Glenurquhart Care Project

Challenge

In many rural areas in Scotland, elderly people have to leave their communities and familiar surroundings to access the care and housing support they need.

Approach

The Glenurquhart Care Project (GCP) was established to allow elderly and vulnerable people to enjoy an enhanced quality of life while remaining in their local community. The Glenurquhart Care Centre opened in 2000 and has become the local care ‘hub’, providing many critical services to the community. In 2019, GCP completed construction of 12 purpose-built homes next to the Care Centre.

Revenue model

The investment is repaid through rental income.

Impact

Fourteen elderly members of the community (and two dogs) live in GCP’s homes and have been able to stay in their community.

With people unable to visit the Care Centre, GCP have had to close their service and find a new way of working. Working together with the council, the local health centre and pharmacy team, and the Glenurquhart wind farm rural community fund, they have established a team of volunteers to provide GCP’s services to those who need them most. That means seven days a week, elderly community members, who are also at most risk of COVID-19 ,can get access to groceries, prescriptions and general welfare calls.

Additionally, GCP has been distributing activity packs and treats such as gardening kits with sunflower seeds, handmade peppermint creams, quiz sheets, afternoon teas. They provide a Sunday roast each week and are trialling Saturday meals being a takeaway such as fish & chips. Lucky lunches have started with a sticker under one container and this provides a prize. A survey was carried out recently which has resulted in more people being referred to the Befriender scheme and also those with IT but need help being passed contacts to help them operate this.