Ross-shire care home operator Parklands in awards’ nod
A CARE home operator with a strong Ross-shire presence is line for an accolade for its work bridging the generation gap.
Parklands Care Homes, which runs facilities in Fortrose, Muir of Ord and Tain, has been named a finalist for the 2024 Caring UK Award for Community Involvement, recognising its contribution to fostering intergenerational connections, reducing social isolation and promoting community engagement.
The nomination highlights the contributions of individual care homes, alongside Parklands’ wider community engagement efforts.
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Parklands’ homes routinely welcome visits from schools, nurseries, musicians, historians, artists and therapets, and host regular events and festivals for the local community, often with the support of volunteers.
The Parklands’ submission cites several examples of individual care homes going above and beyond.
Urray House in Muir of Ord hosts regular community coffee mornings and a parent and toddler group.
In Fortrose, Eilean Dubh runs a weekly ‘Tea and Tots’ group, while Innis Mhor in Tain offers a popular Lego Club and Bookbug reading sessions for local children.
Speyside in Aberlour organises school holiday activities and a summer pop-up café, and the Keith Cares Club – set up by high school friends Brenda Harper and Shona Conlin who now run Glenisla and Weston View care homes respectively - tackles social isolation through inclusive events such as free community lunches, dances and bingo evenings.
Group-wide, Parklands has this year supported more than a dozen local projects that enhance educational, sporting, health and social opportunities.
In addition, the Parklands Pride festival continues to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Looking to the future, Parklands plans to appoint a charity partner or partners in 2025.
Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes, said: “Community is at the heart of everything we do at Parklands. Our care homes are more than just places to live - they are hubs of community activity, connection and support for people of all ages.
“Being shortlisted for this award is a reflection of the incredible work our teams – and the many local volunteers who support them - do to enrich the lives of residents and the wider community.”
Caring UK Awards event director Dominic Musgrave added: “The Caring UK Awards are now in their seventh year, and with more entries than ever, our finalists truly have reason to celebrate. Making the shortlist is a huge achievement and a testament to the teams behind each entry.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 5.
