We’re delighted to share a heartwarming good news story from Diamond Home Assist, a support company and valued Scottish Care member based in West Lothian. Led by registered manager Emma Hurry, their weekly ‘Shine’ social inclusion group is making a real difference in the lives of those they support.

Held every Wednesday morning, Shine offers a welcoming space for service users to come together through their 1-to-1 support, meet others in the community, and take part in a range of fun and meaningful activities. From conversation and creativity to connection and confidence-building, Shine is all about bringing people together in a supportive, inclusive environment.

Read on for an article from Emma to see how this small group is making a big impact.

Shine (Bright Like a Diamond): A Celebration of Connection, Growth, and Joy

In June 2024, we proudly launched Shine (Bright Like a Diamond)—a social inclusion group created to bring our Diamond service users together in a welcoming, supportive space where lasting friendships and meaningful connections could blossom.

From the very beginning, Shine has offered a vibrant mix of weekly activities designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and develop key life skills—all while ensuring our service users remain in 1-to-1 support. Whether it’s a lively game of bingo, a morning of crafting, dancing to favourite tunes, or a relaxing round of dominoes, every session is filled with smiles, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

Each week, we introduce something new to keep our sessions fresh and engaging. We’ve gone on Easter egg hunts to build observation and numeracy skills, held sports days that encourage teamwork and coordination, and introduced new colouring sheets every week—a clear group favourite!

In fact, research shows that colouring can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety. It’s not just fun—it’s healing. Just ask Kirsty, one of our incredible service users, who proudly shows off her colourful creations and sunflower made with support from our team.

Our celebrations go beyond weekly sessions. We’ve hosted unforgettable Halloween and Christmas parties, filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Halloween saw our service users in their spookiest costumes, enjoying apple dooking, “donut on a string,” and dancing the Time Warp.

For Christmas, DJ Disco John (a talented service user) kept the dance floor alive with music, while party games, a festive buffet, and a surprise visit from Santa made the season even brighter.

But the true magic of Shine lies in the remarkable personal transformations we’ve witnessed.

One young woman with a learning disability struggled deeply with emotional regulation and social interactions when she first joined. She expressed discomfort with anger and outbursts, often shouting at staff or acting out physically. One difficult moment involved her hitting another woman with a trolley simply because she felt overwhelmed and didn’t know how to communicate it

Today, she greets others with warmth and kindness, using polite language and asking for space when needed. She’s even taken on a caring role, looking after another group member with Down Syndrome—offering her a drink, making sure her wheelchair fits comfortably at the table, and singing alongside her during karaoke. Her growth in empathy, emotional control, and communication is extraordinary.

Another remarkable story comes from a 59-year-old service user with a severe learning disability, living independently in the community. When he first joined Diamond, he suffered from deep loneliness and anxiety, which led him to pick at his skin and furniture. All he wanted was to “make friends.” Now, he arrives at Shine every week with a cheerful hello for everyone. His anxiety has decreased dramatically, and he’s no longer self-harming or damaging his home. Instead, he’s our beloved karaoke star, lighting up the room with his joyful rendition of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”.

Week after week, Shine has become more than just a group—it’s become a community. A place where friendships are forged, laughter is shared, and growth is celebrated. The positive changes we’ve seen in our service users have been nothing short of inspiring.

We are endlessly grateful to our dedicated and compassionate staff, whose care and commitment make Shine possible. Looking ahead, we hope to grow this beautiful community even further — welcoming more service users, adding new ideas, and creating even more opportunities to celebrate individuality, achievement, and the power of human connection.

At Shine, everyone is welcome, and everyone shines.