Enable

Enable Scotland

Enable is Scotland’s largest member-led charity for people who have learning disabilities. Since its founding in 1954 by parents of children with learning disabilities, it has grown into a major national organisation that provides frontline care, campaigns for human rights, and delivers award-winning employment support.

Who They Are

Enable Scotland is defined by its member-led status. It is governed by a council of members, ensuring that people with learning disabilities and their families are the ones directing the charity’s mission.

The organisation is a vocal advocate for Human Rights. They are the leading voice in Scotland against the inappropriate detention of people with learning disabilities in hospitals and are major campaigners for the "Fair Work" agenda. By 2026, they will remain a primary strategic partner for the Scottish Government, particularly in implementing the Coming Home report recommendations to ensure people can live in their own communities rather than institutional settings.

They pride themselves on Social Innovation, having launched several "world-first" digital tools for personalised care planning and self-directed support management.

What They Do

Enable Care & Support

One of Scotland’s largest providers of personalised social care:

• Self-Directed Support (SDS): Helping individuals manage their own care budgets to hire personal assistants or choose their own living arrangements.
• Supported Living: Providing 24/7 or visiting support to allow people with complex needs to live in their own homes.
• Transition Support: Assisting young people as they move from children's services into adult life.

Enable Works

An award-winning division focused on closing the "disability employment gap":

• Specialist Employment Support: Using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model to help people with disabilities find and keep competitive jobs.
• First Steps: Programs specifically designed for school leavers to help them enter the workforce or further education.
• Employer Training: Partnering with major Scottish corporations to create "Disability Confident" workplaces.

Enable Scotland (Campaigning & Membership)

• Family Support: Providing a national helpline and local branches where families can share experiences and advice.
• ACE (Active Communities Enable): A national network of local groups that provide social opportunities and a platform for members to self-advocate.
• Human Rights Campaigning: Leading national movements on issues like equal pay, accessible housing, and voting rights.

Approach & Values

Enable focuses on Equality, Human Rights, and Empowerment.

They prioritise Person-Led Outcomes, meaning they do not believe in "one-size-fits-all" care. Their approach is designed to be Community-Centric; they believe that every person, regardless of their disability, has the right to live, work, and socialise in their own local area rather than in a specialised "disability-only" facility.

A strong emphasis is placed on "Self-Advocacy," empowering their members to speak directly to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and influence national policy.

Industry Role

Enable acts as a social conscience and service leader for Scotland.

As a major employer (with over 2,000 staff), they set the standard for the "Real Living Wage" in the Scottish care sector. They act as a strategic partner for all 32 Scottish Local Authorities, providing the essential frontline services that underpin the National Health and Social Care standards.

They offer a rights-based and community-focused solution, making them the premier choice for families in Scotland who want a provider that combines professional care with a powerful political voice for their loved ones.