Scotmid Co-operative have provided the funding to bring British Armed Forces veterans’ charity Erskine’s Recreation Garden to life – coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War One.
The donation to the Erskine Home in Bishopton will enable the 180 veterans, who live there, to enjoy a revitalised Recreation Garden area with new furniture, accessible flower beds for the residents to tend to and replanted borders.
Founded in 1916, Erskine’s aim was to care for servicemen and women who had been injured in active service.
As Scotland’s foremost provider of care for veterans and their spouses, Erskine provides unrivalled nursing, residential, respite and dementia care within the four homes across Scotland.
The renovation of the Recreation Garden is the second project that Scotmid has funded with three specially-adapted VW Caddy vehicles also donated to Erskine earlier in the summer.
Scotmid President Harry Cairney said: “Scotmid are delighted to have been able to provide the funding to bring this incredibly worthwhile project to life – the difference it will make to the residents at Erskine will be huge.
“Erskine is a magnificent charity and we’re pleased to be able to continue to support them on key projects such as this.
“This event also provides us with a timely reminder of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice a century ago.
“Our Society lost 144 employees during the four-year conflict of the Great War and we will remember them.”
Erskine Chief Executive Ian Cumming MBE said: “Our residents enjoy being outdoors, sitting in the warm sunshine or walking in the garden areas and we are particularly grateful to Scotmid for their recent generous grant that has enabled us to transform the Recreation Garden.
“By improving accessibility and providing raised flower beds and new seating with paved areas, this has greatly improved the garden also making it available for use by any resident who enjoyed gardening as a pastime, before they moved in with us.”
Image (left to right): Deputy Secretary Shirley MacGillivray, Erskine Chief Executive Ian Cumming MBE, resident Muriel Gibb, Erskine Activities Co-ordinator Craig Berry, resident Margaret Horsfield, Scotmid President Harry Cairney, Director of Care Derek Barron at the Recreation Garden.