One of Scotland’s leading providers of housing and care services for older people has received over £20,000.

Bield’s Whitehill Court in Kirkintilloch runs an evening care service for people with dementia and has received a new grant through the Short Breaks Fund, which is resourced by the Scottish government.

The grant will enable Whitehill Court to hold an evening care service two times a week in the first year and then once a week in year two.

Rhona Forrest, Resource Manager at Whitehill Court, said: "It is really fantastic to receive the grant again for Whitehill Court. The evening care service we run is incredibly important and makes a real difference to the lives of those who use it.

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"It is incredibly important that those who are caring for people with dementia have the chance for time out – a chance to do things themselves or to do activities they want or need to do.

"We have had one carer book a holiday abroad for the first time in a number of years due to the service and another has been able to sign-up for an Open University course, which is fantastic."

According to the Carers Trust, There are 657,000 carers in Scotland, a number expected to rise 60% in the next 30 years.

Bield Fundraiser Kevin Rowe said: "We are delighted to have this kind of support. The service has been recognised for its good work in the past so we are very keen to keep the service going. This grant from the Short Breaks Fund allows us to do that.

"We really believe the evening care service is helping to meet the needs of those people with dementia and their loved ones."

(IT/CD)