Erskine – A Century of Pride and Care

Erskine – A Century of Pride and Care

Off By Ed Hanna

Erskine provides unrivalled support to Veterans in Scotland, through four care homes and a Veterans village, comprising of 44 cottages, an activity centre, five assisted living apartments and 24 single living apartments. Still known to many as ‘The Erskine Hospital’, Erskine is one of Scotland’s oldest, most iconic Military charities, founded near Glasgow, in 1916. Erskine specialised in the treatment and rehabilitation of physically and mentally shattered Scottish troops – caring for some 4,000 amputees during the Great War. A century later, Erskine has supported more than 100,000 beneficiaries, by meeting the evolving needs of Veterans in Scotland. Erskine’s strength lies in the very special blend of dedicated care, compassion and understanding they offer to residents and their families. Erskine support nearly 1,000 Veterans each year; their homes provide Veterans with the companionship of like-minded people. Erskine not only care for their Veterans – they care about them.

Dedicated

Their person-centred care is tailored to the needs of each individual Veteran. All bedrooms open to a general living space with dining areas and are fully accessible with en-suite facilities. The dedicated activities team provide social activities, entertainment and organise day or evening trips which are of huge importance to residents’ health and wellbeing. Erskine have 44 cottages for Veterans and their families on the estate in Bishopton, five assisted living apartments and building work is underway for 24 single living apartments – creating a Veterans village supporting Veterans of all ages.

Erskine also assist younger Veterans who need help to begin the next chapter of their lives, offering social, recreation and training facilities at our activity centre and employment opportunities in partnership with the Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Co.

Support

Our Service personnel display the highest levels of bravery and courage throughout the world, and it is only right that Erskine is there for them should they need support in the future.

Erskine remains attuned to how Veterans’ needs change and what support they and their families require to live life to the fullest. So they may in future consider development of an

Erskine care at home service which enables Veterans to live with their loved ones and friends within their own community, for as long as is possible. Whatever they do, Veterans can be sure of a century’s worth of understanding and compassionate care services – optimised by the very latest learning and technology. Erskine is thus quietly confident that their current and future supporters will be ‘Proud to Care’!

More about Erskine…

• Annually, Erskine needs to raise over £10 million to support our Veterans.

• For every £1 we spend on fundraising £7 is returned in donations.

• The original motto on the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers coat of arms was “I was broken for you”.

• Erskine has four care homes with 339 single en-suite rooms in total. Whilst every resident in our Erskine Park home is living with dementia each of the three other homes have houses that also care for residents with dementia.

• Erskine currently has approximately 300 volunteers giving up their own time to help our Veterans.