Our story What is The Yard? The Yard creates beautiful havens for play for disabled children, but even more than that, opportunities for fun, friendship and community building. Support and a sense of belonging. Somewhere to feel safe to take risks. A place of understanding without judgement. A vital lifeline for whole families. When we first heard of The Yard, we thought it would be too good to be true, but we keep finding new ways to have an adventure and to play. Immediately, we felt at ease, knowing that D was understood and accepted regardless of how he’s feeling that day. What do we do? The Yard is a Scottish charity supporting disabled children and young people aged 0-25 through adventure play. Since 1986, we have been offering creative and inclusive play experiences in a well-supported environment, alongside wraparound support for the whole family. Our flagship centre in Edinburgh was refurbished by BBC's DIY SOS The Big Build in 2012, followed by the opening of The Yard Dundee in 2015 and The Yard Fife in 2016. We are also looking into expanding into the West of Scotland. We offer a varied programme of drop-in, respite and transition youth clubs, early years, specialist sessions with schools, family play sessions, and inclusive play and disability training. At the heart of everything we do is child-led free play - take a look! What’s in it for you? If you’re a parent or carer, we’re here to provide care, support and opportunities for your child or young person. Everything we do is child-led so we won’t prescribe or dictate a plan. We understand that every day is different, so we work with your child’s passions and interests, do what they love and adapt to their world. But we’re also here to challenge and motivate, supporting children and young people to try new activities, building life skills and confidence in the process, not to mention that all-important sense of achievement. Our highly trained specialist team is here to inspire, guide and support your child, whether it’s den building, cycling or even cooking. And we’re also here for you. Make The Yard a step in your journey, even when it seems scary to go to a new place and you don’t know how any of your family will react. Know that when you arrive, you are understood, you are respected and you are safe. The Yard has given us somewhere that feels like home. You’ll meet mums, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents just like you. If you have other children, they’ll befriend other siblings, realising there are other families like yours. You’ll enjoy a cuppa and a chat, a chance to offload, access support and hopefully make your own lifelong friends in the process. At The Yard, we believe in bringing fun, friendship and adventure into your life, unlocking new opportunities and a brighter future. But don’t just take our word for it - take a look at our short film to experience The Yard through the eyes of those who matter - our children and families. Links to more info Have a look at our 2022 impact statement. View our Trustees' Report and Financial Statements 2022/23 Read The Yard Articles of Association. See The Yard's key policies. Read our latest report from the Care Inspectorate. View The Yard's duty of candour report for 2023-2024. The Yard adheres to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history. The Convention changed the way children are viewed and treated, ie as human beings with a distinct set of rights, instead of as passive objects of care and charity. The Yard supports Scotland's Play Charter. Manage Cookie Preferences