Glenurquhart Care Project
Fund manager - Social Investment Scotland
The Glenurquhart Care Project allows older people and those who need extra living support to enjoy a better quality of life, without having to leave their local community.
- 12 Number of purpose-built homes constructed
- 14 Number of older people that have been able to stay in their community
Challenge
Many older people living in rural areas of Scotland can only access the housing and care support they need by leaving their familiar surroundings and community.
Approach
The Glenurquhart Care Project (GCP) allows older people and those who need extra living support to enjoy a better quality of life, without having to leave their local community. In 2000, it set up the Glenurquhart Centre to provide day care to local residents. The Centre offers all service users a key worker to support their well-being, as well as offering home-cooked meals, personal care, activities, games and outings.
In 2019, GCP completed construction of 12 purpose-built homes next to the Centre. These enable individuals to stay living in their community, with each property designed to adapt to a person’s evolving needs. GCP repays the investment through the rental income it earns. The investment was made from Social Investment Scotland's £16 million Social Growth Fund, which Big Society Capital invested £8 million into alongside the Scottish Government.
Impact and response to COVID-19
The 14 older people (and two dogs, one cat) who live in GCP’s homes have been able to stay in their community during COVID-19.
GCP has had to close its day care services due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, a team of volunteers was established with the support of the working group consisting of GCP, the Community Association, and Community Council, Highland council, the local health centre and pharmacy team, and Soirbheas, who administer the Glenurquhart wind farm rural community fund. This has helped GCP create new ways of working that allow it to carry on supporting its service users.
As well as delivering groceries and prescriptions, GCP staff check in on the well-being of their service users through regular calls. They also provide a Sunday roast each week and Saturday meals including takeaway fish and chips. More volunteers have also been signed up to GCP’s Befriender scheme since COVID-19 hit, a service that supports lonely and isolated people living in the Glens and villages across Glen Urquhart, Strathglass and the surrounding Beauly area.