Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Signpost

[email protected]  01506 431123 
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram


Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Meet our team
    • Our history
    • Jobs
  • Get help
    • Coronavirus support
    • Our services
    • Helpline
    • Drop-in service
    • Training
    • Advocacy support
    • Family passes for fun days out
    • Make a referral
  • Resources
    • Transition
    • Self Advocacy
    • Education
    • Funding & benefits
    • Sport and Leisure
    • Mental health
      • Mental health - information for parents
      • Mental health - information for young people
      • Mental health - information for young adults
  • Our impact
    • Why Signpost?
    • The difference we make
    • Case studies
    • Facts and figures
    • Research
  • Support our work
    • Thank you!
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
      • Set up a fundraising page
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Challenge events
    • Trusts and funds
  • Latest
    • Events
    • Blogs
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Our history

Our history

Our history

Signpost began as a volunteer project in September 2000, run by a group of parents of children with additional support needs who started a help-line in Lesley Mount's back room.

Telephone callers were offered information about local services and a chance to chat to parents who had been through similar experiences. The volunteers used the knowledge they had gained from looking after their own children, and the information they had collected about local services.

With the support of staff from West Lothian Council, and NHS Lothian, and following an intensive publicity campaign to raise awareness of the service, the volunteers soon found parents and professionals calling the help-line from all over West Lothian.

The helpline was originally funded by The Millennium Commission, a Government fund to help volunteers make a difference in their community. After a successful year, the parents formed a trustee committee and Signpost became a charity. This allowed Signpost to apply for funding from the National Lottery, from a trust fund (Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland) and from Children in Need. These three gave funding to continue the service with paid staff, and since then numerous funders have contributed to our success.

Signpost has grown from the 2 original job-share staff to five part-time staff, and operates full-time from an office at Beatlie Campus in Craigshill, Livingston, where it is close to other services used by families who have children with additional support needs.

The work of the staff is overseen by a committee of volunteer parents and professionals, who ensure that Signpost remains true to its ideals and close to its users' needs. 

Learn more about our trustees and staff

Since Signpost began we have helped hundreds of families and won several awards (such as a DSC Social Change Award & and NHS 'Health Heroes' award). Around 35% of the people who contact us each year are new, while the others are families who have often relied on our support for several years, and return to us when they need support as their children grow and their needs change. We have supported a whole generation of young people from toddler-hood to adulthood!

Become a part of our history by volunteering as a trustee - see our Jobs & volunteering page

Help us to do even more for families by supporting our work. You can donate funds for our essential services, give your time as a volunteer fundraiser, or share your experiences and knowledge as a parent or carer for a child with additional support needs. To find out more about the help we need now, contact us on 01506 431 123 or email [email protected]

Published: 17th March, 2016

Updated: 27th July, 2020

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Meet our team

    Meet our team

    Signpost has 5 part-time staff and up to 8 trustees - you can learn about them on this page.

  • Our Trustees

    Learn about Signpost's trustees on this page.

  • Young minds - resources for teens

    Mental health support for teens

  • Links for young people from Action for Mental Health

    mental health resources for young people

Most read

  • Accessibility

  • Our history

    Our history

    A short history of Signpost

  • Help wherever the need is greatest

    Help wherever the need is greatest

    Will you support us to help wherever the need is greatest? We pride ourselves on offer a tailored mix of support to meet each family's individual needs, which can make it difficult to predict exactly how our funds will be spent from year to year.  Will you trust us to decide how best to use your donation, to meet the greatest need? We promise to spend every penny wisely!

  • Privacy Policy

    Signpost privacy policy

  • Get help

    Get help

    Find out more about our support for families of young people with disabilities and additional support needs

  • Terms and Conditions of Use

  • Advocacy support

    Advocacy support

    Signpost offers advocacy support in difficult meetings about young people with disabilities or additional support needs

  • Meet our team

    Meet our team

    Signpost has 5 part-time staff and up to 8 trustees - you can learn about them on this page.

  • Family passes for fun days out

    Family passes for fun days out

    Signpost lends free family passes to young people with disabilities and additional support needs, so that they can have some stress-free 'time out' with their families

  • Fundraising ideas

    Fundraising ideas

    A host of ideas to help you raise funds for Signpost!

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Registered Office
Beatlie School Campus
Craigshill
Livingston
EH54 5EJ


+44 (0)1506 431 123
[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Registered Charity (SCIO SC032398) 

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram