http://www.aad-online.com

Aberdeen Action on Disability raise awareness of disability issues, promotes social inclusion, provides services for all people with disabilities including assistance with welfare benefits, information and advice. The charity facilitate weekly drop-in sessions to provide a meeting place and overcome social isolation. Aberdeen Action on Disability also provide hydrotherapy sessions for people with musculo-skeletal conditions.

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Shared Lives provides a mutual, individual, flexible match between families who need a service and Shared Lives carers who offer their skills of support to people with a disability. This is a mutual match so people can share hobbies interests, communities, holidays and friends. Shared Lives is for people who are aged 16 and over, there is no upward age limit. This scheme is registered under the Care Inspectorate and rates as 'very good'. 

Shared lives offers short breaks, day support and long term placements. However unlike the traditional forms of support it is personal for the individual and has a high level of confidence building, self help skills and life skills. Shared Lives also offers weekends away and once a month events such as curling, come dine with Shared Lives, BBQs and confidence to cook.

http://www.advocacyne.org.uk

Advocacy North East is a voluntary, charitable organisation which provides independent advocacy and/or representation to adult users of health and social work services in Aberdeenshire who, through mental illness or disorder may require support to access information, affirm their rights and express their wishes in relation to their health and care. 

They also provide an independent advocacy service to Aberdeenshire residents in Royal Cornhill Hospital Aberdeen. 

Advocacy North East is a full member of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance. 

Their service is free and confidential.

http://www.advocacy.org.uk

ASA was founded in 1996 and provides an independent advocacy service for people in Aberdeen. They offer a free and confidential service. ASA are a local charity governed by a volunteer board of directors. 

They have three offices in town but can visit you in your home or at other convenient venues. 

ASA have 17 members of staff and six volunteers. All staff and volunteers work to The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance’s (SIAA) Principles and Standards and Code of Practice. Specialist services are available for people with mental health issues, people with learning disabilities; older people, children with additional support needs; carers and for people who are victims of domestic abuse.

http://www.drugsaction.co.uk

Alcohol & Drugs Action has been operating in the North East of Scotland as a provider of specialist drug and alcohol services for nearly thirty years. They work across the spectrum of drug and alcohol use to deliver a wide range of services and support packages which have a positive impact on: 

• Preventing problematic drug and alcohol use 

• Reducing risk and harm to people using drugs or alcohol

• Supporting people in recovery from drug and alcohol use 

• Supporting families and friends affected by drug and alcohol use. 

Their services are delivered across communities in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and include one-to-one and group support for people with drug or alcohol issues. Alcohol and Drugs Action also support concerned family members, young people and children affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use.

http://www.alcoholsupport.co.uk

Alcohol Support provide a variety of services to assist those affected by alcohol misuse. These services includes counselling, support groups and a designated place of safety for individuals found drunk and incapable in a public space.

http://www.brain-injury-grampian.weebly.com

Brain Injury Grampian Group provide help with the following: 

• Offer a full social and support programme including group meetings, social outings, exercise classes and speakers evenings

• Support carers and make it possible for them to meet, share their experiences and attend outings and weekend breaks

• Help promote partnership working between health services, social services and voluntary organisations

• Raise awareness of what it’s like to live with a brain injury.

http://www.redcross.org.uk

People in the past have been put off acting in an emergency by how complicated first aid is, or is perceived to be, so in order to build confidence the British Red Cross have created an approach to teaching first aid that is easy to learn, easy to teach, easy to recall and simple to do. 

The sessions are tailored to the needs of the individual groups, the sessions would normally be run over 2 hours max, or the British Red Cross can do a programme of several sessions covering more skills.

http://www.cornerstonesds.org.uk

Cornerstone SDS is an impartial advisory service, created to provide you with all the information you need to choose the best possible care for you through Self-Directed Support (SDS). 

The introduction of the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act means you have four options to choose from about how you would like your care and support to be arranged and delivered. 

SDS enables you to have more choice and control over the support you receive

https://www.stroke.org.uk/

This is a Stroke Association Voluntary group which provides a weekly opportunity for stroke survivors and carers to meet and take part in an exercise class run by a fully qualified Chartered Physiotherapist. 

The Deeside club meets up weekly on Mondays at 10:30am at The Old Free Kirk, The Green, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 4WY. It also has one hour a week’s exclusive access to the Aberdeenshire Community Gym in Aboyne.

http://www.nhsgrampian.org

The department of Clinical Neuropsychology provide neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation to assist with cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties which may be impacting on daily living skills, independence, relationships, quality of life, return to work or study or capacity to make decisions. Following referral, patients are seen for a screening appointment to discuss available services, suitable interventions and to give brief advice. 

Following this patients may be seen for cognitive assessment, offered group intervention or placed on waiting list for individual sessions.

http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk

Different Strokes is a charity supporting younger adults affected by a stroke and their families. It helps stroke survivors of working age to optimise their recovery, take control of their own lives and regain as much independence as possible by offering ‘rehabilitative services’, information and advice. 

The Moray group meets every Tuesday for coffee and a chat, followed by an hour’s pilates/exercises.

https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/brain-injury-claims

Digby Brown is Scotland’s largest personal injury practice. From our seven offices in Aberdeen,Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkcaldy and Ayr, we cover the length and breadth of the country. Our expertise in personal injury law, particularly in the fields of serious head and spinal injury is widely acknowledged. Digby Brown is ranked Band 1 for Personal Injury in Scotland by Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession and Legal 500. 

In cases of traumatic brain injury a specialist solicitor is vital. Seeking rightful and fair compensation after the accident is just one aspect of the package of measures which needs to be considered and implemented to try and ensure that the process of rehabilitation and adjustment can start. 

We can immediately provide advice and support on statutory benefits and how to access local authority social services through our in-house welfare rights service. We can make a real difference by arranging private rehabilitation, by assessing housing needs and, most importantly, implementation of care and case management regimes where required.

http://www.dphsaberdeen.org

Disabled persons housing service provides professional housing advice to local disabled people, their families or carers on a range of social and private housing options. 

Home and hospital visits are available to clients and assistance can be given with housing application forms, if required. 

Disabled persons housing service offer advice on Housing Law and a signposting service to money advice and welfare rights.

http://www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk/

There are a number of epilepsy support groups in the Grampian region. These are in Aberdeen, Banff, Buckie, Elgin, Inverurie, Peterhead and Ellon.

http://www.euansguide.com

Euan’s Guide makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go. Euansguide.com is the disabled access review website where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of places around the UK and beyond. It’s an invaluable tool for everything from planning somewhere to take the kids at the weekend to picking a last minute place for lunch. 

We all want to get out there and enjoy life, and having good quality disabled access information inspires confidence and removes fear of the unknown. With good accessibility information being so hard to find, one review is often enough to encourage others to visit. Reviews are also sent to venue owners and this can be a positive and powerful opportunity for education and change. 

The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user and his sister Kiki after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful. By breaking down the barriers of exclusion with the help of other people in the same situation, Euan’s Guide hopes to make the world more accessible one review at a time.

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Grampian Disability Sport lead in the development of sport for people with physical, sensory or learning disability. GDS wok in partnership with key local agencies in the Grampian area.

http://www.grampianopportunities.org.uk

Grampian Opportunities works to develop opportunities for people with disabilities, mental ill health, sensory impairment or long term conditions. 

Their approach is to support the development of relationships and encourage people to be actively involved in their community. They work with individuals to identify what they would like to achieve. Grampian Opportunities help people find the information, the support and the confidence they need to start working towards their personal goals. 

Their main activities are: 

• Providing information, and helping people make connections in their community

• Supporting a range of hobby and wellbeing activities (eg craft group, strength and balance exercise group, discussion groups) 

• Delivering a range of learning programmes, including a life skills group known as GO Dynamix

• Coordinating employability programmes (eg GO to Work group, Supported Self-Employment and Access to Work Support) 

• Supporting a range of volunteering opportunities, where people can contribute and develop their skills 

• Raising awareness of opportunities and support available to enable people to be involved and have their voices heard.

http://www.bonaccordcare.org

Horizons Rehabilitation Centre is the first integrated, inter-agency service of its type in Scotland, Horizons provides a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency approach to the rehabilitation needs of service users aged 16 to 65 with complex physical disability, mainly neurological in nature. Horizons Rehabilitation Centre also provide advice and support to families and carers. They work closely with colleagues throughout neurological rehabilitation services and have dedicated support from Rehabilitation Consultants. 

Horizons Rehabilitation Centre accept referrals from professional colleagues in health and social care within the Grampian area, and aim to provide community-based, multi-disciplinary programmes of rehabilitation, based on service users’ own goals. 

Areas of Expertise: 

• Vocational rehabilitation 

• Cognitive rehabilitation 

• Hydrotherapy 

• Fatigue management 

• Functional Electrical Stimulation 

• Swallowing/speech difficulties 

• Home adaptations 

• Weight management 

• Care at home.

http://www.ilf.scot

The ILF Scotland 2015 Fund is designed to support individuals who have complex disabilities to live independently. The funding makes a positive difference to the lives of recipients. 

The new ILF Scotland Transition Fund provides money, for up to one year, to support young people living with disabilities (as defined in the Equality Act 2010) to improve their lives. This includes autism, learning difficulty, physical disability, mental health (e.g. anxiety or depression) or hearing or visual impairments. 

The purpose of the Fund is to help young people, between the ages of 16 and 25 living with disabilities, with the transition after leaving school or children’s services to be more independent and to continue spending time with other people.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk

Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advice helps adults aged 18 years plus into employment. The service provides courses to meet individual needs. The Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advice service networks and works in partnership with various agencies that can offer specialist support to our customers.

http://www.lifeways.co.uk

Craig Court is a 16 bedroom residential/rehabilitation service providing specialist expertise to those who has suffered a serious incident such as a stroke or brain injury.

Unique in the Grampian area for the specialist expertise they offer, Craig Court give people the highly specialist support they need in order to reclaim as much independence as possible. 

Craig Court offer the highest standards of residential and rehabilitation support through a commitment to person-centred planning, attention to detail, engaged staff teams and most importantly a passion for enabling the people we support to achieve their goals and self-direct their support as much as they can. 

The team work closely with the NHS rehabilitation team to achieve the goals the people we support are reaching for.

Services include:

• Neuro rehabilitation

• Acquired brain injury

• Residential

• Short breaks & respite

• Complex needs

• Outreach

• Nursing care.

http://www.momentumskills.org.uk

Momentum Skills acquired brain injury programme offers vocational rehabilitation for adults who wish to progress towards and into sustained employment either paid or voluntary, full time or part time. 

Clients are supported by staff to meet their individual vocational goals and to take part in group and one-to-one sessions covering a range of topics relating to their vocational rehabilitation e.g. confidence, anxiety, stress, cognitive issues, memory. Clients can also be supported into work placements or when returning to their previous employment or further education.

http://www.moray.gov.uk

Moray Resource Centre, part of the Moray Council Community Services Department, is a purpose built, community facility which offers a range of specialised services for those with a physical and/or sensory disability who need help to adjust to change, develop confidence and skills.The service can help people build a network of resources that will improve quality of life and promote independent living. 

Service users will have access to a resource worker who can support them in a variety of ways: 

• Provide useful information which can help service users have more choices in their lives

• Information on useful resources in the community, such as housing, mental health, educational, recreational, employment, drug and alcohol services, which they support service users to access

• Emotional support and help adjusting to change, such as, loss of employment, loss of mobility, financial difficulties, relationship breakdown and loss of confidence and self-esteem

• Help identify and use resources that they have within themselves which will help people rebuild their lives and maintain independence.

There are some activities provided, such as relaxation and yoga. Service users are encouraged and supported to access activities in the community. Some people like to take on a volunteering role such as working in the café or garden or being on reception. This can help build confidence, increase self esteem and develop skills.

http://www.nhsgrampian.org

The Neuro-rehabilitation Unit at Woodend Hospital provides inpatient assessment and neuro-rehabilitation for adults aged 16-65 (or older if clinically appropriate) who are resident in Grampian. The team includes dietician, medical staff, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapy and some (limited) neuropsychology input. Rehabilitation is coordinated via a consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine. 

Most patients are admitted from the acute neurology and neurosurgery ward at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, although patients are also admitted from home. Most patients have an acquired brain injury or deteriorating condition such as multiple sclerosis. Clear goals are set with patients (if possible), and rehabilitation is goal focused. Outpatient or community based follow-up is arranged as necessary following discharge. Some patients are discharged to Craig Court, for further residential neuro-rehabilitation. The rehabilitation medicine consultants are happy to discuss possible referrals, and can be contacted via the above telephone numbers. 

There is a weekly Relatives’ Meeting, where the consultants are available to meet up with relatives to give them an update on progress (if the patient is in agreement with this).

http://www.neurophysioscotland.co.uk

The neuro physiotherapists at NeuroPhysio Scotland provide a service in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness and the surrounding areas. NeuroPhysio Scotland visit patients in their own homes or arrange visits to specialist clinics. 

NeuroPhysio Scotland treatments can help people who have a neurological condition achieve their personal goals of maximum fitness, function and quality of life: 

• Mobility in walking, climbing stairs and physical transfers

• Hand and arm movement such as grip strength, dexterity, eating and drinking

• Balance and co-ordination to prevent falls

• Stiffness and tightness in muscles

• Pain control.

North East Scotland Disabled Veterans Association (NESDVA) is a self-help group for disabled veterans and ex members of the armed forces. 

NESDVA was set up by individual veterans of the armed forces in the North-east who were experiencing disability either through their service or otherwise. Financed completely by their own fundraising efforts, the group provide social activities, comradeship and friendship, chaplaincy, counselling, alternative therapies, computer studies, the opportunity to take part in memorials locally and nationally; as well as providing honour guards at funerals of their members. NESDVA also has a 17 seater adapted minibus to provide transport for members. 

The group meets twice a week at Mastrick Community Centre.

http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk

North East Stroke Support Group works with Different Strokes to provide better support and advice for people who have had a stroke and their carers. The group meets every second Friday at Fraserburgh Hospital, Lochpots Road, Fraserburgh AB43 9NH from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. 

The group provides help with information about a variety of topics such as: 

• disabilities 

• work related issues 

• help for people to find and access college courses 

• housing issues 

• benefit issues 

• signposting to other agencies for help and support.

http://www.pamis.org.uk

PAMIS is a registered charity working specifically with people who have profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and complex health care needs, their families and interested professionals. PAMIS provides a range of services and projects to people with PMLD and their families in the Grampian area including: 

• Visiting families at home to discuss concerns 

• Supporting with issues relating to services e.g. health, social care, education or housing 

• Providing practical advice, information and workshops and training to families 

• Producing digital passports for the people with profound and multiple learning disabilities 

• Representing families at a strategic level to influence improvements in services 

• Working with professionals to enhance their training within complex needs and PMLD.

http://www.quarriers.org.uk

Quarriers provide an Epilepsy Fieldwork Service in Grampian to anyone affected by epilepsy. They provide information, support to the individual with epilepsy, whatever age, their families and the professionals involved in their support and care. Quarriers link with primary and secondary care and liaise to ensure a joined up approach. The organisation encourage people to advocate on their own behalf and if required advocate for them to have their voice heard, including facilitating support groups throughout Grampian. We provide training in epilepsy awareness and the administration of rescue medication. 

Quarriers work with the individual usually by visiting their home to identify with them what the issues are and how to address them, liaising with other agencies and organisations to meet the agreed aims.

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

The Self Directed Support Team: 

• Offer the 4 choices to persons assessed as eligible for funded support to how that support is delivered 

• Explain the ‘nature and effect’ of each option 

• Provide information, assistance and support on how to manage the support and where to get help 

• Takes steps to promote the availability of the options for self-directed support 

• Tries as far as is reasonably practicable to promote a variety of providers of support and a variety of support.

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

The Shared Lives Scheme matches people over 16 years of age with a disability, with someone who shares the same interests. The support is unique in that it is based in and around the Shared Lives Carer’s home and community. This partnership is flexible and could range from a few hours during the day or evening, during the week or weekends, to possibly a short overnight break. 

The Shared Lives Scheme offers: 

• day support in the shared lives carer’s home 

• shared breaks in the shared carer’s home 

• long- term accommodation and support 

• weekend breaks away 

• transition support. 

Shared Lives provides person centred support which allows for real choices in life. This is a mutual match so people can share hobbies,interests, communities, holidays and friends. Shared Lives Carers are assessed, trained and supported by Aberdeenshire Council.

https://www.stroke.org.uk/

Speakability Self-Help Group is run by and for people with Aphasia - language-loss following stroke, head injury or other neurological condition. The Group offers people with aphasia friendship and support, and gives people the opportunity to improve confidence and develop skills. The group practise total communication using words, drawing, pictures and gesture. 

Speakability raises awareness of Aphasia in the local community and raise funds to support group meetings, activities and outings. 

The group has monthly informal meetings, Thursdays 2.30pm to 4.00pm at Curl Aberdeen, Eday Walk, Aberdeen, AB15 6LN.

http://www.sueryder.org

Deeview Court provides 24 hour support to people living with complex needs and neurological conditions. 

They provide tailored care and support services to help people live as well and as independently as possible within a safe and secure environment.

http://www.turningpointscotland.com

Turning Point Scotland Aberdeen has two distinctive services in the city supporting people who have experienced mental health issues get back into employment, and another providing housing support to people with either mental health issues or living with a neurological condition. 

• Rosies Social Enterprises - provides training and vocational work experience in real working businesses.

• Aberdeen Housing Support - provides support for people to remain at home and be as independent as possible.

http://www.vsa.org.uk

VSA carers services provides support to adults and young carers throughout Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire and has specialist support for mental illness including weekend day care and home support for those suffering from dementia and their carers. 

The VSA carers services offer advice, information and support on all aspects of caring. The carers services include the Carers City Service based at 38 Castle Street, Aberdeen as well as the Young Carers Centre in Castle Street, and centres throughout Aberdeenshire. In addition to this, VSA have specific workers tasked in the areas of mental health and learning disabilities. These services are all responsive to the needs of the people using them and the communities that they are in. 

VSA carer’s services are for anyone of any age who helps a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage without their support and has taken on an unpaid caring role in addition to their existing commitments.

http://www.visibilityscotland.org.uk

Visibility Scotalnd is a charity working across Scotland, delivering a range of holistic services and support to people living with visual impairment. Visibility Scotland supports children and adults to make their own choices and live their lives fully, confidently and independently. At Visibility Scotland we believe that you don’t need sight to have vision! 

There are many ways that Visibility Scotland can help, support or advise you or your family member. If your vision has been affected by stroke or head injury, its “Neurosight” project might be able to help.