Organisations we’ve supported

We have supported The Yard over many years. We have seen it grow from a small community adventure playground in Canonmills, Edinburgh to expanding its base there and creating new centres in Dundee and Kirkcaldy. In each of these venues they provide a space for disabled children to have fun, be creative and somewhere they can feel safe to try new things and take risks. Although each child faces their own unique challenges The Yard supports whole families who can learn from the specialist team there and, as importantly, from each other.

We were first approached by Super Power Agency in 2016 just after their founding. We were immediately impressed by their enthusiasm and vision for improving literacy among disadvantaged and under resourced young people. A lack of literacy skills can clearly hinder future education and employment prospects, and remains a significant problem in certain parts of the country. Super Power Agency, with their team of volunteers, works with schools to set up creative writing workshops, interdisciplinary programmes and mentoring. This takes the kids out of the usual learning environment, which is itself a stimulus, and provides them with an opportunity to have some fun, building their writing skills and expressing themselves with confidence. They are currently partnered with 21 schools in Scotland. Their aim in each programme is to showcase the outcomes produced by the young people who take part by publishing their work. They already have over 27 books in print. We were able to provide funding to enable their CEO to take up his post and get things moving.

The elderly in our communities face a multitude of challenges, some physical, some mental. Dementia in particular can create chaos and upset disrupting the lives not only of the individual but for their family and friends. Baillieston Community Care, based in the North East End of Glasgow provides 3 services, Care at Home, Dementia Short Break and Dementia Day Services. The short break service provides a range of support from respite care, a sitter service to allow carers a chance to have a few hours to themselves and befriending and companionship to tackle the loneliness that many suffer. The day service includes activities such as music therapy, art therapy, yoga, tai chi as well as the more traditional reminiscences, crossword and other puzzles, and excursions. These are all designed to ensure inclusiveness and bolster self-respect and improve the quality of life.

Attracting and judging grant applications from Canada adds an interesting task for our trustees. To assist us with that we have developed a partnership with the Charitable Foundation of the St Andrew’s Society of Toronto. With their help we have been able to reach a greater range of organisations tackling some of the issues that a hugely diversified country like Canada faces. These include familiar urban problems like employment, literacy, housing and substance abuse among the young and old. However, outside of these areas the vastness of the country creates other problems for the more remote communities. First Nation and immigrant people also have special cultural and heritage issues. St Andrew’s Society of Toronto are able to provide first hand guidance and support for our work in Canada.

Based in Toronto YES recognises the importance of employment as empowerment and the cornerstone of safe and healthy communities. They have innovative programmes that give disadvantaged and vulnerable young people the opportunity to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. And thereby change lives. Their youth employment programmes and job placement have a 90% success rate. As well as the more usual programmes for preparing for work they encourage entrepreneurial skills to start their own business, digital literacy and cloud computing, and special support for young people with mental health issues. We have been a supporter for many years.

Befriending Networks exists to support front line organisations by providing information, training, accreditation, networking events and guidance. These cover mental health awareness, people with dementia, management and leadership, safeguarding and bereavement. This creates an invaluable resource for those who are seeking to assist the vulnerable in society.

Les Petit Freres is based in Montreal, Quebec. Its mission is to counter isolation affecting older people. It aims to restore dignity and joy to elderly members of the community, who are all too often alone and forgotten. They provide long term pairing, home and hospital visits, outings, intergenerational activities and other programmes to bring the isolated into contact with others.

Based in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Teapot Trust aims to enhance the lives of children, young people and their families who are suffering the impact of chronic or long term conditions. They provide art therapy and other creative work to enable children to express their feelings, build resilience and develop positive coping strategies.

First Nation Canadians face many challenges, particularly those living in rural areas like Northern Ontario and Manitoba. Access to quality education is a vital component in tackling these challenges. However, all too often, teachers arrive in northern First Nations without the preparation and support they need to succeed and stay in the classroom. Teach for Canada aims to fill the gap by working with education leaders to recruit and develop teachers who have the motivations appetite and fit to be successful in this environment.