A new play and support centre for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs has opened in Glasgow.

Run by the charity The Yard, which already has centres in Edinburgh and Fife, the new facility offers secure indoor and outdoor play spaces alongside a dedicated place for parents and carers to receive support.

The refurbishment of the centre, led by CCG, provides children with a new sensory room, play hall, and outdoor space. It also features an upgraded kitchen, toilets, and a new meeting room for parents and carers to receive family support. The new Glasgow facility means that local families, who previously had to travel to the East of Scotland to access such specialist support, now have a local option.

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The Scottish Government has invested £500,000 in the facility, and has committed to continuing funding into 2025-2026. Minister for Children and Young People, Natalie Don-Innes, said the government was "absolutely committed to improving outcomes for disabled children, young people, and support for their families, and this absolutely fits into that priority."

Celine Sinclair, chief executive of The Yard, said the centre is all about "meaningful inclusion," allowing children of all experiences to participate equally.

"The one really beautiful thing about becoming part of The Yard, because it is a community, is that it allows you to build friendships with other families who are on the same journey," she added. More than 3,000 children across 16 local authorities currently benefit from the charity's services.

Image credit: Julie Broadfoot