Balhousie Clement Park Care Home shortlisted for Scottish Care Award
A project to connect a group of Dundee school pupils with the elderly residents of a local Care Home has been recognised at the Scottish Care Awards. Balhousie Clement Park Care Home, a residential care home in the centre of Dundee, has been shortlisted for the Personalisation and Partnership Award at this year’s awards, which celebrate the efforts and achievements of Care Homes across Scotland.
Originally an idea to invite pupils from Harris Academy and St Johns High School to chat and engage with older members of the community, the project has grown to into a powerful intergenerational initiative which has seen many students visit Balhousie Clement Park on a voluntary basis, working closely with residents on an array of projects including gardening, mosaics, weaving and reminiscence sessions.
The project has helped school pupils develop their employability skills as well as providing both the students and residents with a greater understanding and appreciation of each generation and what they can learn from one another.
The team at Balhousie Clement Park hope that the success of their community initiative will inspire other Care Homes in Scotland to work with young people so both generations, young and old, can connect and develop together.
Cheryl Banks, Participation Partner from Balhousie Care Group commented:
“We are delighted that Balhousie Clement Park is being recognised by the Scottish Care Awards for its fantastic work to build such an engaging and inspirational community project. This recognition is testament to the hard work and commitment of the staff, pupils, residents and relatives who have all embraced this initiative.
“This project has seen school pupils make a significant contribution to their communities. They have developed many skills and built their knowledge and confidence and, in turn, the residents of Balhousie Clement Park have immensely enjoyed the ‘breath of fresh air’ that the young people brought them on a weekly basis. Some pupils have even found their vocation through visiting Balhousie Clement Park and are considering careers in the Care Sector, which is something of which we are incredibly proud.”
The team at Balhousie Clement Park Care Home will find out if their nomination will become a winning result at the Scottish Care Awards in Glasgow on Friday 20th November.
Opening its doors in 2011, Balhousie Clement Park is a modern Care Home and has 49 fully furnished resident bedrooms with a relaxing, spacious and comfortable environment for residents to feel safe, secure and, most importantly, at home.
To find out more about Balhousie Care Group, visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
ENDS
For further information, contact Anna Gunn on 01738 700135 or email a.gunn@volpa.co.uk