Latest news with #CapabilityScotland
The National
07-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Future of dedicated complex needs college secured for 2 years
The pilot scheme at Corseford College in Renfrewshire will receive up to £1.4 million to continue until 2027. SCOTLAND'S first dedicated college for students with complex and additional needs has been granted funding for another two years. The college offers opportunities to young people aged 18-25 whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream college and gives them the chance to carry on with education after leaving school. Since it launched in 2022 the pilot scheme has received more than £1m from the Scottish Government, which has helped give 35 students with complex and additional needs the chance to continue learning. READ MORE: My travels helped me explore the musical connection between Scotland and Poland Further education minister Graeme Dey said: 'Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. 'This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College's future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported. 'We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. 'The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future. 'We are determined to support Scotland's young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. 'Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.' The Scottish Government said 41 young people will benefit from specialist support at the college in the 2025/26 academic year starting in August. Capability Scotland, which runs the college, welcomed news of the funding. Its chief executive Brian Logan, said: 'The Scottish Government's funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College's pioneering approach to specialist post-school education. 'We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their co-operation and unwavering commitment in making this possible. 'This success reflects the dedication of the college's staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. 'The funding secures Corseford College's future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.'
Daily Record
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Capability Scotland is a step closer to building new facilities in Perth
Perth and Kinross Council's in principle decision to allocate part of the Perth Leisure Pool site to the charity represents a "meaningful milestone" Capability Scotland is "really pleased" with Perth and Kinross Council's decision - in principle - to allocate part of the Perth Leisure Pool site to the charity. On Wednesday, June 18 councillors voted - in principle - to allow the charity to relocate from its Upper Springland site to Glover Street. The move has been welcomed by Capability Scotland's chief executive who said it will protect 200 jobs in Perth and care for 100 adults. In September 2024, councillors had voted for affordable housing to be developed on the Glover Street site following the completion of PH2O. In a late twist, the papers - put before councillors on June 18 - included a proposal and recommendation for PKC to provide Capability Scotland the opportunity to remain in the Fair City by relocating its services and accommodation to part of the current Perth Leisure Pool site. Capability Scotland would be allocated the outdoor play area, grass and car park to build its new facilities. Affordable housing is proposed to be built on the site of the Perth Leisure Pool building. Capability Scotland currently provides supported accommodation for 60 residents as well as day care services for clients, with a range of disabilities and complex support needs, at Upper Springland. The Perth City Integrated Investment and Leisure Assets Review Update - put before councillors - explained how the charity's current Upper Springland site is no longer suitable. The council report stated: "The long-established Capability Scotland site at Upper Springland in Perth is no longer suitable for the charity due to the increasing complexity and support needs of the residents who live at this location and the ageing facilities and concerns about the unacceptable flood risk from its location on the banks of the River Tay." Councillors were told previous plans for the charity to relocate to a site at Bertha Park were no longer viable. The report stated that "the financial model and need for significant fundraising which is anticipated to take a number of years now sees this site as being undeliverable". Councillors were recommended to agree in principle to allocating part of the Glover Street site to Capability Scotland, as part of PKC's commitment to its strategic priority of protecting and caring for its most vulnerable people. Moving the proposal - as part of a wider motion on a £97 million investment in Perth and Kinross leisure facilities - council leader Grant Laing said: "Their current site at Upper Springland is no longer fit for purpose. The risks are real, and the options are limited. By supporting their move to Glover Street, we're not just offering a new location — we're helping people stay connected to the community they know and trust. We're protecting continuity of care, retaining over 200 jobs, and bringing new external capital investment and footfall into the city centre." The motion was voted through by 24 votes to 15. Capability Scotland's chief executive Brian Logan said the decision represented a "meaningful milestone" for the charity. Mr Logan said: "We're really pleased with the council's decision in principle to allocate land at Glover Street to Capability Scotland. It's a meaningful milestone that brings us one step closer to delivering the kind of modern, inclusive community that the people we support truly deserve, while protecting 200 local jobs and care for 100 adults. "Following changes to the costs associated with us developing at Bertha Park, we made the difficult but necessary decision to explore alternative locations for the Our Inclusive Community Project, to ensure maximum value for our customers, families, staff and funders. "The Glover Street site was identified after a wide-ranging assessment, that included four other sites including Bertha Park. Glover Street offers us a financially sustainable and integrated location and presents the opportunity to use public land and apply competitive tendering processes that help ensure affordability throughout development. 'Our priority throughout has been to secure a location that ensures long-term safety, accessibility and quality of life for everyone we support, their families, our staff and the wider community." As well as the Capability Scotland development, some affordable housing is still being proposed. Indicative plans show two four-storey blocks of affordable housing accommodation on the Perth Leisure Pool site. A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: "Affordable housing provision will be retained on the site of the current Perth Leisure Pool building, but the details of this will be developed through the masterplan to progress the feasibility and design of the site as set out in the report agreed by council on Wednesday. The attached indicative sketch of the site shows a possibility of four storey-residential blocks on the site of the current Perth Leisure Pool, although this remains subject to further design and development and would not start work until after PH2O at Thimblerow is open as until then Perth Leisure Pool will remain open to ensure swimming pool provision remains available in Perth." How the land will be allocated to Capability Scotland will be subject to further discussion. It is not yet clear whether the Glover St land will be sold to Capability Scotland for a nominal sum. The council spokesperson said: "Discussions regarding land transfer to Capability Scotland is one of the future stages of progressing this, now that council has agreed in principle to the allocation of part of the Glover Street project for this purpose."
The Herald Scotland
18-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
ScotGov urged to back expansion of ASN college model
The college was founded by Capability Scotland and is supported by funding from the Scottish Government. It is the only specialist college for people with complex additional needs and offers "a tailored further education programme" for young people with additional support needs between the ages 18 and 25. Courses are available in areas such as building-based skills development, education, community access, and more. Under the existing funding arrangements, Corseford College has capacity for forty students, with all places currently allocated. Speaking to The Herald, Head of College Liz McConnachie explained that each year she has to turn down around as many applications as she accepts, and warns that there is little if any alternative provision for those who cannot be accommodated. Ms McConnachie also highlighted geographical constraints, noting that people in most of Scotland are unable to access Corseford College, making the lack of similar centres in other parts of the country an especially pressing concern. Graduate Lauren Wishart with Capability Scotland Chief Executive Brian Logan (Image: Gordon Terris) The inaugural graduation ceremony recognised thirteen students who have completed their programmes. It also saw three individuals honoured with further recognition: an Honorary Graduate Prize was given to Jamie Thomson and Olivia Turner, and a Maria Brownlie Award, given in honour of a former student who passed away last year, went to Ali Chaudhry. READ MORE Parents say lack of inclusive further education must change Families still have to fight the system for pupils with ASN Speaking after the graduation event, Capability Scotland Chief Executive Brian Logan said that parents and staff are very proud of the young people involved, and that the day had been a 'real celebration of everything that they've achieved.' He went on to explain that Corseford's unique model had been developed and made successful thanks to the 'perseverance' of staff, and called for everyone who needs it in Scotland to have the right to the same type of support. 'That transition – to move from childhood into adulthood – is really challenging and at the moment, with the exception of Corseford College, there's no real opportunity for people to continue their educational journey. That right should be there for everyone. It's about equity and about inclusion, and without the type of provision that we have that opportunity to learn and grow.' 'We have demonstrated that this model is successful, we know that there is demand for this type of provision right across the country, we get applications from other parts of Scotland which we – at the moment – can't service. We know the demand is there. We know the model is successful. Our ask is that this is replicated across the country so that everyone has this opportunity, and that we put the funding on a much more sustainable footing. 'It's unfair that there are people across the country being denied this opportunity. We think we can set up satellites based on the Corseford model across the rest of Scotland. We want to do that and we want to work in partnership with the government to make sure that it is delivered.' Despite being opened by a Scottish Government minister (Jamie Hepburn MSP), Corseford had been facing the threat of closure when pilot funding ran out this year. However, the recent budget deal between the SNP, Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats secured a further £700,000 to keep the facility operational. Some of the 2025 graduates of Corseford College. L-R: Sophie James-Rae, Darren Fitzpatrick, Fraser McAlpine, Jamie Thomson, Ali Chaudhry, and Bryan Brownlie. (Image: Gordon Terris) During a recent session of the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children and Young People Committee, Minister for Further Education Graeme Dey revealed that the government has received a report that has reached 'broadly positive conclusions as to the impact' of Corseford's model. He added: 'I would be optimistic that we will have something very positive to say about this fairly quickly.' Asked whether ministers are planning to fund the establishment of more specialist colleges like Corseford, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'The Scottish Government has received the independent evaluation report for Corseford College and we are currently considering its content. As the Further Education Minister has indicated, there will be further detail provided on this shortly.'
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
New Perth leisure pool - with flumes - in new £74m PH2O plan for Thimblerow
A leisure pool – with indoor flumes – has been added to the design for Perth's new PH2O centre. The £74 million plan for the controversial Thimblerow leisure development will be put to councillors next week. It is part of a package of measures intended to finally kickstart the long-delayed PH2O leisure centre. If approved, the existing Perth Leisure Pool would be demolished. This would allow the charity Capability Scotland to relocate its Upper Springland homes and services for people with complex and severe needs to the site off Glover Street. The new proposal also includes a £13.2m investment in the public swimming baths in Crieff and Kinross. And another £10m would be spent on turning Bell's Sports Centre into an unheated multi-use venue and removing RAAC and asbestos from the building. Councillors will be asked to vote on the package when the full council meets on Wednesday. A protest is planned for outside the council chambers in Perth ahead of the session. But council leader Grant Laing will urge colleagues to back the plan, saying every delay to PH2O is costing taxpayers more money. 'This isn't just about Perth city centre,' he said. 'It's about delivering for communities right across Perth and Kinross.' Councillors approved a new PH2O leisure centre at Thimblerow, off the old High Street, last year. But there was anger at the lack of provision for leisure swimming in the £61m plan. Officers were asked to go back to the drawing board and look at ways to include it in the mix. And two revised designs for the three-storey venue will be put to the vote on Wednesday. Councillors will be advised to opt for the more costly one, containing a larger 'fun leisure water' area with internal flumes up to 5.5 metres. The £74m package also includes: • a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool with movable floor; • a 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool • holiday and weekend inflatables in the main pool; • an indoor play area (featuring clip n' climb/soft play or other family play activity); • a six-court games hall; • fitness gym; • flexible studio space; • a cafe. Officers predict this mix could attract 439,491 visits a year, compared to 380,143 without the leisure water and flumes. The budget originally set aside for PH2O amounts to £90m. Councillors will be told that will cover this plan, plus the bulk of the additional investment in Bell's and the pools at Kinross and the Strathearn campus in Crieff. Protesters have called for the new PH2O leisure centre to be built on the site of the existing Perth Leisure Pool at Glover Street instead. But the council says building at Thimblerow will encourage families into Perth city centre, boosting shops and businesses there. It would also allow the existing leisure pool to stay open until the new one is ready. And demolishing the old pool will free up the land at Glover Street for a mix of housing. Capability Scotland approached Perth and Kinross Council after the new plans emerged. Its supported accommodation at Upper Springland is at high risk of flooding and is showing its age. The charity had been considering a move to Bertha Park. But that plan has proved too costly. And it now wants to partner with the council and bring 60 new homes for adults with complex and severe needs, plus 230 staff, to Glover Street instead. Supporters say the site offers many benefits, including its convenience for public transport, medical appointments, shops and other attractions. The PH2O plans have been on the drawing board since 2014. They were mothballed in 2023 due to soaring costs, before the Thimblerow option emerged last year. Councillors will have to weigh whether there's enough in the new deal to satisfy campaigners, who have been demanding the council retain the existing leisure pool, reopen Bell's as it was, and keep Thimblerow as a car park. • The Courier has been campaigning for an ambitious new leisure complex in Perth that caters for all sports, including leisure swimming and curling. Talks are ongoing, which could lead to local curlers taking over the running of the Dewars Centre next door to the existing Perth Leisure Pool.
Edinburgh Reporter
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Football fundraiser nets thousands for youth disability project
The scoreboard may have shown a draw but both teams at The Big Match walked away winners with more than £21,000 raised for a good cause. Made up of keen players from across Scotland's property sector, Residential United and Commercial City went head to head with football greats Gordon Smith and Billy Davies managing the teams. Ex-Dundee United defender Darren Dods and former Hearts striker Gary Wales also stepped in to lead the players on the field as part of the event to fundraise for Capability Scotland's YouthZone project. Held in March at Spartans Football Club, the two teams battled it out in an exciting contest, culminating in a closely fought draw. The event now in its third year, spearheaded by Steve Currie, Director at Murray & Currie Property, brought together Edinburgh's property sector and football community in support of a vital cause for the third year running: Steve Currie said: 'This year's Big Match was a fantastic success, not only as a thrilling game but as a powerful fundraising initiative. 'It's incredible to see the property and football communities come together to support the work of Capability Scotland and especially the work they do to support young people and their families. 'Every player, sponsor, and supporter has helped make a real difference.' Funds raised will go towards the creation of a fully accessible outdoor play area at YouthZone, Capability Scotland's service supporting disabled young people in Riccarton, Edinburgh. The new outdoor space will provide a safe and engaging environment for up to 65 children and young people and 30 adults to relax, play, and connect. Costs for the project have doubled due to unexpected issues, and so this funding will allow YouthZone to build a safer and more accessible outdoor space, complete with accessible play equipment and protective fencing. Now in its third year, the match was backed by headline sponsors Shepherds and Graham & Sibbald, with Hummel donating kits and The Spartans Community Foundation providing the stadium, changing rooms, and referee, thanks to the generosity of Chris Kirby at Hummel and Dan Gerrard at Spartans. Edinburgh's property industry has rallied behind the event, with teams made up of players from Murray & Currie Property, Simpson Marwick, Ralph Sayer, Murray Developments, S1 Developments, VALTTI Paints, Hampden Bank, Handelsbanken, Thistle Property, AH&Co Accountants, Redpath Bruce, Square & Crescent, Melville Independent, Turcan Connell, Square Foot Media, and AMA Developments. Ailsa Wallace, Head of Fundraising & Communications at Capability Scotland, expressed her gratitude to all those involved: 'We are absolutely thrilled by the support shown for The Big Match. 'The funds raised will make a tangible difference in the lives of the young people we support at YouthZone. 'This new outdoor space will help foster confidence, friendships, and independence in a safe and inclusive environment.' For over 75 years, Capability Scotland has been at the forefront of providing exemplary care, support, and education for disabled children and adults across Scotland. To support The Big Match, and for more details, visit: Like this: Like Related
