We are thrilled to share some exciting news from Collisdene Care Centre, where remarkable achievements have been taking place under the guidance of international champion Stephanie Mackenzie.

Stephanie, who secured an impressive 3rd place in the World Championships in 2017, is not only the National Coach for Tae Kwon-Do but also the Taekwondo coach at Collisdene Care Centre. Her dedication and expertise have made a significant impact on the lives of their residents.

Behind the scenes, Rosie Brennan, the Activity Coordinator at Collisdene, deserves special recognition for her vision and tireless efforts. Rosie was the driving force behind bringing Taekwondo to residents, recognising the physical and mental benefits it could offer. Her commitment to enriching the lives of our residents is truly commendable.

Stephanie will be jetting off to Finland to coach the National Squad for the 2023 Tae Kwon-Do Championship. Her commitment to the sport is truly commendable.

A memorable moment occurred on August 22nd, 2023, as 10 residents and one staff member achieved their goal and received their yellow belts, proudly presented by Stephanie herself. Joining in on the celebration were Provost Margaret Cooper, MP Dr. Lisa Cameron, and Abigail and Reece Stirling, both accomplished black belts who work closely with Stephanie and are set to compete in the Taekwondo championships in Finland.

The presentation ceremony, held at Collisdene Care Centre, brought tears of joy to families and staff members as they cheered on the residents during the board-breaking portion of their grading. Both the Provost and MP enthusiastically participated, earning the admiration of everyone present.

The spirit of celebration doesn’t stop here; MP Dr. Lisa Cameron is taking these accomplishments to Parliament with a motion to recognise the fantastic work being done at Collisdene. Everyone is so excited to share their achievements on a national platform.

In June 2023, six residents achieved their SQA Level 2 in Modern Languages – French, a fantastic feat made possible with the support of Lingo Flamingo’s Judith and Rosi. The entire Collisdene community is bursting with pride over these accomplishments.

Collisdene residents are truly fortunate to have such dedicated and talented individuals like Stephanie Mackenzie, Abigail, Reece Stirling, Judith, and Rosi, who are helping them reach their full potential and achieve remarkable goals. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Rosie Brennan for her unwavering dedication and vision in bringing these opportunities to Collisdene’s residents.