The Donaldson Trust

30/10/2026

It’s Halloween Eve, which means it’s time to reveal the winners of our 2026 Pumpkin Carving Competition! 🎃

Following the incredible standard set last year, we asked colleagues and the people we support to bring their best pumpkin creations to life once again for 2026 - and the imagination on show completely blew us away!

With so many inventive entries, picking the top spots was no easy task for our judging panel. Every single entry brought something truly unique to the table!

Take a look through the lineup - do you agree with our 2026 winners? Let us know your favorites in the comments below! 👇

30/10/2026

Building on our recent engagement at Holyrood, we were back at the Scottish Parliament yesterday to meet with ally MSPs.

Keeping neurodivergent rights high on the parliamentary agenda requires continuous dialogue, especially at such a critical juncture. We remain dedicated to ensuring decision-makers have opportunities to learn about and reflect on the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals and families across Scotland.

Both Members were keen to hear from us about Wednesday’s parliamentary debate on the currently shelved Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill, and on the route forward. We emphasised that, at its heart, delivering the Bill is an issue of trust; the Scottish Government must deliver on its long-standing commitments to our communities.

We spoke to MSPs about the urgent need to improve neurodevelopmental assessment and support pathways, and ensure that neurodivergent voices are listened to amidst ongoing public service reform.

Keeping these conversations active is vital to driving lasting, positive change we know that our communities want to see.

We’d like to thank Duncan Dunlop and Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill for their continued support and taking the time to meet with us yesterday. We were happy, too, to hear leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, raise LDAN at First Minister's Questions (FMQs).

29/10/2026

Yesterday, for the first time since the LDAN process began, MSPs had the opportunity to consider the principle of new legislation.

And their message was clear: the Scottish Government should make good on its own commitment and introduce a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill to the Scottish Parliament.

Throughout the debate we heard MSPs speak to the necessity of legislative remedies for the systemic challenges neurodivergent people and families face. Miles Briggs MSP contribution noted that, in absence of a Bill, the Scottish Government’s programme does not effectively address the scale of the challenges that impact all neurodivergent people and families. Joe Long MSP stressed that we are not in an either/or situation; action and legislation need not be mutually exclusive. Urgent improvement of services can, and must, be undertaken while strategic, system-wide accountability and change are put on a sustainable statutory footing.

We’d like to recognise, too, that the debate included powerful, and in many cases deeply personal, contributions from MSPs across all parties. We’d like, in particular, to pay tribute to Daniel Johnson MSP and Karen Adam MSP, who shared their lived experience as neurodivergent people. It’s clear that, regardless of party or perspective, there is a real appetite in Parliament for transformative change.

In September, the Scottish Government chose to shelve the LDAN Bill. People with lived experience – and now our Parliament, too – have had their say on that setback. It is now up to the Scottish Government to reflect on next steps and consider when and how they will bring legislation forward.

The Donaldson Trust will continue to advocate with and for neurodivergent people and families, calling for a robust and transformative Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill.

You can read the full text of the motion – by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, with unanimous support from each of the opposition parties: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S7M-01739

28/10/2026

Class Oak’s latest topic is truly spellbinding! 🪄

As part of their National 3 People and Society qualification looking at The Scottish Witch Trials, pupils from Class Oak took two fascinating trips to The Scottish Witch Trial Museum in Leven and The Witches' Maze in Crook of Devon. These outings gave the pupils a hands-on way to bring their classroom learning to life, sparking curiosity, discussion and creativity.

Outings like this are a wonderful way for pupils to connect with history, practice their social and communication skills out in the community and engage with learning in a fun environment.

Everyone had a brilliant time uncovering stories from the past and discovering the history behind their topic in a practical way! 🧙‍♀️

27/10/2026

The Scottish Liberal Democrats will use their time in The Scottish Parliament tomorrow to debate a motion calling for the LDAN Bill to return to the policy agenda.

When the Scottish Government brought forward its agenda last month, we shared the disappointment felt by neurodivergent people and families at the decision to abandon the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill.

We work with neurodivergent people and families every day, and so know the LDAN Bill represented – and can still represent – an important opportunity. It would strengthen accountability, improve access to services, embed equality, and drive meaningful change.

This matters because it leaves Scotland without a national plan to remedy the many systemic injustices neurodivergent people and families experience daily. Since September, we have stressed to the Minister and parliamentarians the need for more strategic direction.

We welcome this debate and the opportunity to once again focus attention on the substantive changes families need and deserve. Neurodivergent people must remain at the heart of the Scottish Government's priorities, with meaningful action that delivers lasting change.

26/10/2026

The young adults supported by our Gate service recently took part in The Scottish Library & Information Council Wee Read. 📖

For us, reading plays a pivotal role in the lives of the people we support - opening doors to learning, creativity, and personal growth. For neurodivergent individuals, engaging with stories can also be a powerful tool for enhancing focus, communication and self-expression.

The young people demonstrated just how many different opportunities there are to read throughout a normal day:

🍳 Following recipes in the kitchen

📰 Flipping through a magazine to relax

🎧 Listening to audiobooks

📖 Unwinding over lunch with a favorite book

While audiobooks are already a regular part of Gate’s morning routine, everyone took things a step further during the by exploring reading in all its different formats. Everyone chose the style that suited them best!

It was a fantastic way to celebrate reading in all its forms. 😄

22/10/2026

Lately, the young adults at Treehouse have been spending more time getting out and about in the local area. They’ve been visiting nearby parks, dropping into community events and trying out local leisure facilities. 🌳

On the surface, it might look like a simple afternoon trip. But the real impact goes much deeper.

These outings give the people we support the time and space to get comfortable in new environments and build practical, everyday life skills at their own pace.

Over time, these regular outings turn into real confidence. Heading out into the community stops feeling like a challenge and it becomes an enjoyable part of the week, helping them build a true sense of belonging in the local area. 👏

To find out more about Treehouse, visit our website: https://www.donaldsons.org.uk/treehouse/

20/10/2026

Connecting, learning and growing - one cup at a time! ☕

Our Sensational Learning Centre pop-up coffee shop officially launched, and Week 1 with James was a huge success! James stepped behind the counter to serve our colleagues a variety of delicious coffees, raising £8 for our new pop-up fund. The pupils are already hard at work deciding what special treat or resource to spend their earnings on!

While a great coffee is a nice bonus, the real goal of this weekly initiative is learning through real-world interaction. Bringing learning into an everyday environment gives pupils a practical space to build communication skills, gain social confidence and apply what they learn in a meaningful context. 💬

At our Sensational Learning Centre, we understand that every learner is unique. By placing wellbeing, communication and relationships at the heart of everything we do, we help pupils build confidence, develop skills and achieve positive outcomes that prepare them for the future.

🔗 To find out more, visit our website: https://www.donaldsons.org.uk/education/

19/10/2026

October is AAC Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible ways communication tools give neurodivergent young people a voice! 💬

At The Donaldson Trust, we know that communication looks different for everyone. Whether it’s high-tech AAC systems, communication books or visual symbols, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) breaks down barriers and opens up the world.

As our Speech and Language Therapist, Kirsten Lamb, highlights in her feature in SEN Magazine this month, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to communication.

When we find the communication system that fits the individual, every individual gets the opportunity to connect, participate and make their voice heard. 📣

🔗 Catch up on Kirsten's full article published in SEN Magazine this month: https://senmagazine.co.uk/sen-online/sen144_S8ar/ =83

16/10/2026

October is ADHD Awareness Month!

Did you know that around 37,000 children and young people in Scottish schools have ADHD?

Raising awareness is vital to ensuring neurodivergent young people get the understanding and support they deserve. When we increase understanding, we can:

👉 Reduce Stigma – Challenge stereotypes and build a more inclusive society for everyone.

👉 Create Safe, Supportive Environments – Ensure schools and communities adapt to meet individual needs so learners feel secure and understood.

👉 Celebrate Strengths – Recognise the unique creativity, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking that ADHD minds bring.

At The Donaldson Trust, we are committed to creating neuro-inclusive environments where every individual feels supported, accepted, and valued.

Education Scotland has put together a brilliant collection of free learning resources to help practitioners, parents and carers support ADHD learners.

🔗 Click the link to read more: https://education.gov.scot/resources/neurodiversity/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/

Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education.