Adventures at The Yard

Adventures
at The Yard
Annual Report 2020

A word from Celine
The Yard is essentially a simple
business that has at its heart the
wellbeing of children and young people
with additional support needs. We are
driven by a singular aim of building
strong communities of peer and
family support that help weather daily
challenges and the unexpected storms.
Our adventure play spaces in
Edinburgh, Fife and Dundee offer high
quality services in a culture of inclusion
that support the whole family, and
are an effective economic model of
family support and early intervention
that keeps the child and family at the
centre. The soul of The Yard is not the
space itself but rather the people within
it. Staff, volunteers, children, young
people and their families are all part of
the footprint of our success, and make
up the DNA of our warm, positive,
supportive, can-do community.
Our focus on people and culture is
the cornerstone of our success. It has
led us to build a learning organisation
that is agile, responsive, dynamic,
and able to cope with change. These
qualities have helped us grow and
adapt our services, and find solutions
to new challenges when faced with the
unprecedented situation of COVID-19.
Our team on the frontline have worked
throughout the pandemic, and on
a daily basis have demonstrated
unfettered commitment, innovative
practice and an adherence to service
excellence in the face of ever-changing
challenges. Our new service model,
designed to retain support for children
and families, clearly demonstrated
The Yard’s ability to respond, and a
willingness to embrace change and
develop new ways of working. We are
using technology that will ultimately
extend our reach and greater enhance
the lives of children and families facing
immense challenges, be it through
disability, social isolation or mental
health difficulties.
Every day we learn from and with our
children and families, allowing us to
sensitively adapt how we respond to
their changing ambitions and needs. I
could not be more proud of The Yard’s
people. Our team approach remains
firmly rooted in a can-do culture that is
giving and born from true kindness and
understanding, which delivers a warmth
and depth of care that celebrates the
strength and diversity of each and
every child and family.
Celine Sinclair, CEO

I love
The Yard
“ I love The Yard because the smile it puts on
my son’s face is priceless. It’s helped him
grow as a person, become more open to
allowing others into his space, and makes
him feel safe and accepted. The staff and
volunteers are amazing with all the children.”

Who we are
The Yard is not simply a space where
children and families come to play. It is
a community that holistically supports
people of all abilities through early years
and family play sessions, school visits,
youth work, training, information and
advice. Much of what we achieve is
through peer support. Our success for
families lies not in what we do but rather
how we do it.
Every member of our team comes to
work every day with a commitment
and energy to make that day better for
children and families. Our teams work
directly with over 2,200 children and
young people in Edinburgh, Dundee
and Fife annually, and our recently
developed digital services reach even
further. The admirable energy across
the team permeates every single aspect
of the organisation, translating into
unparalleled service excellence.
We achieve service excellence through
an approach developed over years by
highly skilled, reflective and experienced
practitioners and professionals, who
have collectively developed a culture
that celebrates the individual child and
family. Play is the setting and vehicle but
our successful model has the building of
a community at its heart.
The Yard has been involved as an
influencer and guide on what works well
for children and families for many years,
locally and nationally, and we are well
placed to advise. Our children’s stories
speak for themselves. Our parents are
proud advocates of our model, which
has positively impacted thousands of
children and families. For many, it has
transformed life for the better. Over
the last decade, we have experienced
significant growth in terms of reach and
influence. Our work is underpinned by
the experiences of children and families,
many of whom face real adversity
and challenge in everyday life. Our
pioneering approach of holistic family
support encompasses many areas of
nationally recognised good practice.
Our vehicle for engagement is indoor
and outdoor free play. It gives children
– who are often excluded from play
settings – the chance to explore,
experiment, engage and learn at their
own pace with support. It gives them the
chance to take risks, make judgements
and decisions, and build relationships
with people around them. Our settings
facilitate friendships for children and
young people who are otherwise often
isolated and at risk of exclusion from
other services.
We serve as a one-stop-shop for family
support. Families share experiences
and information, and feel able and

empowered to help others. Our centres
become a mainstay in family life, offering
a sense of belonging for children and
parents. We facilitate the building of lifelong
friendships that breed confidence,
self-belief and family resilience. We
have learned that sharing experience
of adversity in a warm and welcoming
space, with kind and understanding play
staff, is a simple formula for success.
Our community is witness to the positive
outcomes of our model, which we can
clearly evaluate. The model reduces
social isolation, improves the mental
health of children and parents, creates
peer support networks and a sense of
belonging, allows children to experience
the outdoors and build resilience and
strength, both physical and mental,
through playing together and alone,
and increases confidence, self-esteem,
wellbeing and happiness.
Over the past ten years, The Yard has
pioneered this approach with astounding
results. None of it is rocket science but it
is a highly complex, people-based service
that has taken many years of reflection
and skilled development to get right.
Our model of sustainable family
support is economically viable and
delivers service excellence at low
cost. The Yard’s overall social return
on investment is valued at over £30
for every £1 spent. This means, in
2019, the social value of the benefits
achieved by our services was £30.20
per £1 spent. The cornerstone of our
success rests with the people we have
the opportunity to work with, the culture
we have collectively developed and
the flexibility of service we offer. We
are responsive and able to embrace
change, be it change in family ambition,
the needs of local authorities or other
partners, or the changing policy context
in which we operate. This has been a
year of great change for all of us.
We look forward to sharing some of our
learning here, and we welcome interest
in partnerships and ways of working
that will help extend our reach for
families in Scotland.
“ We know, when we walk through the door
into The Yard, we can relax. It’s our safe place
where we know our son is safe and content. It
has been amazing to meet parents in exactly
the same situations, as life can feel isolating.
It’s a couple of hours of respite each week and
we feel lucky to have discovered The Yard.”

What our families say
Bella’s story
“ We live in Dundee with our five-yearold
triplets, Bella, Ollie and Olivia. The
babies were born prematurely at 31
weeks in November 2015. Ollie and
Olivia came home after five weeks, but
it was almost four months later when
Bella, born at just 1lb 3oz, left hospital.
Despite the relief of having her home,
Bella joined the family on oxygen, and
with medical and feeding needs.
Besides the joy of motherhood, life
was hectic and unpredictable. We
were largely housebound for the first
year of the triplets’ lives, due to the
health and mobility challenges of
having three babies.
Bella was diagnosed with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in March
2019 and has had medical challenges
from birth. When we came to The Yard
last year, we soon realised it was a truly
safe place, where the children could
relax and have fun. We were very much
guided by the children. If they were
happy, we were! We could let Bella
run and explore, and actually turn our
backs on her – something we can’t do
anywhere else.

We also get to spend dedicated time
with Ollie and Olivia, sometimes oneto-one
or all of us together. The Yard
gives us a breather, and sometimes,
just one of us takes the children so
the other can do her own thing. All
three of the children just have a ball
there, from playing with the dinosaurs,
farm animals, arts and crafts and
dolls’ house, through to all of the
outdoor activities like the mud kitchen,
gingerbread house, sand and water
play. No weekend is ever the same,
whether it’s themes or just new sensory
activities coming into play, which also
gives us ideas to try at home.
It’s not just about play. With support
from The Yard, our children are learning
about diversity, empathy, patience and
understanding – as we are too, in fact.
Diversity is the norm at The Yard. Ollie
and Olivia are mixing and making real
friendships with children with special
needs, which helps them understand
their sister better. We just want to
shout about The Yard from the rooftops
and let other families see the value it
can bring to their lives.”

Growth and keys to success
Behind the smiles and the laughter we
witness in our all our sessions, there is
an ambitious, well-resourced strategy
that has achieved significant growth
year on year. Our income growth of
16% over the past year has required
significant forward planning and a
commitment to core business, so as
not to become derailed and lose sight
of our sole aim: improving children’s
lives. There have been and continue to
be challenges in our ambition, but it has
been well scrutinised and supported by
a strong Board of Directors, who bring
a wealth of business experience that
complements our team’s understanding
of family services.
We advertise recruitment to our Board
publicly and our targeted approach
ensures that we have the professional
skills around the table needed to run
a successful charitable business. Our
Directors have guided our ambitious
growth plan, income diversification
and strategic planning across the
organisation. Our fundraising strategy
has ensured we have balanced income
sources through grants, corporate
and community fundraising, and trusts
and foundations. We have developed
a membership system that increases
engagement, and built a social enterprise
income stream through delivering public
play sessions as well as training. During
COVID-19, we have developed a digital
training platform, launching in 2021,
which will allow us to increase income
and geographic reach.
Much of our work over the past year
has been in laying the foundations for
the next two years. In Dundee, we have
secured land to build a new centre and
raised £500k in support of a new build,
which we hope to realise with partners
over the next two years. In Glasgow,
we are awaiting a response to our
Community Asset Transfer application
for Linn Park Adventure Playground so
we could support families in the West
of Scotland.
The pace of our growth has required a
significant increase in income and broad
diversification of funding sources. Both
have presented challenges, and we
continue to be mindful of the potential
overstretch of teams across the services.
These challenges are compounded by
the need to run a tight ship that ensures
the safety of our services whilst creating
a home from home atmosphere.
It is a delicate balancing act, but one that
we are well placed to deliver effectively.

“He loves seeing the staff and being in what
we like to think of as a second home. It is also
giving myself something to look forward to...
You’d be surprised how a bit of conversation
with familiar adults who understand and know
him can help make my day a little better too.”

Parker’s story
Parker is five years old and continued to
visit The Yard during lockdown as part
of our service with the City of Edinburgh
Council, delivered under emergency
measures. Parker’s mum, Natalie, says:
“ Firstly, it’s been a godsend. I think you
have made 100% the correct decision
in fewer children at a time. It is an ideal
number to keep social distancing whilst
still allowing the kids to play safely, but
not suffocating their space in case they
break social distancing rules.
It makes it easier to space children
widely and for your team to focus on
the specific areas each child spends
most time.
Parker has unsurprisingly struggled with
the current situation. A safe visit to The
Yard has given him a positive sense
of routine and structure to focus on,
during a very unstructured time with zero
routine. It may only be two hours, but
those two hours set him for a much more
positive day and night.

What our families say
He is so happy to see The Yard on his now
and next board, and he is much happier
and less anxious after our visit. It makes
such a dramatic difference to easing his
anxiety, as he usually visits The Yard a
minimum of twice a week. To suddenly
have all these predictable routines erased
is terribly confusing for him.
I was nervous about some areas being
closed but Parker adapted very well; I
am shocked but also relieved because I
know you are all ensuring you are making
The Yard as safe as possible. As much
as this time is horrific, none of us wants
to become sick, or worse, our children.
Overall, as always your efforts to open
these sessions just now are appreciated
and the precautions you all take don’t
go unnoticed.
I look forward to our next session for
Parker, but I mostly look forward to the
time we can have our busy clubs and
cups of tea back in action, and everyone
is safe to play together!”

Play
Ronnie has been an important part of
our play team at The Yard Edinburgh
for ten years. Here he reflects on what
play really means and all the benefits it
can bring.
“ When I am asked, ‘What is play?’ I
would say that it is really being part of
any activity, be it physical, imaginative
or creative, with yourself or someone
else, either indoors or outdoors, that
gives you good feelings, a sense of
fun and excitement that results in a
good experience.

During the pandemic, children’s play
time has changed; they have had
little opportunity for play dates or
playgrounds but there are still many
things families can do. Where possible,
it is beneficial to find safe outdoor space
in nature like a woodland, beach or
along a river, to give children the chance
to explore and experience adventure.
Loose parts play is also fantastic – just
allowing children space indoors to
explore different materials and fabrics,
ropes, cardboard tubes, binding
materials, tarps, covers and sheets.
Scissors can be helpful if possible. Also
cut-outs and print-offs, so it’s a variety of
pieces of equipment to engage the mind
and creativity. Physical or/and mental
satisfaction is the outcome.
Children benefit from a playful
relationship with their parents as
well as their peers and we greatly
encourage parent/carer participation
at The Yard. There are so many welldocumented
benefits of play and
different types of play. Children learn to
take risks, and explore their capabilities
and limits through trial and error, which
can help build experience, knowledge
and confidence.
It is also a way of processing feelings
and getting things out of your
system, which can result in a positive
mood change. It can also help build
communication skills when navigating
sharing and taking turns, leading conflict
resolution, sharing your own thoughts
and ideas, as well as listening to other
children, thus helping build and maintain
relationships with friends and peers.
Equally, play helps build physical
strength – being active is good for
mental well-being, and even getting
fresh air and sunshine, being in touch
with the elements, helps build resilience.
There have been so many touching
moments during the weeks supporting
children and families since COVID-19. I
loved hearing one of our children when
they arrived saying, ‘I love The Yard, it
smells like victory in here!’”

What our families say
Sophie’s story
Sophie is a cheerful and inquisitive
five-year-old who attends The Yard’s
early years service and family sessions
with her mum Maxine, dad Gavin and
older brother Ben. Sophie has Downs
Syndrome and initially came to The
Yard to attend our early years sessions
when she was two. Maxine says:
“ We love The Yard. It’s one of our most
favourite places in the world to be.
We attend almost every Thursday and
go to family sessions whenever we
can. It is a brilliant service to have and
during the summer we would come
here for the whole day! The freedom of
being able to come to a service that’s
accessible and safe for Sophie with
the added opportunity of allowing Ben
to come to is brilliant. Ben loves it; he
is able to roam around with his sister
in an environment where no one is
different. He doesn’t even notice the
various disabilities around him, or that
Sophie has a disability, which I know is
going to be great for his understanding
in the future.
Sophie, like her brother Ben, loves The
Yard. She loves the variety, the freedom,
the vibrancy and the interaction she is
able to have with others. In particular,
she likes to go and explore the outside
play space.

22 Eyre Place Lane
Ronnie McQueen, play team member
Outside The Yard, we have to put
so many sanctions on Sophie. She’s
unpredictable and doesn’t have the
same safety awareness other children
have, so we find ourselves constantly
saying no. It’s not like that at The Yard.
As a mum, I have picked up little
techniques at The Yard including some
signing. I have also had a mindset
change. Being in an environment where
you see all ages of children with Downs
Syndrome relieves a bag of worry that
you carry around with you. You stop
worrying about everything; instead you
are reassured, because at the heart of
your parental worry you are constantly
thinking about what she won’t be able
to do, but at The Yard you see the reality
and it’s all positive.
Everything Sophie does at The Yard
is reinforcing her communication
ability and she loves to join in with the
sensory activities. The play staff are all
so knowledgeable and I have picked
up so much on just general disability
awareness. There is nowhere else like
this in the city, it’s so unique, and just the
best place to be.”
At the end of a brick cobbled lane
Something unique lies in wait
The Yard is an adventurous terrain
While being a mini safe state
A glimpse of what’s to come
As you go through its doors
Nothing in vain, no humdrum
With your feet now on the play floors
Let’s go on an exciting journey
Take some risks like the swimming trout
You’re in good company
Both indoors and out
Then come and find your creative edge
With nature and colour
Which will inspire things not said
Who knows what you’ll discover
We’ve all been in a Yard
In some shape or form
This family has its own identity card
That will hold you through any storm
It truly is a saving grace
Don’t dare walk past the sign
Just look at the smile on the kid's face
You’ll never forget this time.

Our culture
Culture is undoubtedly one of the most
complex phenomena any of us dare to
consider; how to successfully build it?
What should it look and feel like? What
purpose does it serve and how, in the
face of major multi-site growth, do you
sustain it?
A shared culture is built on a sense
of purpose that is clearly understood,
and to which each and every person
in the team, no matter their role, can
feel connected.
At the heart of our culture lie our values
— kindness, inspiring, understanding,
adventure and community. We have
learned that culture only has meaning
if we genuinely live and breathe it on a
daily basis.
Our team across the organisation, be
it front of house, play work, facilities,
administration or our fundraising
team, all play an equal part in the end
experience of our families. All share one
base premise - they genuinely care.
They care about the individual child and
the individual family. In addition, they
start with the assumption that what a
child or family needs, can be achieved
and thus a confidence to realise
whatever they are aiming for.
One of our key strengths is our ability to
build strong teams and the confidence
to let them flourish. People are our
key resource so recruiting the right
staff who are an organisational fit, with
values aligned with our own, is essential
to our success.
Our staff are expected to initiate and
be responsible, creative, imaginative,
playful, energetic and enthusiastic.
Our everyday practice is geared to
giving them the required degree of
empowerment and trust to let them be
their best for families. The result is a
high level of employee loyalty and, more
importantly, engagement. Our children
and young people, many of whom have
very complex needs, get to experience
an unparalleled degree of freedom
and autonomy at The Yard. Similarly,
our staff experience autonomy and
empowerment atypical of work settings
with children and young people.

“ The Yard is not just different, it is unique. It
provides a sanctuary for families who would
otherwise have nowhere to go. The staff are
amazing – so understanding and so well
trained to deal with every eventuality. The
Yard is somewhere where parents like me
can finally relax.”
Our staff are very hands-on with our
children and families, and highly attuned
to their needs and reactions. This is
emotional intelligence in practice,
and whilst we often talk about the
importance of this, our staff team must
live this practice every day to ensure
the best possible experience for the
children, and to pick up when someone
may be in distress or on a negative path.
This connection and empathy allows for
instantaneous feedback on individual
actions - individuals get feedback and
recognition on a daily basis, and most of
the time this is positive reinforcement of
an already great performance.
We feel fortunate to run an operation
that allows us to be this connected and
engaged with our families, and as a result,
our team know they are valued both
externally and internally – and they get to
see this from the children every day.
Our daily practice is one of reflection
and thus learning. This de-brief
throughout the day is a drive to
excellence. Not only does this assist in
creating mutually supportive and highly
effective teams, it is a real-time dynamic
tool for pushing boundaries and learning
to be better. This develops a sense of
being the best and helps create a highenergy
culture and drive from within, as
opposed one that needs to be directed
from above.
Our culture encourages people to take
responsibility and ownership of the
organisation. This can-do attitude is
present across all our teams, whether
on the floor with families, fundraising to
make our services possible or driving
our capital appeal to build new premises
in Dundee. The starting point across the
whole team is always ‘It is possible’ –
we simply work together to find the best
route. It is uplifting to see what we, as
a team of ordinary people, can achieve.
When we form a team and a community,
we can all become extraordinary.

A letter from our Chair
In March of 2020, I was very worried
about the future of The Yard. Of course,
there were worries about finance with
the suspension of our social enterprise
activities such as Sunday Funday and
fundraising events like our Big Fun Raiser
ball and the Kiltwalk, and I had immediate
concerns about the health and welfare of
our staff. But my overwhelming concern
was about our families and our children.
How on Earth could we deliver fun
and friendship, how could we continue
to defeat the social isolation many of
them have felt in their lives in a world of
lockdown, of social distancing and of a
pandemic, the effects of which would
always fall most severely on the most
vulnerable in society?
But I had reckoned without the
resourcefulness, the determination and
the courage of The Yard team, without a
culture built on shared values of making
a difference to the lives of others, and
without a reputation
for extraordinary
service, built over
many years.
That team, that culture and that
reputation meant that, within days of the
start of lockdown, major donors were
acting to support us, local authorities
were approaching us with requests for
help, and the team had figured out how
to deliver services in new ways. By the
beginning of April, we were running
a small service in Edinburgh for the
most vulnerable children in the city and
producing digital services for our wider
audience. Since then, we have grown
these services and others.
And the story continues to evolve as we
learn and adapt.
Like many others this year, we have been
tested and not found wanting. I can only
thank our supporters, our donors and
the local authorities who have shown
their confidence in us, my fellow Board
members who have supported the team’s
efforts in countless ways, The Yard team
who make this possible every day, and
our community of families who bring
meaning to our efforts.
Ian Vann, Chair

Summary Accounts 2019/20
2019 2020
Income £ £
Unrestricted donations 137,522 214,810
Restricted donations 100,291 126,289
Unrestricted charitable activities 125,423 380,449
Restricted charitable activities 1,054,177 1,267,010
Unrestricted fundraising and
interest
Restricted fundraising and
interest
54,334 147,121
2,691 11,030
TOTAL INCOME 1,474,438 2,146,709
Expenditure
Raising funds 7,270 33,926
Charitable activities 1,532,936 2,040,759
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,540,206 2,074,685
Surplus before depreciation and
acturial gain/(loss)
(65,768) 72,024
Depreciation (36,021) (41,376)
Acturial gains/(losses) on
defined benefit pension scheme
27,303 1,239
Total surplus/loss (74,486) 31,887
Summary balance sheet
Fixed assets 193,091 161,481
Current assets 596,027 708,502
Current liabilities (217,268) (272,680)
Creditors: amounts falling due
after one year
571,850 597,303
(42,000) (35,566)
Total net assets 529,850 561,737
Summary funds
Restricted funds 306,572 111,813
General unrestricted funds 105,413 345,132
Capital unrestricted funds 166,012 146,737
Pension unrestricted funds (48,147) (41,945)
Net funds 529,850 561,737

Adventures
at
The Yard
Edinburgh Dundee Fife
22 Eyre Place Lane, Edinburgh EH3 5EH
0131 476 4506 info@theyardscotland.org.uk theyardscotland.org.uk
@TheYardScotland
Scotland Yard Adventure Centre (known as The Yard) is a registered Scottish Charity SC002538
and Private Limited Company registered in Scotland 101671.
Illustrated by Serena Maguire, age 11