Our History
The Action Group was set up in 1976 by a group of parents and carers of people who had learning disabilities and other support needs. They began by campaigning for better services for the people they cared about in the local area of Leith and Restalrig. This group, who all lived in the north east of Edinburgh, took the name Area 5 Action Group from the Social Work Department’s area in which they lived.
Check out the video below for an in-depth overview of our history, or take a look at our Timeline
About Us
The Vision
That Families caring for a person and individuals who have support needs and/or Learning Disability encounter no barriers to their chosen lifestyle, are able to follow a path of choice and can enrich their opportunities.
The Mission
Value, listen and involve people so that our every action is judged to be the best.
The Values
An ordinary life includes the 5 accomplishments which derives from the work of John O'Brien. These values are at the heart of the organisation.
People accessing our services should have:
Community presence - Relationships - Competency - Respect - Choice
Providing and Improving Learning Disability Care for Over 45 Years
The Action Group was, and continues to be, a membership organisation with the twin aims of campaigning for, and providing, good community care services. In 1976, services and supports in the community were few and far between and large institutions and hospitals, like Gogarburn in Edinburgh, were the main service for children and adults.
Locally, The Area 5 Action Group ran a high profile political and media campaign to get learning disability and support needs on the agenda. It also explored ways to develop service-provision
By 1985, now called The North Edinburgh Action Group, membership had grown and service users came from all over Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian.
By 1992, with development plans focussing across an even wider area, a further name change to The Action Group was made.
Over the years the Action Group has been at the forefront of campaigning for and providing high quality community services.
Our Timeline of Events
1976
Area 5 Action Group is founded
1992
Real Jobs employment service is launched
2009
Real Jobs Falkirk is started
2022
The Action Group have been awarded, Stonewall Silver Employer
1981
The first Action Group housing project begins
1992
Name is changed to The Action Group
2010
The Action Group’s charity shop closes after more than two decades of fundraising
2023
The Action Group acquired The Prentice Centre - Edinburgh, Granton
1985
Name is changed to The North Edinburgh Action Group
1998
The Action Group moves to our previous premises at Norton Park
2015
The Action Group achieves Investors in People Gold status
What's Next?
Want to become a part of our history? Take a look at our Current Vacancies
1988
The Action Group becomes a company limited by guarantee
2000
Black and Ethnic Minority Advice Service (BEMAS) is launched
2020
The Action Group achieves Investors in People Platinum status
Gender Pay Gap
The Action Group is required to regularly assess differences in pay between male and female staff. By law, we must also report our findings.
This year’s figures are very positive and demonstrate The Action Group’s continuing success in rewarding and developing employees fairly. The most recent figures on the report are all from 2022-2023. The mean gender gap is -5.61% and the median gender gap is -1.80%.
Overall, we are very pleased as these demonstrate that The Action Group continues to be a fair employer with excellent development opportunities, whatever your gender identity.
You can view our full report HERE
