Bield praised for their work

Alex Neil, the SNP’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights commended Bield’s effort to develop their community dementia services using £75,000 awarded to them through the Government’s Empowering Communities Fund.

Since receiving the grant last May, Bield has launched new services and enhanced existing ones including IT training programmes, an evening support service, restaurant services, movement and art classes and a sensory garden.

The Cabinet Secretary visited Bield’s Oakburn Park Day Care Centre in Milngavie recently where they have created a new sensory garden and expanded an innovative restaurant style service called ‘Wee Betty’s Bistro’ from once a month to twice a month. This allows people with any form of memory impairment to celebrate a special occasion with family & friends.

Mr Neil said: “These are great examples of the holistic range of support being provided for vulnerable people.

“Older people are an asset to Scotland, and we want them to flourish in our communities. Not only does this project at Oakburn create a space for older people to come and enjoy, it also helps to reduce isolation and contribute to them living well later in life.”

Kevin Rowe, Bield fundraiser, said: “This grant has helped us enhance and enrich the lives of people who use our services across Scotland.

“It is the second largest amount we have received in our 40 years of providing quality housing and care to older people and the reality is that it will improve so many lives.

“There are many individuals at all of our developments who work very hard to enable such positive projects and there was a lot of excitement when this funding was announced.

“It is vitally important that older people have access to fulfilling and beneficial projects and this is very much in keeping with Bield’s ‘free to be’ ethos.

“We are very grateful to Mr Neil for taking the time out to visit us to see the positive impact of the funding.”