Bright Sparks is a charity, which is fully grant dependant. This voluntary service is run by a Management Committee made up of parent volunteers who are committed to making a difference offering a range of opportunities and activities which aren’t widely available locally.

“Bright Sparks is not a Midlothian Council Service”

Within the Bright Sparks Centre we deliver 8 playgroup sessions every week during the academic school year.  0-5yrs playgroups gives parents the opportunity to learn to interact and play with their child separately from their caring roles during a time where diagnosis or unexplained concerns can be overwhelming.

Bright Sparks aim to offer a range of opportunities weekly. We also aim to offer a range of clubs and activities for children giving them similar opportunities in line with their peers like Brownies, Scouts and other clubs within a supportive environment Which includes Family activity sessions.  During the school holidays we offer a range of Holiday Clubs with various play sessions /activities and trips and outings as we understand how long and isolating the holidays can be.

Since 2005 as we came together during Bright Sparks playgroup sessions realising “we were all connected by the unexpected different Children rearing experience different from our peers” we soon realised how isolating and limited the supports were for families with children with disabilities, with that at the heart of this, we aimed to make a difference. We are a group of passionate parents trying to make a difference within our community, as we face the same daily challenges with our own children’s disabilities as our families who attend do.

December 2015 saw Bright Sparks move to it a new building within King George V park, a purpose build centre of excellence with fully developed play areas for children with disabilities and their families. Unfortunately we will never be able to provide enough opportunities/support for all.

Our
History

Bright Sparks started in 1998 in the Brown Building, Gorebridge.  It ran two mornings per week with shared play facilities. In 2006 we were told the Brown Building was to be demolished and we would have to look for new premises.  We were offered the new Hub in Gorebridge but from the plans it was evident that this building would not cater for the complex needs of our children.  At this stage parents became involved with Midlothian Councillors and Donald Mackay, Director of Education in order to source appropriate premises for us to move to.

In 2009 the Council offered the unique opportunity of putting Bright Sparks in the hands of a parent run Management Committee and moved us into Cockpen Centre. From there we have been successful in growing our organisation. Due to Midlothian’s successful early intervention/diagnosis policies more families were being referred to our service and Bright Sparks continued to grow to meet this demand for the birth to five age range.  Moving into larger premises at Cockpen gave us the opportunity to pilot and develope groups for children from 5 years old and up.  With this success again it meant that we outgrew the premises.

In 2014 we lobed Midlothian Council to obtain Bonnyrigg’s swimming pool building that was due to be demolished. We were successful and in January 2015 moved into the building that Midlothian Council agreed to renovate to make fight for purpose for Bright Sparks service.  In April of that year Bright Sparks open its new building to its families along with a sensory room sponsored by the Wooden Spoon charity and continues to offer more groups and supports children aged 18±.

Bright Sparks currently supports over 150 families in Midlothian who have children with disabilities.

Throughout these terms and conditions, when we refer to ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’ or ‘the Company’, we are referring to Bright Sparks Play Groups and brightsparkspg.org When we refer to ‘you’, we are referring to the user or browser of this website.

These terms and conditions include general terms and conditions for use of this site, terms and conditions relating to the services provided by Bright Sparks Play Groups on the site and in the centre. Please read these terms and conditions carefully, your use of the site, the purchase of any products or services on this site will be subject to these terms and conditions. By browsing or using the website you are accepting these terms and conditions. If you do not accept these terms and conditions or any part of them, you should stop using the website immediately.

1. Bright Sparks Play Groups will not be liable for any losses incurred by you in connection with your use of the website, for any delay in using or your inability to use the website, for any information or products obtained through the website.
2. Bright Sparks Play Groups’ website is for your own personal and non-commercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, licence, create derivative works from, transfer or sell any information obtained from the website.
3. All contents of the website including any software, are protected by intellectual property rights and other related rights. No part of the website may be reproduced in any form (electronically or otherwise) without prior consent of Bright Sparks Play Groups.
4. You are not permitted to link to or use all or any part of Bright Sparks Play Groups’ website for any reason which is unlawful, defamatory, harmful, obscene or objectionable and, in particular, you are not permitted to transmit anything which in Bright Sparks Play Groups’ opinion harms our business or in any way offends other users or persons.
5. Bright Sparks Play Groups makes no representation, endorsement or warranty as to the accuracy of the information contained in the website. To the best of our knowledge the information on the website is accurate and correct. We reserve the right to change information on the website and will do our best to keep the information on the website accurate and up to date.
6. You are not permitted to alter Bright Sparks Play Groups’ website in any way or post onto or transmit to the site, any material containing software viruses or files which may damage or disrupt the good working order of computer or telecommunications equipment.
7. Bright Sparks Play Groups may suspend the operation of this site for repair or maintenance work or in order to update or upgrade the contents or functionality of the site from time to time. 
8. Our Membership scheme:  Memberships are non transferable and last for a period of 12 months running from April 1st to March 31st.  Each time a member renews they must complete a new membership form to ensure we hold the correct details for each member.  Memberships are non-refundable but members can, in writing, cancel their memberships by notifying us at the Bright Sparks main address in Bonnyrigg.  Member terms may vary at any time. 
9. Clubs, Groups, Activities and Events:  All of these, whether Member only or open to the public at large are non-refundable, unless the event is cancelled or amended by us.  They are listed on our website and are correct at the time of publishing but changes may be made before or after you book.  We will attempt to notify you of any changes.

Download our privacy policy here:  DOWNLOAD