RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES RAISE £3600 FOR MISSION CHRISTMAS
Huge well done to the Blackhall Rainbows and Brownies who raised more than £3,600 for Mission Christmas by ‘growing £1’.
This meant each girl was given £1 and had to come up with a fundraising idea to help “grow” it. They then took the money they had fundraised to B&M and spent it on gifts for children living in poverty, which they then donated to Mission Christmas with Cash for Kids.
Thanks to a 10% discount from B&M Edinburgh, the group was able to donate more than £4,500 worth of gifts – which equated to four jam-packed car loads!
Strachan House care home in Blackhall was full of animal mischief when a group of Miniature ponies came to visit the home recently.
Residents at Strachan House were pleasantly surprised to see their new furry friends roaming around their home as the beautiful Willow and Sparkles from Happy Hoofbeats theraponies Ltd paid a visit.
General Manager Fran Fishersaid: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today.
“We knew that having the farm here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus.
“We are always looking for new activities for the residents and today we have seen the seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence animals can have on people.”
Resident Bernard Lennon was very excited to see Willow and Sparkles: “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm. Today was very enjoyable and it was wonderful that the animals were free to roam amongst us.”
It was also great to see the home taking onboard our feedback from our recent meeting where we all requested more animal visits.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
A number of staff at Strachan House were recently honoured to be nominated in different categories at the Great British Care Awards.
Staff from Strachan House, residents and their loved ones had nominated staff to be recognised for the amazing work that they do.
Those nominated for awards were:
Fran Fisher General Manager entered into the Registered Manager of the year
Anju Raju nominated for Care home worker
Tsering Chokey entered into the Frontline leader award.
Team award nomination for the Strachan House memory lane team.
Marta Aurzecka Zuchkle nominated for a dignity in care award.
The team were over the moon when Marta won the Regional Award in her category. Marta was thrilled beyond belief and can’t wait to attend the Nationals in February.
The prestigious Great British Care Awards aim to celebrate excellence in social care.
Fran Fisher General Manager for Strachan House said: “We are so proud to have not one but 5 members of staff recognised at this stage of the judging process.
“At Strachan House we employ dedicated and experienced people who consistently provide a high standard in quality of care for our residents. Marta winning the award was overwhelming for all of us but so very well deserved.”
The National Awards will be held in February 2026 at the ICC in Birmingham.
Strachan House care home in Blackhall have recently enjoyed a day out to the Modern One art gallery following the request of some art savvy residents.
Residents on the Ground Floor community were desperate to flex their creative muscles and attend an art gallery before returning to the home to create their own contemporary art.
Art is something that the residents feel crosses divides, it allows everyone to be creative and really gives everyone something to talk about. Favourite exhibitions from the day included the Rhythm display and Connection which the residents really loved especially with the links this display had to their own lives.
Zoe our activities coordinator said: “Art is very popular with everyone who lives here at Strachan House values it very much, we love an outing and this one was a real highlight, we can’t wait to visit Modern 2!”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Specsavers at Shandwick Place in Edinburgh is celebrating it’s over two decade long commitment to promoting better eye health in the local community this National Eye Health Week (22nd – 28th September).
As a locally owned and run store, Specsavers Shandwick Place is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of people in the area. The high street retailer is keen to raise awareness about the importance of regular eye checks this National Eye Health Week, which runs from 22nd – 28th September 2025.
With figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) revealing that one in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime*, Specsavers Shandwick Place is urging locals to prioritise their eye health.
Store director, Aly Uka says: ‘Many people don’t realise that sight loss can often be prevented or treated if a condition is caught early.
“Regular eye tests are essential for everyone, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye tests are not just about glasses, they can detect serious conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and even high blood pressure or risk of stroke.’
National Eye Health Week highlights how preventative care and early diagnosis are crucial in reducing unnecessary sight loss.
According to RNIB, 250 people in the UK begin to lose their sight every day, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages*.
Eye health can also be affected by screen fatigue, especially as more people spend time on devices. Specsavers recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away to help reduce strain and preserve vision.
As a long-standing part of the Shandwick Place community, Specsavers is focused on highlighting that essential health services must be accessible and visible to everyone.
For more information on Specsavers Shandwick Place or to book an appointment, call the store on 0131 240 8860 or visit:
Police are appealing for information and witnesses, following the serious assault of a cyclist on Blackhall Cycle Path, near to Davidson Mains.
The incident took place around 6.05pm on Tuesday, 2 September, 2025. The cyclist, a 46-year-old man, was cycling away from the Drylaw area on his green vintage-style Dutch bike.
The suspect was riding an offroad dirt bike and is described as white, around 5ft 10 and slim build, but their gender is unknown. They were wearing a black full-face helmet and black puffer jacket.
Detective Sergeant Rob Finch said: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the area or witnessed this attack to please come forward.
“Enquiries have established that two members of the public provided aid to the victim, so would ask them to contact police as soon as possible.
“Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 1961 of 3 September, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”
Strachan House care home, in Blackhall, celebrated International Owl Awareness Day with a visit from some beautiful owl species from Owl Adventures UK.
Residents, family, and friends of Strachan House Care Home were delighted to see their new feathered friends flying around.
They enjoyed holding, feeding, and learning about several species, including a majestic barn owl and an impressive great horned owl. Owl Adventures UK, founded in 2011 by Ryan Stocks, prioritizes the welfare and conservation of birds.
The group rescues birds of prey after accidents in the wild and encourages support for endangered birds of prey in the UK.
General Manager Fran Fisher said, “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today. We knew the birds of prey would bring fun to everyone, especially those who cannot join many minibus outings.
“We are always looking for new activities, and today we saw how much enjoyment and therapeutic value animals provide.”
Resident Rosemary was very excited by the birds from Owl Adventures UK: “Today was very enjoyable, and it was wonderful that the owls were free to roam amongst us.
“They are beautiful birds, and it was such an honour to hold and stroke them.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential, nursing, and dementia care for short and long-term stays.
You better beer-lieve that residents at Strachan House care home in Blackhall were more than hoppy to raise a glass, and sample some top craft ales, bitters and lagers, in celebration of International Beer Day.
The Activities team at Strachan House set up ‘The Rolling Bar’ drinks trolley for an exciting mobile bar experience and brought in a range of brew-tiful British and International ales for residents to sample.
Residents and their visitors enjoyed a beer tasting in the comfort of their home whilst they sampled the different craft ales, bitters and lagers.
Fran Fisher, General Manager at the home, said: “We love socialising and celebrating all kind of events, it is wonderful to be able to invite family and friends to come and join us for occasions like this. International Beer Day is a day that the residents really enjoy, who doesn’t love a cold beer on a hot summer’s day!”
Tom Brown, a resident at Strachan House, commented: “I didn’t realise we had so many wonderful local ales, it was fantastic to be able to enjoy a cold beer in the garden with my friends.
“We had a really special time and the beers were great!”
A varied life enrichment programme keeps Strachan House residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
The care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, and Dementia care for short and long-term stays.
Residents from Strachan House care home in Blackhall, Edinburgh, were delighted to visit Ratho Canal for an afternoon with The Seagull Trust Cruises.
Residents were able to engage in some nature spotting and enjoy a brief history of the canal, including its bridges and famous aqueduct. Residents were able to spend the day cruising along the canal, and enjoyed an incredible afternoon tea provided by the home’s hospitality team.
Fran Fisher, General Manager of Strachan House, said: “Our residents have enjoyed their day out on the water.
“Trips out in the homes’ mini bus are a regular event for the residents, and we always ask for ideas on where they would best like to go. The day was so much fun. Residents were delighted to see such a diverse range of wildlife. ”
Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential, nursing and dementia care for short and long-term stays.
