The Yard

The Yard is a Scottish charity supporting disabled children, young people and their families Our role in the lives of children and families is an ambitious one.

Visiting The Yard is a unique and dynamic adventure experienced every year by around 2000 disabled children and young people annually. Our doors open daily throughout the year to schools, families, disabled children and young people, their siblings and friends. We aim to provide care, support, fun and friendship in equal measure, whilst encouraging families to let go and promote challenge, persona

l growth and supported independence for their children. Our services for families have grown over the 30 years since The Yard’s inception in 1986. Parents and social workers came together and recognised the need for a safe space for their disabled children to play. Three decades on, our flagship centre is thriving and we have begun to expand our services to other locations. The Yard of the 80s was established as a play space that would become a family and community centre to support children, siblings, parents and carers. In spite of its growth, The Yard has retained this holistic approach, and its ethos of a child centred, child led play service. We offer a daily diet of play sessions for special schools as an integral part of their curriculum and weekly our soft play is taken over by pre-school children and chattering parents. Our family sessions couple respite with peer support for mums, dads and siblings alike. Our youth groups and young adults clubs run throughout the year and are the starting point for friendships that extend outwith The Yard. They give disabled young people the chance to socialise and try out new things with support from the play team but independent from parents and carers. We aim to share our knowledge and skills with other professionals through our national training programme. In-house we offer a weekly programme of disability training on autism awareness, challenging behaviour, Signalong and inclusive play. In the delivery of all our services, we think creatively and carefully, and use materials and junk that others would cast aside. This recycling and upcycling sits well alongside the natural curiosity of children and the creative nature of our staff. It results in a flexible play experience that is child centred and stimulating for all abilities. Our team stand back and reflect as much as they step in to encourage and facilitate inclusive play. Only then can children and young people discover the next level for themselves. Each and every session is reflected on and recorded, and this consistent practice has allowed The Yard to build a library of experience that we willingly share with other organisations. Our greatest accolade is a sea of smiling faces across the playground, and children and young people sharing space, time and playful laughter together. Our service is inspected with rigour by the Care Inspectorate and their latest review described our strengths as a family service. Our vision for the future extends beyond our humble beginnings and we are working with other organisations in other areas of Scotland to share our experience and open similar centres nationwide. We are now running weekly adventure play services for disabled children and young people in Dundee and Kirkcaldy, Fife. We aim to grow these services by working with local families and communities to create The Yard that they need and want to support them.

03/06/2026

“Being part of the board is both a privilege and a pleasure. I volunteer for The Yard because my son Finlay has truly flourished here—he’s made lifelong friends, learned to ride a bike, and kicked dozens of footballs onto the roof! It’s a wonderful community to be part of, and the whole family has benefited“

Our Trustee Kim has been visiting The Yard for ten years with her son Finlay. She brings 15 years of experience in journalism and business to our Board.

“The work The Yard does to champion better outcomes for children with disabilities across Scotland is absolutely vital. I know we have a model that works, and I’m always thrilled to show it off to government representatives, academics, and potential donors”

Thank you to all of our trustees for the expertise and commitment they bring to governing The Yard 🌟

01/06/2026

This week is Volunteer Celebration Week 💛

Janet, The Yard's Office and Facilities Manager, is starting off our celebrations by sharing a message for all of our incredible Maintenance Volunteers!

01/06/2026

Our members survey is live! We’d love to hear your thoughts, tell us what’s working well and what you’d love to see more of.

💛 Share your thoughts
🎁 Be in with a chance to win a £50 supermarket voucher
📆 Closes at 9am on 16th June

Check your email for the link in our latest newsletter, scan the QR code on posters in the centres, or ask a member of staff for a paper copy.

27/05/2026

Could you take on the ultimate summer challenge for The Yard?

Join us on 14 August for the Strathclyde Zipslide and experience an unforgettable adrenaline rush - all while helping create safe, inclusive play spaces for disabled children and young people across Scotland 💛

📍 14 August
🎟️ Limited places remaining
💥 Sign up now: https://theyardscotland.org.uk/fundraising-events/strathclyde-zipslide/

Who’s brave enough? 👀

26/05/2026

🌟We are hiring 🌟

Role: Head of Communications

Location: Edinburgh

We are seeking a Head of Communications to lead our communications, public affairs and profile work to make the organisation the unmistakable voice on place-based, whole-family support.

👉Apply now:

Head of Communications Exciting opportunity for a Head of Communications. Bring your skills in public affairs and team leadership to our organisation.

25/05/2026

What an amazing weekend🌟

A huge thank you to all of our incredible Edinburgh Marathon Festival runners!

Thank you for striding towards inclusive play and family support💛

21/05/2026

Our work wouldn’t be possible without our amazing funders and today we shine the spotlight on Community Fund Awards for All, who support our families service in Fife!

With a recent grant of £20,000, support from Awards for All has allowed us to keep providing life-changing adventures to disabled children and their families from all over Fife, such as Callie (below) and her family.

“It’s become our sanctuary – being able to sit down with a coffee knowing Callie’s safe, supported by trained staff, is incredible,” her mum told us, “The Yard has given us our village.”

Thank you, National Lottery Community Fund 💛

19/05/2026

26.2 miles and £4,150 raised 🎉

Thank you, Nicola, for running the London Marathon 2026 in support of The Yard. Your amazing effort will make a real difference to the children and young people we support and we couldn't be more grateful 💛

19/05/2026

Service update: Changes to Family Sessions

Starting on Sunday 7th June, there will be three sessions every Sunday

🕜 10:00am – 11:30am (Quiet session)

🕜 12:00pm – 1:30pm (Main session)

🕜 2:00pm – 3:30pm (Main session))

16/05/2026

"Over the years, my younger cousin Luke, now 16, has created so many wonderful memories at The Yard, supported by the incredible staff and the outstanding resources they provide. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to run on behalf of The Yard"

This year, Lauren is running her third Edinburgh Marathon in support of The Yard, an incredible commitment.

Well done to all our amazing EMF runners for their dedication, training, and fundraising efforts💪 Can’t wait to cheer you all on!

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Location

Edinburgh

Telephone

+441314764506

Website

http://www.theyardscotland.org.uk/

Address

22 Eyre Place Lane
Edinburgh
EH35EH