Dawn Black MSP attended the official opening of OaKley ASN last Saturday, where members of the community and the people who would be using the facility were invited along to celebrate the hard work by the whole team.
OaKley was founded by Amanda Greig after her own child struggled to fit into mainstream school. Along with other families who had struggled with the systems that were not suitable for their children she found a gap in services across Aberdeenshire – families did not have access to a safe learning environment, where you could find people in similar circumstances and support one another. They recognised the need for a provision with reliable staffing, and the right resources to support the young people who
need it the most.
OaKley ASN now has children from 2-18 now using the facilities. They offer days through the week and at the weekend as well. The amenity is based just outside of Stonehaven, and users come from Portlethen, across Aberdeenshire and even Angus, as this is one of the only available facilities offering children somewhere safe to be themselves.
OaKley are trying to work through local schools to create partnerships as well as Aberdeenshire Council for funding, they have had funding through the National Lottery
After the opening, Dawn Black MSP said: “Giving our children and young people with additional needs a safe and welcoming
environment to learn and play is absolutely vital to their development and Oakley have nailed it with this amazing, purpose-built facility.
“Having followed this project through conception, planning and development, I am so impressed with what Oakley is offering and have achieved here. It is exactly what families with ASN children across the area need. In my capacity as the MSP, I hope that I can support them going forward in their journey.”