TEENS+ celebrates the opening of its newest centre, which will see the organisation’s capacity reach 100 students by 2025.
TEENS+ celebrated the opening of its new East Lothian centre on Thursday, December 8, marking the opening of the charity’s third centre and first expansion outside Edinburgh.
The event was attended by key partners of Teens+, including Councillor Shamin Akhtar, spokesperson for Health & Social Care, and vice-chair of the Joint Integration Board and Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh.
The new Teens+ centre at Musselburgh has been made possible by the generous support of the East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership. Speaking at the event, East Lothian Councillor Shamin Akhtar, said of the partnership:
“Teens + is such an incredible facility and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to offer this service to our young adults with complex communications needs in East Lothian. Not only will this have an incredibly positive effect on the teens’ confidence and independence as they progress through their educational transition process, it will provide a number of benefits for families and carers too.
This project has come to fruition thanks to the fantastic partnership working between East Lothian Council, the Health & Social Care Partnership and third-sector agencies. I would like to personally thank everyone who has been involved in this project to enhance East Lothian’s Community Transformation Programme and bring these specialist services to a convenient location within our county’s borders.”
Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, said: “I welcome the opening of a new TEENS+ centre in my constituency. I have heard first hand from my constituents how valuable the support from TEENS+ has been for their households and how these services have supported young adults with complex additional support needs transition to a more independent life in the community.
It was fantastic to hear that the centre is currently supporting 11 students with plans to expand this capacity in the future and creating 18 living-wage jobs in the area. It is vital people have locally available services like this and I look forward to seeing how TEENS+ expands its capacity in East Lothian over the next few years.
This is a much-needed resource in East Lothian, and I wish TEENS+ all the best with their future plans.”
Linzi Christiansen, mother of Teens+ student Haakon, said: “For Haakon and myself the most important aspect is the highly individualised support, using Haakon’s likes and interests to motivate his learning and development, alongside the great mix of educational and life skills learning. The move to the new Musselburgh centre also means he can make use of opportunities and facilities in his local area.”
Simon Pearce-Madge, Head of Teens+, said: “This wonderful new centre has offered support to 11 students so far and has the capacity to work with up to 25 students and their families over the next three years, providing them with tailored learning, and life and social skills as they prepare for the next steps in life; because we believe that everyone has the right to further education, regardless of need.
We have seen our students grow from strength to strength and now have people accessing work placements and working towards the part they want to play in their wider community.”
