Deskrizzjoni tal-Organizzazzjoni

The Share Scotland charity, founded in 1984, is a voluntary organisation with charitable status. Share Scotland believes that people with learning disabilities are entitled to equal status in society – with the same voice, opportunities and rights as others. Share Scotland provides both supported accommodation and Housing Support Services to adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments, complex health needs, Autism, Asperger’s, challenging behaviour and communication difficulties, to enable each individual to live independently in their own home. This is done by providing practical, emotional and physical support to people who need it, making sure that they have a full and rewarding life.

The aim of the organisation is to support individuals to have equal status in society and a high quality of life, and integration into their local communities, to enable them to enhance their self-esteem, develop positive self-image, access community based activities and promote positive disability awareness in the community. The Organisation has two main bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The EVS activities will mostly take place across the services offered in Edinburgh. This is made up two of Share group homes, Niddrie Farm Grove, Craigmiller and Maude Close, Kirkliston, encouraging residents to engage in social and leisure activities both within the home and within the local community. Additionally, the project may extend to support additional group homes including Gracemount Drive, Gracemount.

Share Scotland supports 5 individuals in Niddrie Farm Grove service and 7 individuals at the Maude Close service. There is a mix of male and female residents of varied ages; the majority of residents are aged in their thirties to forties. Service users that require support have either learning disabilities, physical disabilities or both. Some may also have sensory impairments, complex health needs, Autism, Asperger’s and challenging behaviour. Some individuals have limited communication because of their learning disabilities. The service users who live at the Niddrie Farm Grove have done so since 1994 and are supported by a team of approximately 18 staff, employed by Share Scotland. The individuals living at the Maude Close service have done so since 2002 and are supported by a staff team of approximately 15 staff, employed by Share Scotland.

Share Scotland and Volunteering Matters have been working together for 25 years and have collaborated on similar EVS projects since 2006. Share Scotland have always valued the assistance of Volunteering Matters full-time volunteers as part of the team of people supporting service users, as they provide non-formal, befriending and intercultural support, and we are able to host and support up to 2 volunteers at each house.