Representing Mayfield House

In October 2024, Mayfield House elected 12 members reps.

Members Reps are responsible for contributing ideas and feedback about all parts of life at Garvald, including recruitment, training, communication, festivals, accessibility/mobility, environment and workshop experience.

The 12 members reps will serve in their role for a period of 3 years, attending meetings at Mayfield House each month with Swan Siebke (Day Service Manager) and Alicja Mul (Involvement Worker). 

In February 2025 Swan presented an easy read version of our Social Therapy charter to the members reps, which contains a basis for our work. Over the last year and a half, we have discussed a variety of topics relating to this document: how to build community, how to create a sense of rhythm and balance in our workshops, how to work with respect for the Earth and Nature, how to plan wonderful festival celebrations and how to keep health and wellbeing at the centre of what we do. After each discussion, the members reps shared the information they had gathered with other members and staff. 

In our reception area, we have a suggestion box for all members. They have been supported, or taken the initiative independently, to post suggestions, and it has been taken up widely. A large number of events have happened because of these suggestions, such as karaoke, Kupala's Day, Pride celebrations, and even opera singing!

Some Members Reps have experience and training for interviewing people applying for a job at Garvald Edinburgh. They have been actively involved in recruitment processes, helping to draft questions, ask questions during interviews, and give feedback about candidates.

Our Members Reps also promote Garvald Edinburgh to school pupils, parents, carers, and school teachers during workshop trial sessions in schools for children with additional needs in the Midlothian area. 

All our buildings strive to support members to work out their own solutions, make informed choices, and make the best use of our organisation to live the life they want. Members Reps are a great way to make all aspects of life and work at Garvald Edinburgh more participatory.