Repair - Edinburgh

30/08/2026

SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS TO ADULTHOOD

Last week I met Tracey Francis, a Policy and Development worker with ARC Scotland. Her area of expertise is the impact of transitions to adulthood on parents and carers.

There is a huge amount of information and resources on their website, that I have to confess, I wasn't previously aware of, and I'm wondering how often these are shared with parents and carers by professionals?

The policy team are committed to turning their principles of a good transition into practice through working with professionals and parents and carers navigating this huge transition. The first point she made was that this often needs to start earlier than it does, so it's important to be aware well in advance, something a few of us in the REPAIR Steering group are now realising.

Tracey would love feedback from us on what topics it might be useful to cover in a short "Lunchtime Learning" webinar series she is going to be writing these next two weeks! She wouldn't rule out anything - they could be aimed at parents/carers, professionals, or both, and could take any form - discussions, speakers, Q&A, whatever. She would be delighted to hear all suggestions!

I think this seems a genius idea to give people an introduction to topics and provide some context that will help us go off and do further research. Hive minds are usually full of great thoughts so if you feel comfortable posting on this thread, it would probably help and prompt others too.

If you would rather contact Tracey in confidence, if you message us, I will send you her email.

We will also pull together some further information to share with you all on this important topic, and will take notes of your comments when doing so.

30/08/2026

I've just come across a series of free to attend, hybrid talks by the RSE starting next week and thought this one especially could be of interest here. If you were able to attend, please give us some feedback here afterwards as to some key takeaways:

https://rse.org.uk/event/dyslexia-as-a-mental-health-story/?utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=120251198279660048&utm_content=120251198279650048&utm_term=120251198279640048&utm_campaign=120251198279660048&fbclid=IwRlRTSAUA8TlwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNd6Sl8q88vO4OhC2mI0K8H-JW1VcWV4dG4DYWVtATAAYWRpZAGrOAG54KSwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHtFNHCx0G3cL0fpqFuzWGOFAcJGnSXR6MepZeoU_Q-GCt4aa_iahpSxSmACm_aem_DlSjUy_tpP-9ApYTPpRBmA

Exploring the relationship between dyslexia, dyscalculia and mental health.

22/08/2026

Holding It All Together: Workplace Experiences of Parents and Carers of Neurodivergent Children

This national research report was published recently by the Edinburgh-based charity Mindroom.

Based on a survey of over 250 parents and carers, it affirms many of our lived experiences - that systemic support failures force families to sacrifice their careers and wellbeing to support their child / children with additional support needs.

Key Findings

Career Impact: 88% of respondents stated that caring responsibilities limited their career progression.

Working Patterns: 74% had to change their working patterns, 58% reduced their hours, and 30% left work or took a career break.

Financial Strain: 80% reported a negative impact on overall household income.

Mental Health: 98% indicated that the experience negatively impacted their mental health.

Unpaid Care: 55% provided 30 hours or more of unpaid care every week.

Core Causes Identified

Systemic Delays: The charity highlights that workplace barriers stem from delayed clinical /educational diagnoses, fragmented public services, and inconsistent institutional support.

Economic Toll: Mindroom frames the issue as an economic and structural challenge rather than a personal one, noting that workplaces lose valuable, experienced talent when systems fail to support families.

Let's hope that policymakers will take notice of this report, and individual Parents and carers can refer to it in discussions with Line managers around flexible working and reasonable adjustments, whilst we wait for the structural reforms needed to address how our children are being failed:

-Lengthy delays in diagnoses, but also responding to requests for support

-Lack of access to education that meets ASN

-Lack of joined up service provision

You can read more about the research and access the publication directly via Mindroom, or read on this link:

https://www.mindroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Holding-It-All-Together-7.pdf?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAT2Y1JwZG9mAmZkaWQWUM8OdKOzLMC1OM9X2d54a1gBHLoGuWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABpxWgrYNV-36fae80aLe67BsNrPZ_JeOznXbk252qZdEnL5upjuvNi-HxrDbT_aem_zvabdTKeIVMTUtZsu4GJFQ

17/07/2026

All of us at Repair - Edinburgh HQ are saddened to hear of the untimely passing of fellow advocate and campaigner Carol King who set up and ran It takes a village (Currie).

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time.

27/06/2026

Many congratulations to our founding member Carolyn, who attended the opening of the Scottish Parliament as a VIP guest! Carolyn is indeed a powerful and tenacious campaigner, as well as a loyal friend. It’s a privilege to work with her, and this was truly a well-deserved invitation.

Meet my Local Hero! At today’s official opening of Parliament we celebrated the contributions made by some incredible people in our communities. I was thrilled that Carolyn Samson agreed to be my local hero. She is a phenomenal advocate for kids with additional support needs, campaigning with the REPAIR group to make sure these kids get the right support both in schools and in after school care. As many of you know, this is an issue close to my heart - so thank you Carolyn for all that you do speaking up for these kids! ❤️

16/06/2026

16/05/2026

Latest newsletter drop!

Lots of things to sign up for and dates for the diary.

hope you enjoy!

https://repairedinburgh.wordpress.com/newsletters/

12/05/2026

I'm sure lots of us have received help from, and would be happy to support, this excellent local charity.

Can you help us win? 💚

Mindroom has been entered into the Movement for Good, Health & Wellbeing Special Draw, where 10 charities will each receive £5,000 from Benefact Group.

This funding would help us continue our mission to improve the quality of life for neurodivergent people by removing barriers, increasing opportunities, and shaping a more inclusive world.

If you’d like to support our work, please nominate Mindroom using the link below. The nomination window is open until 24 May 2026.

👉 movementforgood.com/draws/special/health-wellbeing

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and help ensure no mind is left behind.

12/05/2026

What happens when your child is unable to attend School?

Every Parent or Carer of an ASN child is an "everyday hero", in ways other parents can rarely imagine.

This is a theme of this year’s Paisley Book Festival and on Friday this week Steering Group member Lesley Macniven will be chairing an event centred around the impact on families when a child cannot attend mainstream school.

It's rare to be able to hear this talked about in a public space. But in the safe, private ASN forums we inhabit, we know that this is not uncommon, at all.

Caro Giles wrote Unschooled while home educating (at different points) 3 of her 4 girls, and fighting for them to access a state-funded education.

She wrote this memoir as an act of advocacy, sense-making & self-preservation. It's an unfiltered story of our times that shows the complications, challenges & opportunities women have to show our mettle, while wishing we didn't have to.

We would love anyone who can to join us at Paisley Town Hall to discuss how aspects of mainstream schooling are harming an ND generation and burning out their mothers, and how society could do better.

There will be a Q&A at the end when we would love to hear from other everyday heroes.

We also hope others will come along with curiosity, interested to find out more. We need allies in this war of attrition for those of us still in the trenches.

If you know anyone in the West, who has a child whose needs are not being met in mainstream education, please do tell them about this event.

Caro Giles: Unschooled📚

📅 Friday 15 May

🎟️ Book now: bit.ly/4cLjynq

12/05/2026

What happens when your child is unable to attend School?

Every Parent or Carer of an ASN child is an everyday hero, in ways other parents can rarely imagine.

This is a theme of this year’s Paisley Book Festival and on Friday this week Steering Group member Lesley Macniven will be chairing an event centred around the impact on families when a child cannot attend mainstream school.

It's rare to be able to hear this talked about in a public space. But in the private ASN forums that we inhabit, we know that this is not uncommon, at all.

Caro Giles wrote Unschooled while home educating (at different points) 3 of her 4 girls, and fighting for them to access an education.

She wrote this memoir as an act of advocacy, sense-making & self-preservation. It's an unfiltered story of our times that shows the complications, challenges & opportunities women have to show our mettle, while wishing we didn't have to.

We would love anyone who can to join us at (the very accessible) Paisley Town Hall to discuss how aspects of mainstream schooling are harming a generation and burning out their mothers, and how society could do better.

There will be a Q&A at the end when we would love to hear from other everyday heroes.

We also hope others will come along with curiosity, interested to find out more. We need allies in this war of attrition for those of us still in the trenches.

If you know anyone in the West, who has a child whose needs are not being met in mainstream education, please do tell them about this event.

Caro Giles: Unschooled📚

📅 Friday 15 May
🎟️ Book now: bit.ly/4cLjynq

Friday 15 May, 12:00-13:00 Paisley Town Hall Pay What You Can (£5/£8/£12) Glasgow-based author and mother of four, Caro Giles, joins us to discuss the escalating crisis unfolding in British schools, as explored in her memoir, Unschooled. After three of her daughters became unable to go to school,...