Dundee is on the cusp of welcoming a groundbreaking fully accessible adventure playground, forming a key part of a wider £1.5 million refurbishment of The Yard's service at Drumlanrig Place, Mid Craigie. This ambitious project sees Scottish charity The Yard collaborating with Edinburgh-based Timberplay Scotland to design an inclusive outdoor play space. The goal is to ensure that all children and young people can play and socialise freely, regardless of any physical or additional challenges they might face. Crucially, the designs for this 800 square foot outdoor space incorporate the valuable views and ideas gathered directly from the children, young people, and families who use the service.
The overall refurbishment includes significant works like replacing the roof and creating essential new facilities such as a Changing Places room, a sensory room, larger play spaces, office and meeting areas, and a spacious kitchen and dining area.
The Yard, like many vital services, faced the challenge of enhancing their facilities to meet the growing needs of the community and to expand their reach. Their previous outdoor space was not owned by them, presenting a 'blank canvas' for this ambitious garden refurbishment. The vision was bold: to create an outdoor environment that wasn't just accessible but truly adventurous and inclusive, a place where play is recognised as a basic right and a vehicle for development for children with disabilities and additional needs. This transformation is crucial as it will allow The Yard to apply for Care Inspectorate Registration, enabling them to offer much-needed holiday support, an early years’ service, out-of-school and respite services, and to expand their work with schools, families, and family support.
NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation is delighted to have played a significant role in bringing this dream to life. We provided a substantial grant of £100,000 towards the outdoor space, demonstrating our commitment to projects that empower communities and improve health outcomes.
Shelley McCarthy, our Charity Chief Officer, commented on our decision: "NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation is focused on supporting projects which help people in Tayside live longer, healthier lives. We are particularly eager to support projects which empower communities to achieve the health outcomes they deserve and The Yard’s work in supporting families with children who have disabilities and additional needs aligns perfectly with that. Through our conversations with The Yard, we were struck by the impact which inclusive play can have on a child’s life, and that of their wider family, as well as the effect it can have on helping them explore and fulfil their potential, whether socially, emotionally or educationally."
Our support underscores the belief that adventurous play, combined with nature, is fundamental for children's growth and learning, enabling even those with complex physical disabilities to explore, enjoy, and challenge themselves through activities like water and sand play, climbing structures, a wheelchair carousel, and bike tracks.
This project's impact will be profound. The new outdoor space, designed by Timberplay Scotland, will allow children with even the most complex physical disabilities to explore and enjoy an 800 square foot area, fostering social, emotional, and educational development. The comprehensive refurbishment, including the accessible playground, will mean The Yard can significantly expand its services to include vital holiday, early years, out-of-school, and respite support, reaching more families in need.
Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of The Yard, highlights the core belief: "At The Yard, we believe play is not a luxury but a basic right. Outdoor, adventurous play in particular is fundamental to what we are about, using play as a vehicle to support children and young people with disabilities and additional needs. It’s also a way for families to relax together and see their child express themselves freely."
Our contribution ensures that more children will have the opportunity to engage in inclusive, landscape-led play that welcomes all.
The Future
With the final push underway for the £300,000 fundraising campaign for the overall refurbishment, the new and improved facility is set to open its doors in August 2025. The Yard is currently welcoming donations for its ‘Dig Deep’ appeal to help complete the renovations and ensure the centre opens on schedule.Shelley McCarthy perfectly sums up our enthusiasm for the future: "We are delighted to support this project and to play a role in the health and happiness of the children and families The Yard supports."The anticipation is palpable, as Celine Sinclair shared: "We can’t wait to reopen The Yard in August, and to meet the needs of all families in our community.” This project truly embodies our mission to help people in Tayside live longer, healthier lives, empowering communities to achieve the health outcomes they deserve.
