Your support can light up lives like Emily’s

Christmas traditions have changed for the O’Malleys, but Emily’s happiness shines through at The Yard.

This Christmas, we’re asking for your help to light up lives. By supporting The Yard, you can give a child like Emily a safe and joyful space to be themselves, surrounded by friends and fun.

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Light up a life

Emily O’Malley, 15, lives in Penicuik with her mum, dad, sister Abbie, and their dog, Ollie. Emily has ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, and her sister Abbie, who is 18, also has ADHD and autism.

Christmas in the O’Malley household has always been a special time, but it’s changed over the years as the family has learned more about the girls’ diagnoses. What was once a traditional Christmas now feels a bit more like a regular day, but it’s still special in its own way.

In the past, the family would insist on everyone sitting together for breakfast, opening presents, and enjoying a big Christmas dinner. Now, the approach is more relaxed. “We still come together to open presents and share at least one course of dinner, but after that, if the girls want to chill in their room, that’s fine,” says Emily’s mum. “We don’t insist they stay with everyone the way we used to. It’s about respecting their space and making sure they’re comfortable.”

This flexibility extends to their Christmas meal, too. “Last year, Abbie chose to have haggis, neeps, and tatties for her dinner, while the rest of us had turkey. If they eat, I’m happy—it doesn’t need to be a traditional meal,” adds Emily’s mum. While these changes don’t always sit well with visitors, the O’Malleys are focused on making sure the girls are happy and at ease.

Emily joined The Yard in 2023, and it has quickly become her happy place. “She’s just so different when she’s there,” her mum says. “She’s relaxed, comfortable, and herself without anyone judging her. She happily talks to the staff, something she doesn’t even do with her teachers at school.” Emily loves spending time outside at The Yard, even when it’s cold and dark.

Her mum shares a story of sneaking a peek through the fence and seeing Emily riding around on the bikes and trikes, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s such a joy to see her so happy. She’s not bothered by the cold; she’s just having fun—it warms my heart.”
The connections Emily has made at The Yard have been wonderful. She’s made friends there and even chats with them outside of sessions. “She’s planning to meet up with some of her friends during the play sessions over the holidays,” her mum says.

The staff at The Yard have been incredible in supporting Emily. “They’re all so amazing with her,” says her mum. “She talks about them to us after every session, which is huge because she doesn’t usually open up like that. She trusts them, and that means the world to us.”

Emily’s dad also got involved with The Yard’s fundraising efforts, taking part in our October Firewalk event. Emily was there supporting him and even joined him for his 50km walk/run challenge for his 50th birthday. “When we told people the walk was for The Yard, Emily had this cheeky grin. She was so proud,” says her mum.

Emily is really looking forward to the Youth Club party this year. She’s excited to spend time with her friends and be part of the special event. The O’Malley family knows that The Yard will provide the stability and support Emily needs during the holidays.
“Emily will have a familiar place to go, a safe space to spend time with friends, and the chance to just be herself,” her mum says. “We’re so grateful for everything The Yard does for her, and we can’t wait to see what the Youth Club party will be like!”

For the O’Malleys, The Yard isn’t just another service—it’s a life-changing place where Emily can feel like she truly belongs.

Help us support more children like Emily
Donate now and light up lives

Light up a life

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Edinburgh boxers raise nearly £3,000 for The Yard

A team of boxers from Lochend Boxing Club have raised nearly £3,000 for The Yard by completing the challenging Lairig Ghru hike.

Eleven boxers from Edinburgh’s Lochend Boxing Club have raised almost £3,000 for The Yard after completing the challenging Lairig Ghru hike, one of Scotland’s most iconic hill passes.

The team, aged between 26 and 60, took on the 19-mile trek through the Cairngorms, reaching an altitude of 835 metres in just over nine hours. This fundraising effort follows their successful Ben Nevis hike last year.

The challenge was led by Ciara O’Connor, a local mum whose son attends The Yard. Ciara shared, “Lochend Boxing Club is a supportive and welcoming place, and The Yard has been the same for our family. We wanted to give back, and the response from everyone has been incredible.”

Celine Sinclair, our CEO, added, “We’re so grateful to Ciara and the Lochend Boxing Club team for their amazing effort. Their support reflects the values we hold at The Yard – community, adventure, and inclusion. The funds raised will make a real difference to the families we support.”

The money raised will help us continue offering vital services to children with additional support needs and their families across Edinburgh, Dundee, and Kirkcaldy.

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Milo’s epic adventure

Milo set out on a 1,000-mile solo cycle across Northern Europe. He shares why to took on this mighty challenge for The Yard.

1000 Miles for The Yard

At The Yard, we see extraordinary determination and resilience in the young people and families we support every day. So when we learned that Milo Trainor Moss, the son of our much-loved receptionist Katrina, was setting out on a 1,000-mile solo cycle to raise funds for The Yard, we were truly amazed!

Milo, 28, is not just any cyclist. Milo, an Edinburgh primary school teacher, lives with a brain injury and epilepsy and is, in many ways, the embodiment of The Yard.

After a sudden cardiac arrest in 2020, Milo now has a cardiac implant device. Yet, despite his health challenges, he spent four weeks cycling across northern Europe, covering 500 miles from Gothenburg to Hamburg and then another 500 miles through Amsterdam and Newcastle. Milo’s father, Richard, joined him on the final leg back to Edinburgh, and they arrived at The Yard together on Friday, August 2nd.

Milo initially smashed his fundraising target of £1,000—£1 for each mile of his journey. Thanks to the generosity of his supporters, including a £500 contribution from his dad’s employer, NatWest, through their Community Cashback Scheme, he has now raised over £1,700!

Milo shared, “I’ve been acutely aware of The Yard’s impact for many years, but since becoming a primary school teacher, the difference the charity makes has come into sharper focus. I saw the summer holiday as the ideal opportunity to use my cycle challenge to help The Yard do more of what they do best: supporting young people with disabilities and additional needs and their families. There’s no doubt that I had to consider my limitations and plan the route around my health challenges. Still, it was otherwise just a case of getting on with it and powering on. Arriving back at The Yard and being reminded of how amazing a place it is made it all worthwhile.”

Katrina, Milo’s mum, who has been the friendly face at The Yard’s reception in Edinburgh for the past 10 years, couldn’t be prouder.

“To say we are proud of Milo is a huge understatement. He is one in a million in so many ways. Milo was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of eight and lives with a hypoxic brain injury, but he doesn’t let that hold him back. He’s always pushing himself to do more. This latest adventure has been brilliant not just for The Yard but for Milo, too—he’s so resilient, always moving forward.

His cycle challenge has been brilliant for The Yard but also wonderful for Milo – we are exceptionally proud!”
– Katrina Trainor.

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of The Yard, echoed this pride: “We are incredibly grateful that Milo chose to embark on this epic endeavour for The Yard. As well as raising a significant sum for our charity, which will allow the young people we support to enjoy their own adventures, his journey will inspire countless others. Even in the face of adversity, we can always strive for more and make a difference to others. Milo, we thank you and applaud you!”

Milo’s journey is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have. His 1,000 miles for The Yard will go a long way in supporting our mission and inspiring others to pursue their own challenges, no matter the obstacles they may face.

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Successful schools partnership in Dundee

St Mary’s RC Primary School, shares their experience of school sessions at The Yard Dundee.

St Mary’s RC Primary School, located in the Lochee area of Dundee, is committed to providing an environment conducive to the educational, social, emotional and spiritual development of all children. With around 300 pupils, the school supports its young people to develop the skills to be confident individuals, effective contributors, responsible citizens and successful learners. 

Mrs Alison Curran, Head Teacher, said, “The partnership between pupils, staff and parents is at the heart of the school community, and we are committed to working together to ensure that pupils gain the very best experience they can.” 

Like any school, the community is mixed, with a number of pupils with additional needs. 

Alison explained, “There’s a perception that ‘additional needs’ involves a condition or a diagnosis. However, additional needs can be a moment in time when the child might benefit from some additional support for whatever reason, for a brief period rather than throughout their school life. 

“Or it might be a health and wellbeing issue, which is one of our main focuses. If we don’t crack that, pupils struggle to partake in learning, so their health and wellbeing is super important and exploring their creativity, imagination and free play are integral to that.

“Although we are extremely passionate about meeting the needs of each and every child, we also recognise that we, as a school, also need that bit of extra support to enhance the curriculum and create further opportunities for our pupils. Schools are part of their wider community and don’t work in isolation, and that’s where community assets like The Yard come into play, complimenting what we’re already doing within the school day.” 

With The Yard Dundee already on her radar, Alison decided to contact Gill Thomson, Service Development Manager, during lockdown when the traditional school format changed and many pupils were learning from home. 

Alison said, “During lockdown, we saw the children through a new lens. As they were no longer one of 25 pupils in a physical class, we were able to see and better understand how complex some of their needs were. We were keen to find something that complimented what we were already doing and the fact that we could visit The Yard was just brilliant. Their parents were delighted too.” 

With The Yard resuming bespoke school visits from August 2021, ten children from the school (primary three and upwards) started attending The Yard for a ten-week block, split into weekly, two-hour visits. 

Supported by the school’s Learning Care Assistant and School & Family Development Worker, the sessions provide the children with a range of interactive play experiences in a non-judgemental play setting, improving their motor skills, confidence and communication. 

After identifying the children’s needs, activities vary week by week with pupils enjoying messy play involving everything from sand, slime and water to foam and feathers, as well activities with building blocks, puzzles and other games. 

Gill Thomson added, “By working with small groups, we’re offering a service that mainstream schools simply cannot provide in the classroom. We can do whatever suits the school, whether providing activities within the school, the pupils spending time at The Yard, or a combination of the two. We can also tailor our activities to what the rest of the class is doing, adapted to those who struggle a little.

St Mary’s RC Primary School is also gaining some brilliant ideas and strategies from The Yard team, which they can take back and replicate within the school, including a ‘soft start’ and ‘soft end’ for pupils who struggle with the confines of a conventional school day. 

Having enjoyed a block of ten sessions, St Mary’s RC Primary School has now booked a second block at The Yard, including sessions shared with another local primary, Our Lady’s. St Mary’s has also enjoyed a number of sessions within the school itself where The Yard bring their staff and resources into the school. 

As a result of the collaboration with the schools, a number of parents are also now taking their children to The Yard at weekends, creating wider benefits for siblings and other family members. 

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Making Memories at The Yard

The Gladstone family share 3 year old Miles’ first successful Christmas party at The Yard.

Meet Miles

Christmas – an opportunity to relax with family and friends, a time for welcoming visitors and visiting loved ones. But for families with a child or children with additional needs, Christmas can be a time for further stress.

What makes Christmas joyous for some can create apprehension and angst for others, especially parents whose children might be misunderstood and whose needs might not be considered.

For Vicky and Martin Gladstone, who live in Edinburgh with their three-and-a-half-year-old son Miles, many typical Christmas kids’ activities are out of bounds.

Miles is currently undergoing assessment for ASD / ADHD and attending Speech and Language Therapy.  Easily overwhelmed in busy, noisy places and with limited speech, the family have often struggled to find somewhere suitable for Miles to play. And when it came to Christmas, parties and Santa’s grottoes were simply out of the question.

Miles with his mum and dad, Vicky and Martin: image supplied by the Gladstone family.

Vicky explained, “For us, parties and playdates were sometimes more trouble than they were worth. As a result, Miles has missed out on a few and been excluded from others. Some parents maybe viewed him as too disruptive or unpredictable. Miles struggles with too much noise, crowds and loud music so festive markets, Santa’s grottoes and Christmas parties generally never work and can actually be pretty intimidating for Miles.

“He’s also a selective eater and finds it hard to queue and wait his turn. He can also be more physical than other children. Generally, other children don’t seem to mind but the reaction of other parents can be really hard. Some of them also hold grudges – it’s tough to be on the receiving end, so we’ve often just avoided certain events.”

However, after Miles’ first successful Christmas party at The Yard last year, the family are gearing up for this year’s celebration!  

With The Yard supporting children from birth to the age of 25, Miles and his parents are at the very start of their journey with endless opportunities ahead, many friends to make and activities to enjoy.

Summing up, Vicky said, “We’re so pleased and relieved that we’ve found The Yard and that really hits home at Christmas time we can enjoy the things we might have missed out on. Since discovering The Yard in 2021, we’ve found a place where Miles can be himself and relax. That’s just the best feeling for him and for us – coming to The Yard is the highlight of Miles’ week.”

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The Right to Play

Flora Stevenson Primary School share their experience of our play sessions in Edinburgh.

Hundreds of Edinburgh school children, who struggle to play in mainstream settings, are enjoying inclusive play sessions within the safe haven of The Yard.

One of the schools to benefit is Flora Stevenson Primary School, based in the Comely Bank area of the city. The school transports five pupils to The Yard Edinburgh weekly for a two-hour session.  

Toni Carter, Support for Learning Teacher, said, “As a Support for Learning Teacher, I’m driven to ensure that support is in place for every child to maximise their mental and emotional well-being. While making enquiries about local resources, we heard about The Yard and the valuable role it could play.

“The Yard is a place where children can feel nurtured and understood. The environment creates opportunities to build positive relationships, take risks, and have fun – without judgement. The children we bring experience barriers to their learning and look forward to their visit all week. They feel safe and relaxed from the moment they arrive, and through creative free play, can test their own limits without fear.

“Not all school environments are set up for adventure and exploratory play, yet that’s the key to supporting these children. The staff are also amazing, they’re highly skilled and trained, and we, as  teachers, learn a lot from them, including techniques and strategies to take back to the classroom. As for the children, you wouldn’t believe the difference one visit per week makes. It impacts their behaviour and readiness to learn as they’ve had that break that they really need, and a chance to just be themselves.”

So what do the children enjoy when they visit The Yard? Everything is child-led with a fantastic outdoor space, complemented by a range of indoor facilities, toys and chill-out zones.

Toni explained, “There’s something for every child, a brilliant range of arts and crafts, messy play, a sensory room, music activities and soft play, but also a fantastic range of outdoor options from bikes and rollerblades to den-making, basketball and climbing trees. Everything is child-led and child-focused, but with this amazing scaffolding of support around them. It’s an environment that combines care, patience and empathy with adventurous play, risk-taking and trying out new things. But most of all, they’re understood when they’re there. They can be themselves.”

Celine Sinclair, CEO of The Yard, added, “By working with small groups, we’re offering a service that mainstream schools simply cannot provide in the classroom. Although most of our activities are child-led, we can also tailor our activities to what the rest of the class is doing, but adapted to those who struggle a little. These small steps can be quite life-changing, with children realising they CAN do something, enjoy it and learn from it.

“It’s also wonderful to see some of the children who attend from school return with their mums, dads, siblings and grandparents during our weekend family sessions, benefitting from that wraparound wider family support. The fact we don’t demand paperwork or a diagnosis is also key – if your child would benefit from being here, we’re there for you. In most cases, the wider family needs support too, and really benefits from the environment and the connections they make with our staff and other families. For many families, we become a vital lifeline.”

To book your school’s visit to The Yard, please contact us at 0131 476 4506 or [email protected].

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