We’re delighted to share a heartwarming good news story from Diamond Home Assist, a support company and valued Scottish Care member based in West Lothian. Led by registered manager Emma Hurry, their weekly ‘Shine’ social inclusion group is making a real difference in the lives of those they support.

Held every Wednesday morning, Shine offers a welcoming space for service users to come together through their 1-to-1 support, meet others in the community, and take part in a range of fun and meaningful activities. From conversation and creativity to connection and confidence-building, Shine is all about bringing people together in a supportive, inclusive environment.

Read on for an article from Emma to see how this small group is making a big impact.

Shine (Bright Like a Diamond): A Celebration of Connection, Growth, and Joy

In June 2024, we proudly launched Shine (Bright Like a Diamond)—a social inclusion group created to bring our Diamond service users together in a welcoming, supportive space where lasting friendships and meaningful connections could blossom.

From the very beginning, Shine has offered a vibrant mix of weekly activities designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and develop key life skills—all while ensuring our service users remain in 1-to-1 support. Whether it’s a lively game of bingo, a morning of crafting, dancing to favourite tunes, or a relaxing round of dominoes, every session is filled with smiles, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

Each week, we introduce something new to keep our sessions fresh and engaging. We’ve gone on Easter egg hunts to build observation and numeracy skills, held sports days that encourage teamwork and coordination, and introduced new colouring sheets every week—a clear group favourite!

In fact, research shows that colouring can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety. It’s not just fun—it’s healing. Just ask Kirsty, one of our incredible service users, who proudly shows off her colourful creations and sunflower made with support from our team.

Our celebrations go beyond weekly sessions. We’ve hosted unforgettable Halloween and Christmas parties, filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Halloween saw our service users in their spookiest costumes, enjoying apple dooking, “donut on a string,” and dancing the Time Warp.

For Christmas, DJ Disco John (a talented service user) kept the dance floor alive with music, while party games, a festive buffet, and a surprise visit from Santa made the season even brighter.

But the true magic of Shine lies in the remarkable personal transformations we’ve witnessed.

One young woman with a learning disability struggled deeply with emotional regulation and social interactions when she first joined. She expressed discomfort with anger and outbursts, often shouting at staff or acting out physically. One difficult moment involved her hitting another woman with a trolley simply because she felt overwhelmed and didn’t know how to communicate it

Today, she greets others with warmth and kindness, using polite language and asking for space when needed. She’s even taken on a caring role, looking after another group member with Down Syndrome—offering her a drink, making sure her wheelchair fits comfortably at the table, and singing alongside her during karaoke. Her growth in empathy, emotional control, and communication is extraordinary.

Another remarkable story comes from a 59-year-old service user with a severe learning disability, living independently in the community. When he first joined Diamond, he suffered from deep loneliness and anxiety, which led him to pick at his skin and furniture. All he wanted was to “make friends.” Now, he arrives at Shine every week with a cheerful hello for everyone. His anxiety has decreased dramatically, and he’s no longer self-harming or damaging his home. Instead, he’s our beloved karaoke star, lighting up the room with his joyful rendition of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”.

Week after week, Shine has become more than just a group—it’s become a community. A place where friendships are forged, laughter is shared, and growth is celebrated. The positive changes we’ve seen in our service users have been nothing short of inspiring.

We are endlessly grateful to our dedicated and compassionate staff, whose care and commitment make Shine possible. Looking ahead, we hope to grow this beautiful community even further — welcoming more service users, adding new ideas, and creating even more opportunities to celebrate individuality, achievement, and the power of human connection.

At Shine, everyone is welcome, and everyone shines.

Abercorn House Enhances Resident Wellbeing Through Virtual Reality

At Abercorn House Care Home, innovation and compassion go hand in hand. As part of their continued commitment to enhancing the lives of their residents, the team is proudly embracing Virtual Reality (VR) to create enriching, personalised experiences for residents.

Whether it’s sparking memories, providing sensory stimulation, or simply offering moments of peace and joy, these immersive experiences are making a meaningful difference. VR sessions are tailored to residents’ interests and needs, allowing each individual to engage in ways that feel familiar, exciting, or soothing.

The initiative reflects Abercorn’s wider commitment to enhancing wellbeing through innovation, creating not just a place of care, but a space of opportunity, curiosity, and connection.

A huge well done to the Abercorn team for leading the way in innovative care proving that the future of wellbeing is both high-tech and deeply human.

Celebrating Love, Diversity and Community- Abercorn’s Pride Party 2025

At Abercorn House, care is not just about support- it’s about belonging. This year, the team proudly hosted a vibrant and meaningful Pride Party, bringing together residents, families, and staff to celebrate the beauty of inclusion, identity and joy.

The home was transformed into a colourful space of love and laughter, with rainbow flags, decorations and the warmest of smiles lighting up every corner.

The day featured:

A resident, staff and families fashion show, where people of all ages strutted with confidence and style, cheered on by proud families and friends.

Live singing and dancing, sparkling happy tears and laughter as everyone got involved.

Heartfelt entertainment, where music bridged generations and filled the home with unity.

What made this celebration so powerful was not just the rainbow colours or fabulous fun- it was the sense of connection. Residents expressed feeling valued and uplifted, especially those who have seen decades of change in how love and identity are embraced.

Families commented on how beautiful it was to see a care home truly living its values-where inclusion is not just a policy but a way of life. Staff led with love, our residents shone with pride, and together, we celebrated every person for exactly who they are. This event is just one example of how Abercorn continues to build a culture where everyone belongs. Residents aren’t just cared for- they are seen, heard and celebrated. Abercorn hopes that their celebration inspires other homes to keep flying the flag of dignity, respect and love for all.

Fife’s First Care focused Africa Day Celebration Shines a Spotlight on Culture, Community, and Care

Alyson Vale from Abbotsford Care , Audrey MacFarlane from Oran Care. Paul Dundas, Fife Independent Sector Lead and Rachel Payne from Bandrum Nursing Home put on a really successful Africa day celebration on 25^th May 25 at Abbotsford Head Office in Kirkcaldy. It was a vibrant event that brought together social care professionals, community members, and partners to honour the rich cultural heritage of African communities working across Fife.

Attendees from each organisation gathered for an afternoon of authentic cuisine, uplifting music, and cultural exchange. The event was designed to foster cross-cultural understanding, celebrate diversity within the care workforce, and strengthen local community ties. The event was put on by the organisations and was free to all staff and their families

Lynne Garvey,  Chief of Fife Health and Social Care was also in attendance. She gave a moving address:

“Africa Day was a celebration of people, pride, and passion. Our international staff bring not only skill and compassion to our services, but also a deep cultural richness that benefits everyone in Fife.”

Guests were treated to traditional dishes prepared by local cook Joy, which attendees described as “a taste of home” and “simply unforgettable.” The event also featured music and personal stories, creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere that resonated with everyone present.

Key Outcomes of Africa Day 2025:

• Increased awareness and appreciation of African cultures in the workplace
• Stronger bonds between staff and the local community
• A platform for representation and dialogue around diversity and inclusion

Plans are already underway to expand next year’s celebration, with ambitions to involve more local organisations and build educational opportunities into the programme.

“The energy and joy were contagious,” said one attendee. “It wasn’t just an event—it was a statement of unity and respect.

World Diversity Day 2025 – A Celebration of Culture and Unity

On 21st May 2025, the historic Aberdeen Town House came alive with colour, music, and celebration as local care homes joined together for a special World Diversity Day event. The programme was a collaborative effort led by Mel Shearer from Fairview House, Nadine Garcia from Torry Nursing Home, and City Care Homes Lead Nurse Elaine Morrison.

The event began with a warm and heartfelt welcome from Mel Shearer, who shared the inspiration behind the project—to create a space where diversity is celebrated, differences are respected, and staff from different care homes in Aberdeen could come together, connect, and learn from one another. This was followed by a powerful keynote speech from Baldeep McGarry, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Aberdeen City Council. Her message was simple but strong: diversity is not just acknowledged, it’s celebrated and honoured.

A highlight of the day was the incredible performances by care home staff, showcasing dances from around the world including a Filipino, Jamaican, Polish folk dances and a touching song performed in Tagalog. The Cultural Fashion Show lit up the room with traditional costumes from different countries, each with its own story as narrated by Nadine Garcia.

Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed homemade dishes lovingly prepared by staff, each one offering a nostalgic taste of their own home.

Before closing, Elaine Morrison presented the results of a staff survey focused on the onboarding experience of overseas workers, sparking conversations on how to better support and welcome them into our community.

With its music, colour, food, and spirit of togetherness, the event was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came and supported, it was a day to remember, from our local community, to staff members, Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership and Care Inspectorate.  We now look forward to making this a cherished annual tradition.

UHI Argyll showcases innovative training initiative at Parliamentary reception

On Tuesday 29 April 2025, staff and students from UHI Argyll attended the Colleges Scotland Parliamentary reception to present a technology-driven training initiative designed for rural Health and Social Care.

Students Christel, based on the Isle of Tiree; Margaret, who oversees housing and care services across Scotland; and Debbie and Julie, who both work in care settings in Helensburgh, attended the event at Holyrood, along with lecturer Margaret Eccles. Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto was keen to meet the students and hear about the collaboration.

The project, Empowering Care Homes – A Training Partnership is a collaboration between Argyll & Bute HSCP, UHI Argyll, and Scottish Care, aimed at addressing training challenges in rural and island-based care homes. With post-COVID-19 recovery funding, it employs a Train the Trainer model to reduce dependence on external providers and enable care homes to deliver in-house training. Given Argyll’s vast and fragmented geography, this flexible approach ensures staff across remote locations receive high-quality, consistent training.

Participants enrol in UHI Argyll’s CPD course, Plan and Deliver Training Sessions in a Care Setting, which is delivered through live online classrooms, interactive learning tools, remote assessments, and individual tutorials. The programme focuses on critical areas such as dementia and end-of-life care, equipping care staff to train their colleagues effectively.

For rural employers, this initiative offers significant advantages by reducing costs, logistical barriers, and reliance on external trainers. It ensures that training fits within 24/7 staffing models, enhances workforce skills, improves care standards, and supports staff retention by offering accessible professional development. By fostering internal expertise, the programme helps care homes maintain training standards aligned with their unique operational needs. The structured approach integrates training into the daily work environment, making it more relevant and immediately applicable.

Dunoon student Grace said:

“The course can bring numerous benefits not only to my own career, but to my staff and residents too. It enhances staff training, compliance and regulations, improves staff retention, and most importantly leads to better resident care. It has significantly enhanced my leadership skills, boosting my confidence in communication, coaching, and mentoring.”

The partnership between Scottish Care, Argyll & Bute HSCP, and UHI Argyll, highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in overcoming challenges. By embracing technology and innovative approaches, the pilot programme serves as a model for sustainable, high-quality professional development across the region, and other rural areas across Scotland.

Jenni Minto MSP with UHI Argyll students Christel, Debbie, Julie and Margaret, and lecturer Margaret Eccles at the Colleges Scotland Parliamentary Reception

Royal Voluntary Service partners with Call-In Homecare for a delightful Vintage Tea Party

On 23 April, Call-In Homecare hosted a heartwarming Vintage Tea Party in celebration of community, connection, and care to raise vital funds for their charity partner, the Royal Voluntary Service.

In Edinburgh, the atmosphere was filled with nostalgia as the Call-In Homecare Head Office transformed into a vintage-inspired haven, with warm and inviting decorations that transported everyone back in time. Staff and service users dressed for the occasion, sharing tea, laughter, and home-baked treats, lovingly prepared by the Call-In Homecare team.

A raffle fundraiser added to the excitement, with the team raising £120 to support the invaluable work of Royal Voluntary Service.

For those in Glasgow, Inverclyde, and the West of Scotland, the team took the celebration to individual service users’ homes. Care Assistants delivered thoughtful afternoon tea boxes filled with sandwiches, scones, and cakes, sharing precious time with those they support.

The tea party was more than a themed event,  it was a celebration of community, dignity, and meaningful connection, providing a platform for service users and Care Assistants to come together, share stories and create lasting memories.

For one service user, Fiona, it was her first time out of bed since Christmas time. She made the effort to be hoisted into a chair to enjoy her tea party fully, a small but powerful victory that brought smiles all round.

To build on the momentum, Call-In Homecare launched an online raffle for a luxury afternoon tea for two, offering more people a chance to support the cause and spread a little joy.

The success of this event highlights the importance of slowing down, connecting, and creating shared experiences, even in the busy world of care at home. Call-In Homecare now hopes to host similar events in the future, continuing to make space for joy and reflection within their services.

Scottish Care congratulates the team at Call-In Homecare for this inspiring initiative and their ongoing commitment to person-centred, relationship-based care. Events like these remind us all of the profound impact that everyday kindness can have.

For more on this story, visit: call-inhomecare.co.uk – Royal Voluntary Service Party

Hillcrest Futures’ Dundee services that support people with drug and alcohol use have been recognised for their commitment to supporting women by receiving the Welcoming Women Award for their work at South Ward Road.

The services were commended by the Head of Health & Community Care at Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) for their efforts in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for women in crisis.

The initiative was made possible thanks to funding from the Gendered Services Project, secured by Hillcrest Futures staff with support from Gendered Services Project Manager, Heather Wilkins.

The Gendered Services Project is funded by the CORRA Foundation and the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP). The project, which is driven by women with lived experience of complex trauma, aims to support services to develop a gendered approach to service delivery.

Hillcrest Futures Senior Project Worker, Justyna Zalewska explains: “We know that women accessing our services are often in incredibly difficult situations. Having a space that feels safe, warm and welcoming can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.

“Thanks to the funding and feedback from women supported by our services, we have purchased cosy blankets, wall art, cushions, lamps, plants and other decorative items to make our interview rooms and recovery café feel less clinical. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams in ensuring that women feel supported when they come through our doors.”

Lead Officer, Protecting Team, Sophie Gwyther added: “Seeing more and more services in Dundee achieve the Welcoming Women Award is fantastic. For any woman considering accessing support services, it gives them assurance that the service will respond sensitively to their specific needs as women and any barrier they may be worried about will be addressed. Well done to Hillcrest Futures for this achievement.”

One of the women who accesses support from the services shared her experience: “When I first arrived at the service, I felt so emotional. My project worker showed me to the women’s room and let me cry. I started to feel calmer in the surroundings. Having a blanket to cuddle into and the nice smell of the room also relaxed me. It felt so therapeutic while my project worker listened and let me talk.”

From left- Kelly Robb, Hillcrest Futures project worker; Heather Wilkins, Gendered Services project manager; Pauline McIntosh, Hillcrest Futures operations manager; Justyna Zalewska, Hillcrest Futures senior project worker.