Erskine Veterans Charity welcomes Minister for Social Care on
first official visit

Erskine, Scotland’s leading Veterans charity, today welcomed the newly appointed Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur MSP, to its Edinburgh Erskine Home (EEH) as part of the national Care Home Open Week celebrations.

The visit marked Mr Arthur’s first official engagement in his new role. The Minister toured the facility, met staff and residents, observed a musical exercise class, and heard first-hand about the lived experience of those who call Erskine home.

He was welcomed by Director of Care, Derek Barron, and Care Home Manager Alison Payne, who introduced him to colleagues and shared insights into the work Erskine does to support Veterans and their spouses in later life.

Erskine’s Edinburgh home is one of a number of services operated by the charity across Scotland, offering high-quality nursing, dementia and residential care. The charity, which has been supporting ex-Servicemen and women for over a century, remains at the forefront of Veteran care through a combination of clinical excellence, community spirit and tailored support.

Derek Barron, Director of Care at Erskine, said: “We are delighted that the Minister has chosen to come and visit us here at Erskine Veterans Charity, in his new role as Social Care Minister. It is a great opportunity to share with him the vibrancy and the joy of care home life as well as the challenges we, and our sector colleagues face on a day-to-day basis”.

Minister Tom Arthur MSP said: “I was pleased to visit the Erskine Care Home to hear from residents, staff and volunteers as part of Care Home Open Week

For many, the first experience of a care home often comes at short notice.  Care Home Open Week is a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to learn about the type of high-quality care and activities our care homes provide within our communities.

It also showcases the rewarding nature of careers in the social care sector."

The visit took place during Care Home Open Week (16–22 June) – a UK-wide initiative celebrating the role of care homes in local communities and offering the public a chance to engage with the sector.

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For further information please contact Susan Hamilton, Communications Officer, on 0141 814 4719 or email susan.hamilton@erskine.org.uk

Erskine Veterans Charity is more than a charity — it’s a community, a family, and a lifeline for Scotland’s Veterans and their loved ones. Since 1916, we’ve provided expert care and unwavering support for ex-Service men and women, continually evolving to meet the changing needs of those who’ve served our country.

As Scotland’s leading provider of care for Veterans and their spouses, Erskine continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Veterans as the only charity in Scotland to offer such a wide-ranging suiteof person-centred services for our beneficiaries.

 Erskine delivers outstanding nursing, residential, and dementia care in our specialist homes on the East and West coasts. However our support extends beyond care homes: through our Veterans Village in Bishopton, we provide 44 family cottages, five Assisted Living Apartments, and 23 Transitional Supported Accommodation Apartments for Veterans of various ages and life stages.

We also help Veterans thrive within their own local communities. Our Activity Centres in Bishopton and Forres, offer a safe space for Veterans to come together with like-minded people to connect, engage in purposeful activities, learn new skills, and access support. In addition our regional Home Support service offers older Veterans the friendly assistance which they need to live well with independence and dignity in their own home.

 At Erskine, we don’t just care for Veterans — we care about them.

The generosity of our supporters allows the charity to maintain our commitment to care for Scotland’s Veterans – without donations we simply cannot continue this work.

To find out more about Erskine Veterans Charity’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @ErskineCharity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity. To donate directly to Erskine, please visit Erskine.org.uk/donate.

Erskine Veterans Charity | Company No. SC174103 | Registered Charity No. SC006609 | The Erskine Home, Erskine Veterans Village, Bishopton, PA7 5PU