Townend activities recognised for outstanding work!
Townend care home were “delighted” to find out that their remarkable Activities Team has been nominated at this year’s Scottish Care Awards! Nestled in the picturesque grounds on the outskirts of Symington, the dynamic duo, Sara-Louise Gregor and Leighann Bell have reached the final three in this years ‘Meaningful Activity Award’ category.
“We just found out we were in the final three last week. We thought it was a wind up! We’re just here doing our jobs!” they shared.
Over the past year, Sara-Louise and Leighann have worked tirelessly to build strong relationships with residents and forge connections within the community, creating vibrant opportunities for meaningful engagement.
At Townend, a bespoke 17-bed care home specialising in support for adults with learning disabilities, every activity is thoughtfully designed around residents’ interests.
“All our activities are resident-led. We focus on what they want to do and how we can brighten their day,” they explained.
One standout event involved renting out an entire arena for residents to experience all-ability biking:
“They have bikes for everyone so no matter what your health conditions, you can take part. It was amazing to see, and the residents were absolutely made up”
“Every day is different and goes by in a flash. We’re not just ticking boxes; we want to bring smiles. You truly feel like you’re making a difference.” they added.
Another popular activity was inclusive football sessions with the Killie Trust, which ended with an exciting tour of Kilmarnock Football Club’s stadium. These impactful experiences were key to their nomination:
“The activities team go above and beyond; empowering people to exercise their basic human rights, as well as promoting people’s independence, and providing opportunities for people to be involved”.
Sara-Louise and Leighann also highlighted the unwavering support from their colleagues at Townend:
“It might sound cheesy, but we feel like part of the Townend family. All the staff pitch in with activities, so things don’t just stop when we aren’t here”
Ecstatic Townend manager Rory Wood had this to say:
“We are thrilled to have received the nomination. It is a wonderful recognition of the hard work and dedication of our superb activities team! The team always goes above and beyond to ensure our residents lead meaningful and fulfilling lives”.
Since being acquired by Enhance Healthcare two years ago, the stunning sandstone property has seen thoughtful renovations and is currently undergoing works to create a new, tailor-made unit. Operations Manager Ashleigh Walmsley had this to say:
“You walk into Townend and are immediately met with enthusiasm; the Activities team within this service exude care and thoughtfulness in every bit of their coordination, planning and one-to-one interactions to be able to make their activities as bespoke and person centred as possible. This nomination doesn’t just highlight their hard work but the outcomes the residents at Townend receive.”
Enhance Healthcare would like to express our deepest gratitude to Sara-Louise, Leighann, and the entire team at Townend Care Home for their outstanding dedication to ensuring that our residents enjoy countless opportunities for happiness. Please join us in wishing Sara-Louis and Leighann the best of luck in the upcoming awards!
