Introducing Edge Group Scotland’s brand new Life Programme.
What is the Edge Life Programme?
Our brand new service is a part-time, specialist-supported day programme for young adults (18 to 35 years old) with additional support needs (ASN), who need a more holistic, vocational approach to support their transition to independence.
Earlier this year we launched our very first day service - the Edge Transitions Programme - which is specifically designed for autistic and/or ASN school leavers. This was borne out of years of discussions with clients, parents, teachers and other professionals in the world of transitions and social care.
The programme has been truly transformative for the first group of school leavers to join us, but it has also highlighted another gap in the post-education provision of support and the lack of options for positive destinations. We decided to address this with our new Life Programme.
The Life Programme incorporates a combination of outdoor sports, employability, cooking, social skills, travel training and independent living skills. It offers opportunities for young people to develop their real life independence while supporting them to mature in the world around them.
This is a year round, part-time programme taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in Musselburgh, following the local authority school and college term pattern.
What happens at the Life Programme?
Cooking for Independence takes place on a Tuesday afternoon, and sessions include, but are not limited to: practical kitchen skills; understanding recipes; hygiene and food safety; essential cooking skills; budgeting and planning; as well as understanding healthy choices.
Life Admin sessions are on Wednesdays. This includes modules such as employability, travel training, healthy relationships, staying safe online, and mental health and wellbeing. We have close partnerships with several organisations that facilitate supported employment and volunteering opportunities such as Project Search, Historic Environment Scotland and The National Trust for Scotland. These partnerships not only provide our young people with a wealth of experience and knowledge, but they also provide positive destinations for those who are progressing in the world of work as part of their person-centred plans.
Fridays are when the action happens and we get outdoors and active! We offer a seasonal selection of activities, including climbing, archery, skiing, surfing and paddleboarding. These group activities help build resilience, confidence and social skills.
Core Aims & Outcomes
With both of our supported day services, SHANARRI Wellbeing Outcomes frame the programme’s outcomes, which provide the evidence base for students’ progress.
Safe: Young people improve resilience, can look after themselves, and know how to ask others for help when they need it
Healthy: Making healthy choices around food and attending to activities of daily living
Achieving: Having a role in the community, with access to opportunities to maximise potential
Nurtured: Becoming an independent adult who can attend to their own needs, and can seek help from their support systems
Active: Developing new skills and increasing confidence through physical activity in the outdoors, wilderness and water
Respected: Young adults will feel more self-confident with improved self-awareness, self-identity and feelings of belonging
Responsible: They become an equal partner in their own life-planning, understand appropriate behaviour and the impact it can have on others, and learn to assess and manage risk
Included: Developing a peer group, ‘finding their tribe’, being listened to and valued
In addition to the above, our aim is to reduce costs by increasing resilience and independence. Short-term cost vs. long-term support services.
Each young person embarks upon an individualised supported pathway in a peer-group setting. All young people focus on independence in whatever way is suitable for them.
Who is eligible to apply?
All Edge Life Programme participants must:
Have Additional Support Needs (ASN)
Be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old
Be able to verbally communicate
Be willing and able to take part in outdoor activities
Be able to understand and follow safety instructions
Be able to attend to their own personal care
Have an appointed person who will communicate digitally with Edge Group Scotland’s Day Services Team
Be able to work in a group on a minimum 3:1 client-to-staff ratio
Be able to manage apps and communicate via mobile phone and iPad*
Be involved in their own planning and want to plan their individual future
Be able to travel to and from Edge HQ in Musselburgh on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays
Be eligible for funding through their local Social Work department
*iPads supplied by Edge
Day Service Delivery
Edge Group Scotland is offering a fully supported, day-centre, vocational-style programme for young adults (18 to 35) with ASN in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Day services operate from our new dedicated premises at Old Engine House 2, Eskmills, Station Road, Musselburgh, EH21 7PQ.
This is a part-time (20-hours per week) programme taking place on Tuesdays (12 pm - 4.30 pm), Wednesdays (9 am - 4.30 pm) and Fridays (9 am - 4.30 pm) in Musselburgh, for 41 weeks each year, following the local school and college term pattern. Admissions will be on the basis of attendance for the full 20 hour week. We cannot offer isolated days.
The Edge Life Programme starts on Tuesday 9th of January 2024, and referrals are now open. Places are limited to 12 for the first intake. The commitment will be one term at a time, but we would encourage booking an annual place to avoid disappointment.
Life Programme Fees
Our staffing support is a 3:1 ratio. There are strict contractual terms to secure a placement on the Life Programme. Invoicing will be monthly on the last day of the month, with 30-day terms.
This cost of the programme includes staffing support, specialist external providers, all programme activities and equipment, independent living planning, personal cookware, and travel while on the programme. There is a small weekly cost per student for fresh cooking ingredients.
Optional Extras
Each year there are a wide variety of residential respite breaks and epic days out available via our dedicated Edge Adventures service. These optional extras are open to eligible 18-35 year olds across Scotland and the UK and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
They are not part of the Day Programme and are charged separately. Costs vary, but we can help with managing a yearly budget. We will ensure Day Service participants receive pre-release information for breaks and days out.
Referring A Young Person
Our referral process has recently changed, so if you are looking to refer a young person to any of our services, please visit our website and complete the Service Referral Form, here.
You can find more information on Service Referral & Eligibility, here. Once submitted, we will contact you within 2 business days for further information regarding your referral.
Please note: we can only accept referrals via the form, here
Book soon to avoid disappointment. All referrals will be directed to our Project Coordinator, Samantha Roberts.
More information can be found here: Edge Life Programme