Balhousie Care Group, with 25 care homes across the North East of Scotland, has successfully raised £34,891.29 for their chosen charity partner, Alzheimer Scotland.
Alzheimer Scotland was announced as charity partner in December 2016 after conducting a staff poll. The charity is very close to hearts of staff at Balhousie Care Group, with around 800 Balhousie care group residents living with dementia or cognitive decline.
As part of their 25th Anniversary year, the group aimed to raise £25,000 for the charity, with each of the group’s 25 homes tasked with raising £1,000.
Staff, residents and relatives met this challenge head on, and smashed through the original target with some wild and wacky fundraising, including zip wires, 24-hour cycles and staff and resident sponsored walks.
The partnership with Alzheimer Scotland has also provided Balhousie’s homes with resources for staff training, resident wellbeing and relative support. Balhousie Care Group has developed a dementia strategy which focuses on individuals and encourages consultation and input from residents, staff, families and visiting professionals. Its Dementia Ambassadors programme supports designated care home staff with an interest in dementia with regular meetings and speakers on the subject.
Steve White, CEO of Balhousie Care Group welcomed Linda Thomson, Corporate Fundraiser for Alzheimer Scotland to North Inch House Care Home, Perth to hand over the funds. 
“We’re absolutely delighted with the results of this year’s partnership with Balhousie Care Group,” said Linda. “It’s been very rewarding to support the innovative work that Balhousie are implementing through their Dementia Strategy and their amazing Dementia Ambassadors. We rely on donations such as those received from Balhousie Care Group to help us sustain vital services like our Dementia Advisors, Dementia Helpline, Dementia Nurses and Dementia Resource Centres. We are very grateful that Alzheimer Scotland will benefit from the impressive sum raised by Balhousie’s dedicated staff which will go a long way towards helping us fulfil our aim of making sure no-one goes through dementia on their own.”
Steve White, CEO of Balhousie Care Group, said: “The charity partnership with Alzheimer Scotland has given us all a fantastic opportunity to increase our knowledge about dementia across the entire organisation, enabling us to help raise awareness as well as funds. We’re incredibly proud of our dedicated and enthusiastic staff, they really embraced the challenge and we’re delighted that the total raised reflects their efforts throughout the year. “
During Dementia Awareness Week, Antiquary care home in Arbroath held a sponsored cycle and raised over £450, Perth’s North Inch and North Grove homes raised over £400 at their Summer Fayre and Lisden in Kirriemuir raised over £550 from their purple party and car boot sale. Balhousie Care Group head office also raised £150 during their bake day.
Exceeding the original goal for its annual charity partnership rounds off a hugely successful year for Balhousie Care Group, in which the company has celebrated its 25th birthday, numerous industry awards, and two of its care homes achieving the highest Care Inspectorate ratings possible.
