The Donaldson Trust Christmas Fayre 2025 was a festive success! 🎅🎄
The talented individuals we support, alongside our dedicated staff, went above and beyond with their incredible creations – from handmade crafts to delicious baked goods.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support their hard work. 👏
The young adults in our Gate service are thrilled to bring back their pantomime for 2025! 🎭
From memorising their lines to creating their costumes and even building the set, they’ve been hard at work to bring the show to life.
We can’t reveal the title just yet, but here’s a sneak peek at the set they’ve been working on. 👀
Still guessing? Here’s a hint: Grab a rose and be our guest – this tale is as old as time! 🌹
Leave your guesses in the comments! 👇
New figures published by the Scottish Government yesterday highlight that 300,000 pupils are now classed as having Additional Support Needs (ASN). That’s 43% of all pupils in Scotland.
Alongside this, the number of autistic learners continues to rise, with a 12% increase since last year.
These numbers tell us something important. We are no longer talking about a small group of learners who need a different approach. We are talking about almost half of Scotland’s children and young people.
Supporting neurodivergent learners is no longer optional. It must be fundamental to how we design education in Scotland. Inclusion, understanding and flexible support must be built into every classroom, every policy decision, and every learning environment.
That’s why we believe that lived experience must guide real change. Listening to neurodivergent young people, their families and professionals who support them is essential to shape an education system that works for everyone.
As Scotland’s National Body for Neurodiversity, we are calling for a system-wide shift – one grounded in understanding, compassion and evidence, and informed by the real experiences of those who rely on it most.
He’s the person that keeps everything running (literally!) 💻🔄
This #TeamTuesday, we`re celebrating 5 years of Alain here at The Donaldson Trust – and the difference he makes every single day behind the scenes.
As our Digital Projects Officer, Alain plays a vital role in keeping our systems running smoothly and supporting colleagues across the organisation. From the quick fixes that save the day, to the big digital improvements that make our work easier, Alain is always there for us.
Whether he’s troubleshooting a tech hiccup, strengthening our digital security, or just making sure everything works the way it should, Alain brings patience and expertise to every challenge. And yes – he also happens to be the person who saves us from more IT panics than we can count! 😆
A huge thank you to Alain for all he has brought to the Trust over the last 5 years. 👏
We’re thrilled to have participated in the Festival of Trees at St Michael’s Church, Linlithgow this year! 🎄
Over the weekend, our beautifully decorated tree was on public display alongside creations from local community groups and organisations.
This year’s theme is “Christmas Through the Ages” – a chance to celebrate the past, present and future of our shared journey.
From our heritage as a school for the deaf to our current role as Scotland’s National Body for Neurodiversity, our tree reflects who we are today and the inclusive future we are building together. 👏
Our tree was brought to life with personalised decorations from the people we support and our colleagues. Each bauble and ornament celebrates individuality while showcasing our shared values.
A huge well done to those who contributed! 😄
Each Friday, the young adults we support in our Gate service have been spending time out in the community as part of our ongoing focus on building independence and confidence. 🌳
Over the past few weeks, these outings have become a valued part of our support and the young adults have shared very positive feedback. Each experience is designed to help build real-world skills such as managing money, ordering food and drinks, navigating new places and developing their confidence.
Our recent visit to The Kelpies was a highlight. After exploring the sculptures and enjoying a walk around the park, they chose to sit in the café rather than opt for takeaway. Many ordered their own meals, and a memorable moment came from Paul, who discovered he could ask for his hot chocolate to be cooled with cold milk. His “cold hot chocolate” became the best part of his day. ☕
The group have also enjoyed lunch outings in our local community in Linlithgow and beyond, and they are excitedly planning where to go next. 🥳
🔗 To learn more about how Gate supports neurodivergent adults to build skills and confidence, click the link in our bio.
Every Thursday, Lin, one of the young people supported by our Vibe service, has been running a yoga and pilates class – teaching us all about balance, breathing and core strength. 🧘♀️
Set in a calm, safe and supportive environment, Vibe is co-designed with young people to make sure every activity meets their needs and helps them grow at their own pace. Lin’s yoga and pilates class is a perfect example of how we help young people to recognise their strengths, and develop self-awareness, confidence, self-esteem and acceptance.
A huge well done to Lin for facilitating these sessions! It’s moments like these that highlight the incredible potential of each young person when they are supported in the right environment. 👏
🔗 To find out more about our Vibe service, click the link in our bio.
It`s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎅☃
Christmas has officially arrived at The Donaldson Trust, and our festive elves have been busy adding sparkle and cheer across our Linlithgow campus. 🎄
When it comes to decorating, we take care to display decorations that reflect personal sensory preferences to make sure everyone can enjoy the festive season comfortably – like opting for steady lights instead of flashing lights to avoid sensory overload.
We have a very busy month ahead filled with many festive activities that we can`t wait to share with you all. Stay tuned! 👀
