Edinburgh’s Employer of the Year 2023 and Third Sector Large Charity of the Year Nominee unveils new head office location, including centre supporting adults with additional needs

Capella, the non- profit operating Teens+ and Sleep Action, is pleased to announce plans to open the charity’s new headquarters at 95 McDonald Road, Edinburgh in September 2024. Capella joins Hanover Scotland at McDonald Road.

The move expands the capacity of Teens+, a pathway for school leavers with additional needs to realise their potential, while providing much-needed office space for the teams supporting the delivery of the charity’s services.

Due to Capella’s rapid two-year growth, the charity has outgrown office space at its four Teens+ Centres across Edinburgh and Musselburgh, which in addition to supporting students, provide shared spaces for Capella and Sleep Action staff.

“McDonald Road will serve as a central hub for the charity, providing dedicated space for Capella’s operations while creating areas for collaboration and community,” says Gail Burden, CEO of Capella. “The move marks a significant milestone in the charity’s journey and represents another step in the organisation’s continued growth.”

The charity’s new headquarters will be divided across two floors with Capella’s head office on the first floor. The existing Teens+ Edinburgh Centre will be relocated from Musselburgh to occupy the ground floor at the McDonald Road site.

Key Highlights of the Teens+ Centre

• Twice as many young people supported: McDonald Road will deliver tailored support five days a week to an additional 13 school leavers with additional support needs. The Edinburgh centre, currently located at Eskmills, Musselburgh, where Teens+ operates two centres, will have a total capacity of 25 students once the move is complete. Teens+ East Lothian will be unaffected by the move and will continue to operate at its current location.
• Impressive new facilities: Work begins shortly to create a flexible, modular space that enables education tailored to individual needs. This includes the construction of a large teaching kitchen, which will enable students to gain confidence and life skills. The kitchen will feature lowered counters and stovetops ensuring accessibility for wheelchair users, while high-contrast surfaces, fittings, and cupboards will create an easy-to-navigate space for students with visual impairments.
• Response to rising demand: The Edinburgh Teens+ Centre was established to support the increasing number of young people aged 17+ in Edinburgh who, due to their needs, are typically excluded from accessing further education. Capella has grown Teens+ from 2 centres supporting 60 students in 2020 to 4 centres accommodating 109 young people with learning disabilities and complex support needs to meet the demand. This places the charity ahead of its 2025 goal of 100 students.

“Opening in Edinburgh city centre is a vital step to enhance our services and be where we are needed most,” says Head of Teens+, Simon Pearce-Madge. “The move enhances the accessibility of Teens+ for the young people of Edinburgh who might ordinarily be excluded from accessing any form of further education once they have left school due to their needs.”

Capella’s head office will also include the first dedicated hub for Sleep Action, the UK’s oldest sleep charity, since 2020 when the team transitioned to delivering an entirely remote service amid the COVID- 19 pandemic.

“Demand for our training and support service has continued to grow because there is no health and wellbeing without sleep,” explains Alyson O’Brien, Head of Sleep Action. “Our new head office will provide us with even greater flexibility to meet the growing demand, including dedicated space for offering in-person training to the education, health, and social care sector staff supporting children facing severe sleep problems.”

“The move to McDonald Road will contribute significantly to our goal of becoming a Net Zero charity by 2029,” commented Christopher McShane, Head of Corporate Services who leads on Capella’s ambitions to become one of Scotland’s first Net Zero charities. “The public transport links, cycling infrastructure, and proximity to other like-minded organisations

make it the ideal location to set strong foundations for our ambitious net zero target.” Capella is a proud member of NetZero Nation and recently appointed Dr Adrian de Andres, an executive leader in the renewables industry, to its board of trustees.

Hanover Chief Executive, Angela Currie said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Capella to our Head Office on McDonald Road. As an organisation guided by our core values of respect, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion, it is a pleasure to be sharing the building with a like-minded organisation. For over 40 years, Hanover Scotland has empowered independence by providing safe, secure social housing that allows residents to live fulfilling, independent lives. While Capella’s aim is to help people to “Be the Best You” through life- long learning that creates lasting change, demonstrating a clear synergy in our approach.

We are looking forward to exploring the opportunities that sharing the building might bring.”

Capella is shortlisted as Third Sector’s Large Charity of the Year 2024 in recognition of the impact and success the charity’s services have had helping others to “Be the Best You”.

Capella is now seeking donations of office equipment and kitchen equipment to make the new centre a space where Teens+ students can thrive.