Tag: 50th anniversary

Podcast is sound choice for all passionate on independent living

Blackwood’s 50th anniversary includes new show for underserved sector

A pioneering independent living specialist in Scotland is launching a dedicated podcast to help celebrate 50 years of helping people live more independently.

Blackwood has promised the episodes will have something for everyone interested in Scotland’s rapidly changing housing, health and social care sector – including its own staff and customers.

The new venture will feature an exciting line-up of guests that reads like a Who’s Who of housing, health and social care, as well as leading experts in robotics and designers focused on improving living spaces for those with disabilities or age-related conditions.

Fanchea Kelly, Chief Executive of Blackwood, said: “We’re privileged to have access to so many interesting people who have given so much throughout their professional lives to improving the lives of others.

“So, we are incredibly pleased to be creating a new platform for those voices that will help explain and explore their work while making it easily accessible.

“We’ll be speaking with agenda setters and policy makers as well as the finest minds in science, research, robotics, smart technology and design. What unites them all is a passion for helping people to live longer, happier and more independent lives.”

As well as high-profile guests, the new podcast will also help the charity celebrate its 50th anniversary by focusing on some of its longest-serving staff and customers, who will tell their personal stories about how Blackwood changed their lives for the better.

Since being founded by disability campaigner Dr Margaret Blackwood, the organisation has gone on to become one of the most progressive in helping people to live independently, despite disabilities, mobility-limiting conditions and the effects of ageing.

Particularly renowned as a pioneer in technology, Blackwood’s annual Design Awards attract inventors and innovators from all over the world, while its bespoke “Blackwood House” design is seen as the benchmark for tech-assisted independent living.

Confirmed guests lined up for the new podcast include social care policy leaders, Brian Sloan the Chief Executive of Age Scotland; and Blackwood’s own high-respected Chair, Julie McDowell.

Broadcaster Pennie Taylor is also scheduled for a host slot. She is best-known as a long-standing BBC Scotland Health Correspondent and is still one of the country’s top journalists covering the health and social care sectors.

Other episodes will feature Blackwood’s tech champions interviewing academic experts on how robots and other cutting-edge technology will continue to transform independent living.

They will include Professor Praminda Caleb- Solly, of the University of Nottingham and Dr Mauro Dragone, from Heriot-Watt Universities Edinburgh Centre for Robotics.

Fanchea added: “There really will be something for everyone. We all know someone who needs extra care to live independently and since growing older is an inevitability, we have a vested interest in this for our own futures.

“The pace of technological change is summed up in podcasts, which have become one of the most accessible forms of communication there is, so it is a fitting format for Blackwood to adopt as we celebrate 50 years.

“The housing and care sector has gone through a tremendous change since we started, especially with advances in digital technology. We want to ensure Blackwood is at the forefront of what the next 50 years will bring.”

Since 1972, Blackwood housing and care has been providing specialist accommodation aimed at maximising independent living – with innovation being a key driving force.

The charity’s vision has remained consistent with what founder Dr Margaret Blackwood set out years ago – “helping people live their life to the full”.

Technology modernisation has seen the installation of a digital services system, CleverCogs alongside the launch of the bespoke “Blackwood House”, which is a cutting-edge design combining technology and modern construction to meet customer’s changing needs.

Blackwood operates more than 1500 properties across 29 local authorities, helping transform its customers’ lives.

The podcast will be available on the Blackwood website as well as on the usual channels including iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts and most mainstream podcast apps – or by visiting https://www.spreaker.com/show/blackwood-50

Bield launches award to celebrate acts of kindness

One of Scotland’s leading housing providers has launched an initiative to celebrate its community for their acts of kindness.

Housing and care provider, Bield, has launched a platform to recognise individuals going above and beyond in the community, naming the award – ‘You are one of a Kind’.

Running until March 2022, customers, owners, service users, staff and members of the local community will have the chance every month to nominate their local heroes or heroines who have gone out of their way to lend a helping hand.

At the end of each month, a board of judges will select a Bield customer along with a Bield staff member or volunteer to receive the One of a Kind Award and a £50 voucher.

This comes as Bield is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is looking to get as many people as possible involved in the milestone.

Chief Executive of Bield, Dr Lynne Douglas said: “Many things can go unnoticed as people go about their day to day life and this award gives us the perfect opportunity to recognise all the little things that make a big difference to individuals and their communities – especially in the current climate.

“The community at Bield has rallied together throughout the pandemic so we are really excited to launch this initiative and give those people a platform to share their amazing efforts.

“Our first series of nominations have started to come through and the stories so far have been incredible – it is wonderful to see individuals supporting each other.

 “The Bield community is truly one of a kind and we felt this award will help showcase and celebrate the amazing people we interact with on a daily basis.”

This award further amplifies the importance the provider has put on kindness, last year it was added to its core values, building on the ethos staff and customers live by.

Customers, staff and volunteers can cast vote here: 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Sw49M7C0qUOtpRsCxgri41WlGYsudCRGkIdsKknXwItURUZVOEFCMVpUSDNMNFRaU0VNTEpBMFZTQS4u

Bield is a registered charity which grew from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness which has gone on to become a major provider of housing and care services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authority areas.

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit www.bield.co.uk or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Housing provider’s Big Night In for 50th anniversary celebration

ONE of the country’s largest housing providers is hosting a ‘Big Night In’ to mark its 50th anniversary operating in the sector, with guest appearances from well-known Scottish personalities.

Bield Housing & Care will mark its golden anniversary with a trip down memory lane where staff and customers will revisit fond memories and stories on an online video.

Staff and customers will be able to view the celebration event on Bield’s website and YouTube from the comfort (and safety) of their own homes.

A host of famous faces have sent messages of congrats to the housing provider including, National Clinical Director Jason Leitch, Scottish Actors Sanjeev Kohli and Mark Cox, and Hibernian FC Captain David Gray.

Lesley Holdsworth, Chair of Bield Board, said: “We are incredibly excited to celebrate our 50th anniversary with staff and customers in what is a true milestone for the business.

“With the current lockdown restricting events or small gatherings, Bield was unable to stage the kind of major celebration event it would like to organise.

“Instead, we are looking to bring everyone together virtually through our ‘Big Night In’ event.

“We hope the Big Night In will capture the very essence of our fun loving community as we look back through key parts of our history and ahead to an exciting future.

“In the not too distant future we hope to bring customers and staff together to celebrate this milestone in person, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones.”

The Big Night In will take place tomorrow (17 March) at 5pm. It is just one of a number of celebratory events which will take place throughout the year.

Staff, customers and members of the Bield community are encouraged to join in the celebrations virtually across the housing provider’s social media channels.

Bield is a registered charity which grew from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness, and now provides housing services for around 20,000 older people across 23 local authority areas.

Bield’s new strategy for property development provides housing solutions – with greater choice and flexibility – to address the needs of the current generation of older people and the next.

To find out more about us and our developments, visit:  

https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services 

or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare

and Twitter @BieldScotland.