The Yard provides fun and inclusive play experiences for disabled children and young people. It runs in three locations: a flagship purpose built centre in Edinburgh, and weekend services in Dundee and Kirkcaldy.
Each location offers a safe and fully accessible environment for disabled children to play in, supporting and empowering them to make friends and increase their confidence and self-esteem.
The Yard welcomes children and young people with a wide variety of disabilities including Autism, Down’s Syndrome, learning difficulties and physical or sensory impairments. It offers family play sessions, teen youth clubs for disabled teenagers, social clubs, football clubs for disabled children and young people.
The charity also delivers training to organisations across the city on disability awareness and inclusive play, and creates a space for parents and carers to meet and build support networks. Parents can share their experiences of bringing up disabled children while siblings can play in a supported setting.
14 year old Josh has severe Autism and attends The Yard twice a week. His father, Grant, said:
“The Yard with its fantastic outdoor space [and] suitably trained play workers is the perfect environment for Josh to be himself, particularly when no one judges you and everyone is your friend. The Yard is one of a kind and has become an essential part of our weekly routine. I know when Josh is there he is happy and safe and this gives us some respite. The Yard forms an integral part of Josh’s necessary routine and I’m not sure how this could be replaced.”
Global’s Make Some Noise is proud to support The Yard’s Family Service Fund to continue delivering high standards of care and support across all three locations.