MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday 14 December, 2023
IMAGES: FREE TO USE
Balhousie Intergenerational tartan goes a long way this Christmas
A tartan created to celebrate a long-standing, intergenerational community partnership continues to bring joy this festive season.
The Balhousie Intergenerational Tartan was originally designed in 2019 by Balhousie North Inch, part of Scottish care provider, Balhousie Care Group, in collaboration with nearby Balhousie Primary School in Perth. Interrupted by the pandemic, it was finally woven by Forfar-based Strathmore Woollen company and launched in 2022.
An art competition celebrating the school’s link with care home was run in spring 2022 and winner, pupil Chloe Hansen, was gifted a bespoke kilt made from the Balhousie Intergenerational Tartan. The tartan connection has also proved a meaningful legacy for Balhousie Primary after the pupils transferred to a new building, Riverside Primary, in April 2023.
Fast forward to autumn 2023 and Balhousie Care Group sought a way to use the remaining tartan to connect and brighten all their homes.
The team at Balhousie knew they wanted to do something special with the tartan, but needed to come up with an idea that gave all the care home operator’s 25 homes an ongoing way to enjoy the bespoke tartan.
With Strathmore Woollen Company’s help, Balhousie were delighted to create a tartan Christmas tree decoration and a table runner for each home in time for this festive season.
Melanie Brockway, Brand and Communications Manager at Balhousie Care Group, said:
“When the Balhousie Intergenerational Tartan was first created, it was such a special project to be part of. It’s fabulous to see the tartan continue to be enjoyed in our care homes this Christmas. We hope the decorations will continue to bring joy for many years to come. And, of course, the runner can be admired all year round!”
Staff and residents have already been enjoying the splashes of tartan in their homes, but none more so than Balhousie North Inch where the tartan story first began. Diane Cain, Home Manager at Balhousie North Inch, said:
“The intergenerational connections we see between residents and children across our homes bring so much happiness to everyone involved and it’s very special to have this highlighted and see the product of a community project like this, come from our North Inch care home and connect with the homes across Balhousie Care Group this festive season.”
For more information about Balhousie Care Group visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
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Photo captions
Link to high res versions:
Image 1: Campbell Burns, resident at Balhousie Ruthven Towers in Auchterarder with Care Assistant, Prince Peter.
Image 2: Tartan on display at Balhousie Stormont care home in Blairgowrie.
For media enquiries please contact Anna Gunn or Melanie Brockway on: Anna.Gunn@balhousiecare.co.uk or Melanie.Brockway@balhousiecare.co.uk
Or call 01738 254 254
Notes to Editors
About Balhousie Care Group
Balhousie Care Group (BCG) was formed 30 years ago to fill a gap in quality residential care in central and North East Scotland. Today, with 24 homes, providing care to almost 900 residents and employing over 1400 team members, it is one of the leading providers of care for older persons in Scotland, along with specialist dementia and Huntington’s care, care for young adults with a diagnosed learning disability and a Youth Physical Disability service.
Owned by AcalisCare, Balhousie Care prides itself on its person-centred approach to care and inclusivity: putting people right at the heart of everything they do.
Their person-centred approach to care, innovative practices and close community links have made them a trusted name in care and earned them a swathe of awards.
In 2022 alone, BCG took home three Courier Business Awards, including the prestigious Business of the Year, a Great British Care Award, a Scottish Care award and an s1Jobs Shine Award. In 2023, Balhousie Care were finalists in four categories of the UK-wide Housing with Care Awards, winning the award for Supported Housing Innovation. They also achieved four finalists in the 2023 Scottish Care Awards, winning the Training, Learning and Staff Development Award.
