Adventure Play and Sensory Spaces for The Yard

ANDY Irvine, former Scotland and British & Irish Lions full-back, was delighted to officially open The Yard’s Adventure Play and Sensory Spaces Project in October, which was made possible by Wooden Spoon funding and the help of Graham and Amy Allen.

Andy Irvine, former Scotland and British & Irish Lions full-back, officially opened the new facilities at The Yard.

The Yard is an award-winning charity that runs adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland. They offer disabled children and their siblings the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment. Their flagship centre is located in Edinburgh and they also have two new weekend services in Dundee and Fife.

The Yard is now 30 years old and in the last couple of years, the attendance levels have skyrocketed. This is great, because everyone is enjoying the facilities, but it meant that some improvements were needed.

Wooden Spoon provided over £25,000 to help increase safety in the outside space, provide more sensory provisions for the inside and outside space to increase sensory stimulation and in generally improved facilities to allow a greater range of activities to be created by the play team for the benefit of the children.

On Friday, October 13, Irvine, who played for Heriot’s with great distinction for many years, earned 51 Scotland caps between 1972 and 1982 and went on three British & Irish Lions tours as a player between 1974 and 1980, was at The Yard in Edinburgh to see the improvements for himself.

He unveiled a plaque in the playground and took time to meet a number of the staff, children and parents.

“I have been involved with Wooden Spoon for many years and have seen and heard about The Yard’s great work in the community,” Irvine said.

“It is great to be here to see the superb facilities myself and I am sure the kids have great fun here. It is great to see groups working together to help the lives of youngsters.

“I would also like to say huge thanks to Graham and Amy Allen who have worked alongside Wooden Spoon to make these upgrades a possibility.”