12 Days of Edgemas
Welcome to our first-ever “12 Days of Edgemas” — a festive countdown celebrating everything our young adults, staff team, and community have achieved throughout 2025.
Over twelve days, we’re opening one door at a time to reflect on real progress, the big laughs, the behind-the-scenes graft, and the plans already taking shape for an ambitious 2026 — our tenth birthday year.
Click each numbered door to jump to that day’s story. New doors will be unlocked throughout December.
🎄 Door 1 — Edgemas Begins!
2025 has been one of our busiest, boldest and most transformative years yet.
Think new partnerships, new skills, new faces, new outdoor spaces, and momentum that hasn’t slowed for a second.
This has been a year of growth you can measure — confidence levels rising, new skills taking shape, and young adults pushing themselves in ways that would’ve felt impossible this time last year.
It’s also been a year of growth you can’t always see — the resilience, the communication wins, the quieter moments of independence, the small but powerful milestones that add up to life-changing progress.
And with all of that behind us, Edgemas begins. Here’s to celebrating the work, the people and the spirit that make Edge what it is — and to laying the groundwork for an unforgettable 2026 as we head towards our tenth birthday.
🎄 Door 2 — The Team Who Make It Happen!
Nothing at Edge exists without the people behind it.
Our staff team is the driving force — planning, adapting, supporting, thinking on the fly, and bringing out the best in every young adult, every single day.
From outdoor instructors to support practitioners, from admin legends to planners, organisers and quiet fixers — this is a team that shows up with purpose.
In 2025 they’ve:
Supported hundreds of individual goals
Adapted to last-minute curveballs (there were a few…)
Led new confidence-building adventures across East Lothian, Edinburgh and beyond
Brought energy and problem-solving into every corner of the year
Helped shape what our future programmes will look like
Find out more about the awesome humans that give us the “edge”
Head over to our Meet the Team page to find out more about Team Edge.
A festive side note: if you spot a hoodie, tee or apron you like, yes — our Edge merch is available for Christmas gifting via our online shop.
Order by 16 December to get your bits in time.
🎄 Door 3 — Skills That Stick
Real learning isn’t something you leave behind at the end of a session — it carries forward. And this year, those skills have shown up absolutely everywhere.
Throughout the year, our young adults built skills in:
Cooking (planning ingredients, safe prep, timing, seasoning, batch cooking)
Travel training (routes, tickets, independence, confidence in busy environments)
Communication (self-advocacy, group discussions, social interactions)
Volunteering (teamwork, reliability, responsibility)
Outdoor activities (skiing, bouldering, surfing, paddleboarding — the lot)
Everyday life skills (planning, cleaning, budgeting, organising)
Community participation (working with partners and being part of something bigger)
These skills stick. They build independence. They shape future choices. They’re the building blocks of confident adulthood
And if you’re looking for something meaningful to pop under the tree this year, our Edge merchandise is available — last orders for Christmas delivery are on 16 December.
🎄 Door 4 — Edge Woods Winter Edition!
Edge Woods started the year as a wild idea — a space full of potential, brambles, mud, uneven ground, and a community ready to turn it into something incredible.
Over 2025, that vision started becoming reality.
From clearing paths to uncovering long-lost corners of the woodland, building steps, handrails and compost bins, planning growing areas, and rallying a brilliant community group… Edge Woods has become one of the most exciting developments in Edge history.
And at the centre of it all? Our programme participants.
They’ve taken real ownership of the space — taking on roles, managing tasks, problem-solving on the ground, working safely, keeping to time, and learning to run sessions with the same expectations you’d find in any real-world workplace.
The pride they’ve shown in building something from scratch has been huge — and they should be every bit as proud of themselves as we are of them.
This winter, the Woods might look quiet — but the progress is loud.
And in spring 2026, we’ll be opening the gates properly. Expect workshops, outdoor learning, growing spaces, new opportunities, and a place built with heart, graft, responsibility and community hands.
🎄 Door 5 — The Blooper Reel
Progress isn’t perfect — and we wouldn’t want it to be.
This year’s bloopers come straight from our Year 3 filming project, where the group set out to create an introduction to Edge featuring our sports, our campus and the day-to-day life of the programme.
They planned it, filmed it, voiced it, edited it and added the effects themselves… which means the outtakes are gloriously authentic.
There were forgotten lines, unexpected cameos, camera wobbles, off-script moments, and plenty of clips that left all of us — including Support Worker Reilly — laughing far more than expected.
It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s exactly why we love it.
Learning wobbles. Filming wobbles. Progress wobbles.
And these young adults handled it all with humour, teamwork and real resilience.
Here’s to the moments that kept us grounded, made us laugh, and proved yet again that perfection is overrated.
🔊 Sound ON & watch to the end!
🎄 Door 6 — Community Champions
Edge doesn’t operate in a bubble — and 2025 proved just how powerful a community can be.
Across 2025, our young adults have stepped into their communities with confidence, purpose and a growing sense of belonging.
They’ve volunteered, learned, explored, collaborated and built relationships with partners who’ve opened doors to real-world experiences — from outdoor learning and volunteering at Newhailes and Heugh Community Garden, to water safety with RNLI Dunbar, to travel training supported by East Coast Buses.
They’ve also made a huge impact at Harlawhill Day Care Centre, where our Year 3s have been volunteering throughout the year. Their singing, dancing, laughter and genuine companionship have brought joy to the members — and built friendships that mean a great deal on both sides.
And closer to home, the community has come together in a remarkable way to support Edge Woods — donating time, materials and expertise to help shape a space that our programme participants now use, care for and take real ownership of. None of this would be possible without the support of No One Left Behind (NOLB) funding via East Lothian Council and Eskmills, who generously provided the land and continue to back the vision for what Edge Woods can become.
Every partnership strengthens skills, independence and connection.
Every outing adds to the sense that our young adults are not just supported by the community — they are part of it.
Today we’re celebrating the organisations, groups and individuals who’ve welcomed us in, shared space with us and helped create so many moments of growth and belonging this year.
These links give our young adults real-world experience, help shape our programmes, and bring new opportunities into their lives.
🥂Today we raise a festive toast to the organisations who stood with us this year.
🎄 Door 7 — Winter Wellbeing
As the festive season rolls on, things can get louder, busier and a lot less predictable — and for many young adults who have learning disabilities, are autistic and/or have other ASN, that shift can feel overwhelming.
Over the past few weeks, our groups have been sharing what helps them during this time of year — the strategies that make gatherings calmer, routines more manageable, and the holiday season feel more like something they can take part in rather than simply cope with.
Together, they’ve created their own Holiday Season Survival Guide:
a collection of ideas, boundaries, grounding strategies and energy-saving tips that reflect what really works for them. No one-size-fits-all advice — just honest, practical tools shaped by real experience.
Here are just some of the themes they highlighted:
Keep what works for you — hold onto the routines that help you feel steady.
Plan for your energy — understand what charges you and what drains you.
Create a calm space — somewhere to step away when things get too much.
Use grounding strategies — simple ways to stay centred when the noise, pace or people become overwhelming.
Set gentle boundaries — it’s okay to pause, say “not right now,” or join in later.
Notice what you enjoy — lean into the moments that genuinely feel good.
Small adjustments like these can remove big barriers. And sometimes, the best festive season is the one that’s paced, calm and built around what works for you.
Today we’re celebrating the insight, honesty and self-awareness our young adults have shown — and the supportive, respectful conversations that helped shape their guide.
The numbers behind the year reflect far more than busy schedules.
They show confidence growing session by session.
They show skills being practised, strengthened and repeated until they stick.
They show responsibility, contribution and connection — both within Edge and out in the wider community.
And they show young adults stepping into real-world roles with pride, purpose and a growing sense of independence.
Across 2025, our participants have:
Volunteered thousands of hours in the community, taking on real responsibility and building skills that matter.
Engaged in hundreds of hours of physical activity, strengthening resilience, health and confidence across coast, woodland and slopes.
Mastered dozens of recipes, growing practical, confidence-boosting food skills — from safety and planning to timing, nutrition and cooking independently.
Completed hundreds of real-world travel journeys, planned and navigated independently across the region.
Reported strong increases in confidence, wellbeing and future readiness — with 100% telling us Edge has made a positive difference to their lives
🎄 Door 8 — 2025 in Numbers
2025 has been a year defined by graft, growth and genuine achievement. When you step back and look at everything our young adults have taken on — the hours, the sessions, the consistency, the effort — the scale of their progress becomes even clearer.
This year, every programme day has counted.
From volunteering in the community, to tackling travel routes across East Lothian and Edinburgh, to building independence in the kitchen, to pushing comfort zones through sport and physical activity — our young adults have shown commitment, resilience and a real determination to build their futures.
These achievements don’t happen by accident.
They happen because our young adults show up, participate, try, learn, ask questions, support each other, and stick with the process even when it feels challenging.
Today, we’re celebrating their hard work — and the impact they've created through every single one of these numbers.
🎄 Door 9 — Voices of Edge
Today, we step back and let the voices of 2025 speak for themselves.
Throughout the year, our young adults, families and carers have shared their reflections — the moments that mattered, the progress they’ve seen, the confidence that’s grown, and the difference Edge has made to daily life. These voices are honest, thoughtful and grounded in real experience.
Their words capture the heart of this year far better than anything we could write.
They reflect the pride of our young adults as they build independence, confidence and real-world skills — the victories they’ve earned, the challenges they’ve pushed through, and the achievements they’re genuinely proud of. Families share in that pride too, recognising the progress their young people are making and the growth they see day to day.
These voices guide us.
They shape our programmes, influence our decisions, and ensure Edge continues to evolve in ways that genuinely meet the needs, aspirations and strengths of the young adults we support.
Most of all, they represent trust — something we never take lightly.
We’re grateful for every insight, every reflection and every shared story.
Today, we’re celebrating the people who make Edge what it is… and their voices, which bring depth, meaning and real human insight to everything behind the numbers.
🎄 Door 10 — The Moments You Don’t See
Not every achievement happens in front of a camera — and some of the most important ones never will.
This year, so much of the real progress at Edge has happened quietly, steadily, and in the in-between moments that rarely make it onto social media.
🎯 It’s in the planning before a session even starts — choosing equipment, checking the weather, thinking ahead, asking questions, building confidence through preparation.
💡 It’s in the problem-solving that happens naturally throughout the day — working out how to approach a task, trying a new strategy, adjusting when plans change, and learning to make decisions with increasing independence.
🤜🤛 It’s in the moments of support between young adults — the encouragement offered sideways, the shared successes, the patience, the teamwork, the sense of “we’ve got this” that’s grown stronger every term.
💪 It’s in the resilience we see time and time again — sticking with something even when it’s challenging, taking a breath and having another go, or recognising when to ask for help and when to push forward.
💬 It’s in the communication skills that develop gradually — speaking up more confidently, sharing ideas in groups, listening to others, and learning how to navigate different personalities and situations.
🏗️ And it’s in the everyday acts of independence that build a foundation for the future — organising belongings, managing time, preparing food, travelling with growing confidence, and taking responsibility for personal progress.
These are the moments that don’t always make the highlight reel, but they shape everything we do.
They’re where growth takes root, where young adults discover what they’re capable of, and where the future becomes something they feel ownership of.
Today we’re celebrating all the unseen wins — the thousands of small steps that add up to independence, pride and a strong sense of self.
They matter every bit as much as the big milestones, and they’re at the heart of what makes Edge, Edge.
🎄 DOOR 11 — Edgemas Acts of Kindness
Kindness is one of the most powerful skills our young adults practise — and in 2025, it’s been a force for connection, contribution and community-building.
Across the year, it’s shown up in the care and commitment behind our Pen Pal Project — from first letters and introductions to thoughtful messages and Christmas cards sent to Nova Scotia, building relationships, communication skills and a sense of connection beyond borders.
It’s been felt every Monday at Harlawhill Day Care Centre, where our Year 3s have volunteered consistently — supporting with teas and coffees, bringing laughter, music and companionship, and stepping up as the Edgemas Elves Christmas Choir. These visits haven’t just spread joy — they’ve built confidence, responsibility, routine and real-world social skills.
Kindness has also taken practical, hands-on form at The Heugh Community Garden in Tranent, where all groups have grafted throughout the year — clearing, shifting, planting and supporting Lorraine in community spaces beyond the garden itself.
The same spirit has carried through to volunteering with the team at Newhailes House & Gardens (NTS), taking on big, meaningful tasks like clearing the Ha-Ha together.
Kindness and inclusion have also been reflected through our connection with Edinburgh Inclusive Rugby Team (EIRT). This partnership highlights the importance of inclusive sport — spaces where everyone is welcomed, valued and supported to take part in ways that work for them. For our young adults, seeing inclusive teams in action reinforces that sport, community and belonging should be accessible to all, and that there are places where difference is respected and celebrated.
It’s shown up in everyday environmental responsibility too — litter-picking while out on activities, living out our leave no trace values, lifting plastic from waterways during SUP sessions and caring for the places we share with others.
For the Life Programme, acts of kindness extended to volunteering with The Pleasance Trust at the world’s biggest arts festival — contributing to a huge community event while gaining insight into teamwork, organisation and what goes on behind the scenes.
And perhaps most importantly, kindness has been woven into daily life at Edge itself — in how young adults welcome new participants, support one another, share equipment, offer encouragement, and step in without being asked. These moments build trust, leadership, empathy and a strong sense of belonging.
These acts aren’t grand or performative.
They’re consistent, meaningful and real.
They build communities.
They strengthen independence.
And they prepare young adults for future roles as confident, thoughtful contributors to the world around them.
Today, we’re celebrating kindness not just as a value — but as a life skill.
One that sits at the very heart of Edge.
🎄 DOOR 12 — Looking Ahead to 2026
And just like that, we reach the final door of Edgemas — but in many ways, this is where the story really opens up.
2026 marks Edge’s tenth birthday.
A decade of belief. A decade of transformation. A decade of supporting young adults to build confidence, independence and meaningful lives through real-world learning, outdoor experiences and strong community connection.
What started as a bold idea has grown into something powerful — shaped by the young adults at the heart of everything we do, strengthened by families, partners and community, and driven by a team that never stops pushing for better.
As we look ahead, the year to come is set to be our most ambitious yet.
In 2026, we’ll be:
Embedding SQA-accredited qualifications across our programmes, recognising the real skills young adults build every day
Officially opening Edge Woods, a space created with graft, care and community hands, and built to support learning, wellbeing and opportunity
Launching the Edge Academy pathway, expanding what’s possible for young adults as they move towards positive destinations
Growing and strengthening opportunities across all programmes — outdoor, vocational, community-based and skills-focused
Celebrating 10 years of Believe. Transform. Achieve., and everything that ethos has made possible
But more than new developments, 2026 is about continuity with purpose
Keeping what works.
Listening closely.
Raising expectations.
And continuing to build pathways that are meaningful, achievable and shaped around the strengths of each young adult.
If Edgemas has shown anything, it’s this: progress isn’t accidental. It’s built day by day, session by session, by people who show up and believe in what’s possible.
We’re incredibly proud of what’s behind us — and even more excited about what’s ahead.
Here’s to the next chapter of Edge.
Here’s to 10 years.
And here’s to everything still to come.
Thank you for being part of the 12 Days of Edgemas.
Whether you’re part of the Edge community, a partner, a family member, or simply someone who believes in what’s possible, we’re really glad you’ve been with us.
We hope Christmas brings a chance to pause, recharge and enjoy the festive season — because 2026 is shaping up to be something special as we celebrate 10 years of Believe. Transform. Achieve.
See you in 2026. ✨