Platform was founded in 1990. The project resulted from research carried out by the Wester Hailes Opportunities Trust (WHOT), a local adult guidance centre, which highlighted a very clear need for a separate literacy and numeracy provision in the area.

Taking into account the influencing factors of multiple deprivaton and poverty, WHOT conservatively estimated a target group totalling one quarter of the 8000 adults living in Wester Hailes who are experiencing difficulty with basic skills.

The local population is very transient and our 'client' group changes constantly.

In recent years, Platform has extended its partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies in Edinburgh to optimise learning opportunities for people throughout the South West Edinburgh community.