Official page
Council in-kind support
micro
Bags and collection for clean-ups, room hire, inspections, or land permission. Often more useful than a small grant. Ask the service team in writing.
Search your council website — check the live page
Community council grants / endorsement
micro
Some community councils hold small pots or can endorse applications. Find yours on this ward’s Your representatives page and ask at a public meeting.
Search your council website — check the live page

National routes (Scotland)

Paths for All / active travel partners
small
Walking, paths and safer routes.
Official page
Small community grants (Lottery-style)
micro
Micro and small grants for local groups. Check live Lottery Scotland pages.
Official page
Foundation Scotland / local funds
small
Place-based funds — search by postcode or council area.
Official page
Keep Scotland Beautiful
micro
Clean-ups, litter and community environmental action.
Official page
SCVO / Volunteer Scotland
micro
Organising and volunteering infrastructure.
Official page

Amounts and deadlines change. Always use the official page. We never invent figures.

Downloads

Pre-filled with Forth and Edinburgh where useful

Full guide (idea → done)
00-lighting-full-guide.txt
Evidence checklist
01-lighting-full-evidence-checklist.txt
Night-walk photo log
02-night-walk-photo-log.csv
Councillor lighting letter
02-councillor-lighting-letter.txt
Petition header sheet
02-petition-header.txt
Funding tracker
06-lighting-full-funding-tracker.csv
Handover sheet
08-lighting-full-handover.txt

Official links

Deeper information

If you’re stuck · common mistakes

Stuck paths

Not a priority: ask criteria in writing.
Only one lamp fixed: re-send remaining map.
Fear of night walk: dusk pairs or daytime councillor visit.

Common mistakes

Vague safer with no map.
Social posts only.
Walking alone after dark.
Giving up after one email.

All actions Your representatives