Chef Nick Nairn has officially opened a Dunfermline resource base for adults with autism.
The centre in Blue Central business park has been open since the start of the year and takes over from the Scottish Society for Autism’s previous base in Cowdenbeath.
Housed in the modern complex is a day centre for adult users, who can be helped by staff cope with day-to-day living.
This can involve anything from language and communication work to equipping users for more independent living.
There are 16 users who come to Dunfermline from all over Fife.
It is part of the society’s focus on providing specific support to those with autism, carried out in small groups to allow for greater emphasis on the individual user.
Other purpose-built resource bases are already being planned.
Society chief executive Alan Somerville said, “It has been a long journey getting here and opening this centre is an enormous step forward in terms of the environment around us and what we are able to do.
“This is a much better environment to work in.”
Nick has had a long-established relationship with the society as users from the Gartinny horticultural unit in Alloa help out in his herb and vegetable garden at his cookery school in the Port of Menteith.
“My connections with the society are through the garden part of Menteith. Some guys help grow herbs and veg, and it has been a learning curve and great experience for us which we are looking to develop in the future,” he said.
“I am delighted to be here. I think you have got a fantastic new facility. This is a great environment, it feels light and bright and modern and everyone working here will benefit hugely from being in a modern environment.”