The Crichton Trust has now made three new appointments and commenced work on ‘Building the case for a Care Campus’ in Dumfries and Galloway.
The idea of a Care Campus for Dumfries and Galloway has been under discussion across several organisations since 2014. It is focussed on adopting new approaches to ageing and testing a model to provide housing, social and community support with access to care for older people, combined with innovation in education, skills development and research.
Towards the end of 2017, The Crichton Trust secured project funding from the Dumfries and Galloway 2014-2020 LEADER programme and, in collaboration with a number of key partners, also received match funding from The Crichton Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council, The Crichton Foundation, Scottish Enterprise and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
Three members of staff have now been employed by The Crichton Trust and have been tasked with developing a “proof of concept” analysis for a Care Campus and with working towards a Full Business Case for the preferred option being available by September 2019.
Jennifer Challinor, has taken up the post of Project Officer, Isla Robertson has taken up the role of Community Engagement and Communications Officer and Ann Gordon is the Project Administrator. The team is working from The Crichton Trust offices in Grierson House on The Crichton Estate.
On joining the team, Jennifer said: “We have the chance to lead the world in finding new ways to support and empower our community to find better ways to support those who need it in their own homes. Through talking to local communities and partners over the course of the project we will develop our understanding of the ways this project might impact on the unique housing challenges we face in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Isla added: “It is really exciting to be part of such an innovative project. We are really looking forward to talking to people from across Dumfries and Galloway about what they would want in an intergenerational community like this and how we could achieve this.”
Alex Haswell, Chief Executive of The Crichton Trust said: “I am delighted to welcome Jennifer, Isla and Ann to the team. I am pleased to say that they are already putting plans in place to drive forward this ambitious project with our partners and stakeholders.”
Anyone who is interested in getting involved in the project is invited to contact the team via Jennifer who can be contacted by email: [email protected]”
