Our Story
Welcome to the official website of Dunbar ASN Community Collective SCIO, which started life as a community group in November of 2021. We offer a safe space for families to connect, learn and support the growth of a diverse and inclusive local community for children with additional and complex needs in Dunbar & the surrounding areas.
At the start of the journey, we were a couple of parents hoping to make connections and make a difference.
We both moved to our lovely new town just before the pandemic and struggled to make connections due to shielding and the general rules at the time. Then, we met at a coffee morning and decided to be proactive about creating the community our (and others!) families need.
Who Are You Now?
Fast forward a couple of years, and we find ourselves in the position of being a registered charity with new board members, volunteers, and most importantly - new members. We're evolving constantly and adapting to our community needs. We are all volunteers and dedicate our spare time to doing what we can.
Mission
To reach and support families in our local area who feel isolated and want to build nurturing networks.
Collaborate with local businesses, organisations, professionals, and schools helping to solve problems and tailor services and support.
Vision
Our vision is a community where accessibility, acceptance and equity are no longer afterthoughts but play leading roles in driving service provision and community life for our children and young people.
We aim to inspire change and help dispel myths and stigma around neurodiversity and disability by sharing our lived experiences and knowledge.
Values
Equity
Co-creation
Inclusion
Community
Empowerment
FAQ's
Where are you based?
We are based in Dunbar, serving Dunbar and the surrounding villages. We're dedicated to our local area and giving back to the community we all love.
What are Additional and Complex Needs?
Additional Needs are described as help a child, or young person needs over short or more extended periods of time. Children require extra support for lots of reasons, including disability, environment, family circumstances or social and emotional factors. You can read more here.
Complex Needs describe a combination of multiple factors such as health, sensory, disability or cognitive needs that significantly impact daily life and are likely long-term. There is no universally accepted definition, but you can read more here.
Does my child need an official diagnosis to use your services?
No, not at all. We know how fraught the road to diagnosis can be, and we're here to support you if you need us. If you suspect your child might need additional support, please join us.
What age group?
Nursery, Primary, Tween & Teens, Parents, carers, grandparents... the whole family is welcome!
Who can join/get involved?
Families and carers can join us, but anyone can get involved and support our work. If you are a business or a professional - get in touch, as we would love to hear from you too. We aim to bring everyone together to create small changes in our community and help everyone feel welcomed and valued.
Meet the Team
Treasurer emma@dunbarasncommunity.com
Campaigns alex@dunbarasncommunity.com
Secretary nicola@dunbarasncommunity.com