About Us
Visualise Scotland is a small charity providing high-quality care through a range of services tailored to the individual needs of people with disabilities in Edinburgh and East Lothian.
As a value-driven organisation, the people we support are at the heart of everything we do. Central to our ethos is promoting their dignity and quality of life, and we are here to support and empower them through Housing Support, Care at Home, and our Day Service in Musselburgh.
We are also proud of our record as a local employer as we are committed to paying over the Living Wage; we not only care about the people we support, but our staff too!
History
Visualise was set up in 1987 by families of pupils attending the Royal Blind School at Canaan Lane. With little to no provision for students after the age of 18, families took the situation into their own hands and Visualise was born.
With an initial focus on supporting young adults with visual impairment and other complex needs, Visualise opened its first housing support service in the Newington area of Edinburgh in 1992. As the 1990s progressed, Visualise set up its first Day Centre at Norton Park in Leith, alongside its Head Office.
The early 21st century found that existing provision was no longer fit for purpose and two housing support services were set up in the Restalrig area, with a third added in Leith in 2007. There was further expansion in 2014, when our day centre in Musselburgh was opened, expanding our services into East Lothian for the first time. This was also the point at which the charity decided to use its considerable expertise to diversify away from visual impairment, with a focus instead on supporting any individual with a disability to live the life they choose.
Visualise has a proud history of being family-led, with a family member operating as Director until 2013 and family members continuing as trustees. We are proud of the strong links we have with the people we support and their loved ones. We feel this is what makes our organisation really stand out – we are mindful that Visualise came from families, for families. This gives us a phenomenal foundation on which to base our organisation.
Pauline Gray
CEO
Pauline joined Visualise in August 2015. Pauline has over twenty years’ experience working in the care sector and prior to joining Visualise, she worked as a manager with Leonard Cheshire Disability for over ten years.
Pauline has achieved SVQ Level 4 award in Leadership and Management and is the Registered Manager with the Scottish Social Services Council for all Visualise services.
Sara Al-mashat
Organisational Support Manager
Sara holds an honours degree in Business management and Administration. She has 7 years of experience in the third sector. Beginning her career as a project coordinator in a charity based in Glasgow, she overseen multiple projects for youths dealing with substance abuse. She then became Deputy Conveyor for the Scottish Parliament while working with the YWCA in their Young Women Lead programme. She feels a sense of fulfilment working in the third sector.
Her role at Visualise works as a crossroads between different areas of the organisation, supporting key functions as well as its strategic development. Overseeing and managing aspects of recruitment, HR, communications, quality/compliance, IT/Digital Infrastructure and working with a number of external stakeholders. Sara is an animal lover. She loves her yoga and enjoys watching boxing and UFC.
Claire Johnston
Senior Service Manager
Claire has worked in care since 1990, starting her career as a nurse in auxillary and at management level in 2010. She holds a certificate in Health and Social Care at level 4.
Claire has vast experience in working with individuals with complex disabilities and behaviours. She strives to make each individual she cares for feel as special as they are.
She is also a cat lover and is a first-degree black belt instructor in Kuksoolwon.
Ed Barclay
Service Manager
Ed has worked within social care for over ten years and has a lifetime of personal experience due to having a younger sibling with additional support needs. He started working with Visualise in January 2022 and has greatly enjoyed the opportunities that have been presented to him to develop a more profound knowledge of social care. Ed spends his free time in the outdoors, especially on the Western Isles of Scotland when he has the opportunity.
Lisa Martin-Berg
Service Manager
Lisa Martin-Berg lived in South Africa until immigrating to UK in 1999.
She joined care after a very successful career as a professional jeweller, diamond buyer and grader in SA and London. She changed career once moving to Scotland and has always been inspired to help people.
Lisa has been in care for 10 years working within different care companies and supporting a wide range of people who have needed support. She has specialised in Autism, Downs and Cerebral palsy.
Her qualifications and SVQ4 enabled her to become a team leader. Her first role was part of Camphill Scotland, working at Tiphereth which taught her different approaches and ethos when supporting people.
Joining the Visualise team has opened the door to working in a smaller charity which makes a huge difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
Tom Black
Service Manager
Tom’s career started 20 years ago when he studied access to nursing.
His first job was as a nursing assistant. During his tenure there, he worked in the long-term elderly wards, assessment wards and the psychiatric wards.
Whilst working at Herdman flat hospital, he learned about people with learning disabilities living in their own homes with support. He then spent 7 years working with ELCAP working with adults with learning disabilities and autism. He went on to lead a service specialising in autism and bi-polar.
With the experience he gained from ELCAP, Tom then moved on to become a senior support worker at Places for People Care and Support Scotland. Tom then became Team Leader managing 26 people and 50 staff in 2 services. He worked for the company for a total of ten years.
At Visualise Tom has brought the same drive to support people to live the best lives; being a Team Leader for two services which support 5 amazing people to be as independent as possible in their communities.
Emma Wright-Boulton
Administration Assistant
Emma started working as an Administration Assistant at Visualise in July 2023. She is a recent graduate, and she currently holds an honours degree in public sociology. Before starting her admin role at Visualise, she gained experience working within third sector jobs, whilst studying at university. She is looking forward to learning all the skills and the opportunities that this new role at Visualise will bring. She is also very interested in social justice causes and activism.
Mission, Values and Goals
Our Vision:
We believe in a community where people are empowered and encouraged to take control of their lives.
Our Mission:
We build authentic relationships, based on values and respect, with a common purpose to enable our people to lead fulfilled lives.
Our Strategic Goals:
Strategic Goal 1: Excellent Service Provision
Visualise is recognised for excellent service provision.
Strategic Goal 2: Financial Sustainability
Visualise is financially sustainable and in a position to grow.
Strategic Goal 3: Our People
Visualise is centered on the value, recognition, physical and mental well being of our service users.
Our Values:
Diverse
A commitment to the Equality Act 2010, embodying non-discriminatory practice at all levels. Recognising the value and importance of each individual.
Realising Potential
Creating opportunities for everyone who is part of Visualise. Everyone we support or employ should be given the opportunity to develop and use their skills. Creating an atmosphere of collaboration.
Developing high-quality personal care plans for everyone we support.
Respect & Dignity
Treating people as we would want to be treated in our behaviour, actions and communications. Emphasising our codes of practice and conduct.
Compassion
A focus on people’s welfare – employees and the people we support, checking out situations and being flexible. Enabling a culture of understanding and approachability.
Integrity
Acknowledging mistakes and implementing meaningful change. Trust, honesty and open communication with everyone involved in the organisation.
Community
Developing Visualise as a community and being involved in our community. Encouraging the people we support to be part of their local communities.
Inclusive
Meaningful participation of the people we support and employ in all aspects of Visualise’s operations. An organisation that welcomes everyone.