Local Priority: 

- Improving local facilities to allow for more social, learning and creative activities

- Improving local playparks and greenspaces

Since 1986, The Yard has supported thousands of disabled children and families through inclusive play and family support, guided by the belief that disabled children deserve equal opportunities to build confidence, make friends, learn new skills, develop their independence, and most importantly, have fun. We are currently renovating our Mid Craigie support centre to accommodate the growing number of families that are approaching us for support. Approximately 37% of our current members in Dundee live in the East End in deprived areas like Linlathen and Mid Craigie, where 20% of young people aged 0-15 have a long-term health condition or disability (Census 2022). This represents a significant intersection between disability and poverty, and a real need for low-cost support services likes ours that blend whole family wellbeing support with accessible play activities. This renovation will improve access to a much-loved local play space through more fit-for-purpose facilities and the introduction of new services running throughout the week. In addition to the social, learning and creative activities that disabled children will be able to access through play, parents and carers will also benefit. Through on-site family support activities, such as peer support groups, educational workshops, a community larder and more, they can meet and learn from others in similar situations, discover creative new ways to support their child, build confidence, and feel less isolated. Through this development, we hope to go from supporting 337 families per annum to approximately 500 by the end of 2026. Funding from the Dundee Neighbourhood Capital Fund would fully fund the purchase of a portable interactive floor projector, for flexible sensory play around the centre. Sensory play is popular among all who attend The Yard, and it has been recognised as a vital component of childhood development. However, it is particularly beneficial for the many children who visit The Yard who are autistic and/or have sensory processing difficulties. This floor projector will provide opportunities for sensory play and relaxation outwith our dedicated sensory room, making the benefits of sensory play more accessible to all. It is pre-loaded with 300 interactive games and activities, including team games that promote social interaction. Moreover, as transitions can also be difficult for many autistic and other neurodivergent children, a portable floor projector would also be used to ease transitions in and out of the centre by giving them something fun to focus on as they arrive and leave.

We have delivered services in Dundee since 2015, after local families told us that there were few accessible leisure and social activities for their disabled child within their area. Since then, we have established our service and reputation, building partnerships with other local organisations, both in the East End and across Dundee more broadly. For example, we are integrated into the Linlathen Fairness Initiative, a Scottish Government funded pathfinder project aimed at reducing poverty in Linlathen. The renovation of our Mid Craigie centre follows an extensive consultation period, which started back in 2017 with the commissioning several independent evaluation reports, with one report focusing specifically on how we could better meet the needs of the local community. Within this report, consultants interviewed 13 parents and carers and 17 external stakeholders (public and third sector professionals), and delivered a workshop with 10 pupils with additional support needs from Kingspark School, in order to identify our priorities for service expansion and the design of the new centre. Through this process, they identified that “families want a bigger, more extensive service that would continue the non-judgemental and empowering environment while opening up to a more diverse range of children.” More recent conversations with families using our Dundee service revealed that transitions between activities were a common challenge for many children. We carried out some research into resources we could use to help families with these transitions and found that a portable floor projector could be a good solution. Upon discovering that these projectors often include a wide range of interactive games, that could encourage our families to connect with one another through shared play and teamwork, we decided that it would be an invaluable addition to our new space.

Local Priority: Improving local facilities to allow for more social, learning and creative activities

The grant will be used to purchase a container, to be sited outside East Housing Office, that will house both the Community Toolbox and storage for the Food Hub &Freecycle project (which currently runs from the Hub Library). At 45ft long, the container will be spilt into 2 sections, to house both Toolbox and Food Larder &Freecycle services. It will be insulated, fitted with shelving and have 2 separate entrances. The Community Food Hub & Freecycle are a well-established service, run by members of the local community. They currently are based in the Hub Library, but this building will shortly close to the public and the service is planned to move to East District Housing office but need storage space. The Community Toolbox is a new initiative, to be run by members of the local community, which offers local people the opportunity to hire items such as power washers, lawnmowers, carpet cleaners etc at very low cost. Volunteers will be responsible for this project, supported by Wellgate Community Toolbox who will provide insurance and admin support. Both local groups are working in partnership with Housing and Communities Teams through the Linlathen Fairness Initiative to bring vital services to the area. There are many benefits to the local community of being able to provide these services through the grant award – Local people will have access to tools and equipment, on their doorstep and at a very affordable cost. They will also continue to have access to low cost, fresh, healthy food and good quality clothing and household goods at no cost and also the benefit of volunteering and training opportunities for local people and building their capacity to be instigators of change in their community. The Toolbox volunteers also believe that their service will build the capacity of residents to foster a sharing community with neighbours helping each other out e.g hiring a power washer to clear moss off a garden path and then clearing the path of an elderly neighbour. The outcomes contributing to the Community Plan are – "We need a response to cost living crisis" The project is also referenced in the Linlathen Fairness Initiative narrative inquiry recommendations which state that the food larder should continue to ensure people have dignified access to food.

In Spring of 2024, members of the community took part in a Columba 1400 course, exploring both their own development and that of their community of Mid Craigie/Linlathen. One of the outcomes of their participation was that people agreed there was a need for local people to have a service in their community that allowed them to improve homes and gardens at a low cost. This included garden tools, decorating equipment, power washers, carpet cleaners etc. Developing this idea further, local people were consulted on the need for this and overwhelmingly agreed that this would be a valuable service to be able to access locally. The Linlathen fairness Initiative has been successful in fostering a participatory approach with residents involved in budgeting, planning and delivering services such as the community Toolbox project and it is this approach which builds the capacity of people to be leaders of change in their community The Community Food Hub & Freecycle has been running at the Hub library for 8 years and continues to run to full capacity. Local people who use this service have been consulted on the proposal to move it to the East Housing Office, with storage space in the container and have expressed positive responses to this proposal. Food Insecurity is a significant issue in this community which is affected by low-income, long-term unemployment and poor health. In particular, the community of Linlathen contains several data zones which fall within decile 1 and 2, indicating very high levels of deprivation. A recent evaluation of the value of the Food Hub & Freecycle project, carried out with local people was evidenced by the following quotes - ‘Being able to buy a couple of bags of food here every week for £4 is a lifeline for me and my family’ ‘It’s hard to put into words what the freecycle means to me. As a single parent with 4 kids, I rely on being able to pick up clothes for them here, it takes away some of the stress about money’ ‘The money i save by only paying £4 for bags of food and being able to pick up clothes for growing kids means i have more money to pay for electricity and the odd treats now and again’ Being able to continue the Food Hub & Freecycle, and the addition of the Community Toolbox, will ensure that local people can continue to work together to thrive and develop their community.

The proposed project aims to transform the Glenconnor green space in Linlathen into a vibrant, multi-functional hub for recreation, fitness, and community engagement. At the heart of this initiative is the development of a floodlit Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), a modern running track, and a play trail designed for all ages. These enhancements build upon the existing, yet underutilised, small games area—addressing residents' requests for an upgraded space that better serves the community’s needs and aspirations. A Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) is a flexible outdoor space designed for various sports and activities, including football, basketball, netball, hockey, and general exercise. These areas promote inclusivity, efficient land use, community cohesion, and health. MUGAs are cost-effective and easy to maintain, making them valuable assets for communities and schools. The addition of a track around the perimeter of the games area is a unique aspect and can be utilised by people of all ages for running, cycling and skateboarding. The attached design plan offers a visual representation of the revitalised green space, demonstrating how thoughtful planning and community input can work hand-in-hand to create accessible and dynamic environments. The intention is for the project to be supported with funding through Environmental Improvements via Dundee City Council- pending committee process, with a total funding cost of £180k. The application to the Neighbourhood Capital Fund is seeking an £80,000 contribution to this total. By investing in these facilities, the project seeks to encourage greater use of the green space, promote healthier lifestyles, and foster stronger social connections among residents. The enhanced amenities will not only provide new opportunities for physical activity and play but also contribute to a sense of pride and ownership within the community. Ultimately, the improved Linlathen green spaces will stand as a testament to the power of local engagement and collective action in building inclusive, resilient neighbourhoods. The opportunity to develop this space links directly with outcomes in the East End Community Plan including “Improving Green and Open Spaces” and “Increasing opportunities for Physical Activity”. This is also aligned with recommendations in the Linlathen Narrative Inquiry, which suggests the establishment of community green spaces or gardens through collaborations between local residents and Dundee City Council. The video link in the attachments shows the issue of improving green and play spaces being raised by a broad section of the local community.

Local residents, through their involvement in the Linlathen Local Fairness Initiative, have played a pivotal role in shaping the vision for this project. Their feedback and participation in leadership development workshops have directly informed the design and priorities, ensuring the improvements reflect what matters most to those living in the area. A total of 26 people were consulted through an outreach approach targeting households on the periphery of the site across several streets. Outreach engagement at the local food larder and family activity group took place. The majority view was strongly positive, with 25 out of 26 supporting the MUGA and all participants in favour of installing new lights, though some concerns were raised about potential vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Residents suggested including activities like football, tennis, and resources for toddlers, and emphasised community engagement—particularly involving local youth—to ensure the project's success. Local residents were also invited to an open information session through social media advertising and a leaflet drop. There was a low turnout to this information session, however community members were given the opportunity to make objections should they wish. There is evidence of wider community backing for a project of this nature as the improving spaces to play and be physically active was one of the main themes that was reported through the community priorities survey for the Neighbourhood Capital Fund. Linlathen faces challenges such as limited availability of sports facilities, increasing youth inactivity and related health issues along with several data zones in Linlathen falling within decile 1 or 2 in SIMD, indicating very high levels of deprivation.

The grant will be used to create safe and inclusive play areas in our playground. We are aiming to develop 3 separate spaces which would allow increased opportunities for physical activity as well as creating spaces for creative, social and learning activities. Area 1 - ASN provision We are looking to develop the space by installing a rubber floor to replace the current concrete flooring. This area will be available to specific children who find the larger playground overwhelming. This safe and enclosed space will allow for greater opportunities for the pupils to participate in outdoor activities at playtime, lunchtime and during their class learning. At the moment the concrete limits the opportunities we can offer our most vulnerable pupils due to the risk of injury. In this area we would also like to purchase freestanding equipment including a trim trail and outdoor library/reading space.* Area 2 - P1 and P2 Developing the area outside of the P1 and P2 classrooms would allow for daily opportunities for creative and social play. The space would be developed along similar lines of the ASN space with rubber flooring and freestanding equipment*. In this area we would look to purchase equipment with a focus on creative and imaginative play, this would include a mud kitchen, outdoor sand pit and a story teller area. Area 3 - P3 Classrooms Again we would like to develop this into a safe and inclusive play area that can be accessed throughout the day. The rubber flooring would allow for increased opportunities for outdoor learning and social play. In this area we would purchase Dens, Huts and Hideaways* with the view of creating a forest school area. * We would like to purchase the free standing equipment for the spaces as this would allow us to rotate the equipment between the 3 areas. This would mean the children accessing each area would have access to a variety of context areas throughout the year.

We have engaged with our pupils and parents to gather feedback on how we can improve our school. A consistent area of improvement has been identified as our outdoor spaces, particularly for our younger pupils. We have used this feedback to form the basis of our application. Steven Rice has also visited other schools to view their outdoor spaces and how they are used to increase opportunities such as increasing sport and exercise and increasing social, learning and creative play.

Our school is situated within an area identified as one of the top 5% most deprived. The area faces many challenges which impact on our pupils, this has led to a lower than average level of attainment and attendance. We believe that developing our outdoor spaces can not only meet the identified targets but can also act as lever to encourage our pupils to attend. The increased opportunities for play, sport and exercise and outdoor learning have been identified by our pupils and we would appreciate your support in meeting this need.

Local Priority: Improving spaces to increase opportunities for sport and exercise

We hope to purchase and install new portable football goals at our 3G pitch, located at Fairfield Community Sports Hub. The existing goals are worn and heavy, making them difficult to move and unsuitable for the range of activities and age groups who use the facility. The new goals will be lighter, safer, and easier to reposition—improving flexibility for training, matches, and inclusive programming across all user groups. Our 3G pitches are used by people of all ages, from toddlers as young as 18 months to older adults in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. Activities include early years football, youth development, adult 5-a-side, walking football, para football, and mental health recovery sessions. The new portable goals will ensure a safer, more adaptable environment for all, enabling coaches and session leaders to tailor the pitch layout to the specific needs of each group. This project aligns strongly with local priorities by: Improving health and wellbeing: High-quality sports infrastructure encourages people of all ages and abilities to be active, helping to address physical and mental health challenges, tackle loneliness, and build resilience. Supporting inclusion and participation: With easier-to-move goals, we can better accommodate inclusive formats like para football and mental health sessions, creating a more welcoming environment for people who may otherwise face barriers to participation. Empowering young people and families: The pitch is regularly used for sessions that support early years development, youth engagement, and family activity—offering positive pathways through sport. Strengthening community cohesion: As a valued community asset in an area facing economic and social challenges, the Sports Hub plays a vital role in bringing people together. This investment will improve the quality of delivery and open up more opportunities for diverse groups to share the space. By replacing our outdated goals with modern, portable alternatives, we’ll be able to offer a safer, more flexible, and inclusive sporting environment that meets the needs of our community now and into the future. This upgrade will enable us to continue delivering meaningful, accessible, and engaging physical activity for all—from 18 months to 99 years.

Our consultation has included: Feedback surveys and coach debriefs following sessions and block bookings. Engagement with parent groups and carers, particularly around early years and disability sport sessions. Community events and forums where local residents have raised facility improvements as a priority. The need for this investment is also reflected in wider local priorities around reducing health inequalities, supporting young people, and improving access to inclusive sport. As a well-used and loved facility, Fairfield Community Sports Hub plays a central role in addressing these aims—and safe, high-quality equipment is essential to deliver this. The request for portable new goals has come directly from those who use the pitch every day. This project responds to that need, ensuring the facility remains accessible, inclusive, and fit for purpose for all ages and abilities.