EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – July 23, 2024 – A new community hub opening in Musselburgh this September will help young adults with additional needs gain independence, build life skills, and connect with their local community to take part in life’s “next steps”, Teens+ has announced.
Teens+ was established in 2006 to support school leavers in Edinburgh with complex needs who were typically excluded from further education and life’s “next steps”.
In 2023, Teens+ launched its Next Steps programme to meet growing demand for greater independence among young people in Edinburgh with additional support needs. Many were eager to move beyond traditional day services and pursue meaningful life goals and opportunities they often miss out on due to limited progression routes in conventional care settings. Next Steps was created to bridge that gap, offering a more flexible, empowering path forward for both Teens+ students and others in the Lothians.
Since then, Next Steps has engaged over 150 young people with additional support needs across the Lothians through adapted Duke of Edinburgh Award excursions, social enterprise, volunteering, a calendar of social events, and more.
“No matter the goal, big or small, Next Steps supports young people in engaging in society in ways that are meaningful to them,” says Caitlin Nightingale, Next Steps Manager. “Next Steps creates opportunities for social inclusion and provides young people with access to new skills and training opportunities that align with their interests and goals in life. This Next Steps Hub gives them space to grow, connect, and thrive. Whether it’s writing a CV and applying for a job or learning to budget, shop and cook, we’re helping young people take real steps towards independence.”
“Fisherrow is a vibrant community, and that’s exactly where our young people belong,” adds Simon Pearce-Madge, Head of Teens+. “The Next Steps Hub provides flexibility and reduces reliance on paid building-based support. It allows young people to transition from traditional day services to more flexible, community-based support. The Next Step Hub will support those who are ready to move on but need some skills development to be able to do so, wherever they are coming from. The hub gives them the freedom to drop in, learn new skills, and be part of everyday life. It also allows us to open up our service to others for whom one-to-one support is excessive for their needs.”
“My son Lewis has been part of Next Steps since it launched in 2023, and the change in him has been incredible,” says parent Donna Leitch. “He’s more confident, eager to try new things like cooking and volunteering, and even stayed away from home overnight for the first time on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition, something we never thought possible. The social side has been a huge hit too, especially the discos. He’s started taking real pride in his appearance, learning to shave, choosing his own haircuts, and heading out to socialise on his own.”
The move completes the charity’s ambitious growth target to support more young adults with additional support needs in East Lothian. The new Next Steps Hub will:
- Support 10 young people in its first year, growing to a capacity of 30 by 2027
- Add 6 local jobs paying the Living Wage or above, following the creation of 18 jobs at its Teens+ Centre in Eskmills, which opened in 2022
- Open at Fisherrow Community Centre in Musselburgh on September 15th
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Frequently Asked Questions
We’re working towards an opening date of Monday 15th September 2025. We’ll make sure to keep everyone informed of any updates or changes as things progress.
The Hub will be based at Fisherrow Community Centre with clear directions and access details shared before we open to help make arrival as smooth as possible.
The Next Steps Hub has been created to support young people with additional support needs as they move on from school, college, home, or other services. Our aim is to provide a positive and personalised experience that helps build independence, confidence, and real-world skills in a supportive environment.
Young people will benefit from a 1:3 staff-to-trainee ratio, allowing for tailored support that meets their individual needs. We offer accredited learning, practical life skills, wellbeing support, and access to community and work-based opportunities. The environment is calm, inclusive, and shaped by the young people who attend.
The Hub will run Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm, and Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. We close for two weeks over Christmas and have four in-service days throughout the year. Other than that, the service runs year-round (50 weeks).
Each day will include a mix of structured sessions, social time, skill-building activities, and opportunities for volunteering or community involvement. Every programme is tailored to the interests and goals of the trainee.
The Next Steps Hub will have dedicated staff members. Trainees will receive support from a skilled and enthusiastic team, including some staff who bring a range of experience from across the Teens+ service.
The service will be overseen by Robbie, the Hub Manager, who will provide overall support and guidance to the team and young people. Caitlin, Next Steps Manager, will oversee the Hub Manager.
Everyone involved is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment that supports everyone to thrive.
Families will be given contact details for key staff, and we welcome regular communication. Whether it’s a quick check-in or a more in-depth conversation, we’re here to support both the young person and their family throughout. Right now, please contact Caitlin with any enquiries.
The service is staffed at a 1:3 ratio, meaning we have enough staff to support one member of staff for every three trainees. However, how support is delivered will vary throughout the day. Young people may work in small groups, in pairs, independently, or take part in whole-hub sessions, with 1:1 time offered where needed. This flexible approach allows us to balance independence, social opportunities, and tailored support based on each person’s needs and goals.
The Next Steps Hub is designed to support longer-term development, so there’s no set end date. We regularly review each young person’s journey to make sure the support continues to meet their needs and helps them move toward greater independence at their own pace.
The service will be registered with the Care Inspectorate who will regulate our service.
Next Steps is a service that people can transition too when they are ready, this can either be from Teens+ or outside of the organisation. Next Steps will still be part of the Teens+ service.
