HEINEKEN Caledonian Brewery

RE OPENING OF SERVICES PEP creates opportunities for older and other vulnerable adults in North Edinburgh, reducing isolation, supporting Mental Health, Accessible Community Transport We run 5 daycare clubs for the most isolated of individuals to participate in these community events. The programme is supported by our energetic team of volunteers. We are always looking to recruit new volunteers to assist with our service delivery to assist at one of our days clubs, minibus drivers and passenger assistants ... for a morning or an afternoon.

In addition to care services we also provide housing for veterans and their families, supported employment for veterans, and an Activity Centre for veterans who are experiencing social isolation and loneliness. To ensure we deliver the best possible services to a broad range of beneficiaries, we work in close partnership with other organisations operating in our field, including Veterans Scotland and Scottish Care. At the heart of everything we do, our charitable mission remains the same: to enable members of the ex-Service community to access the best care and support to achieve maximum quality of life. The Erskine Edinburgh Home opened in 2002 and is located in Gilmerton, in the heart of the local community. The purpose built care home provides nursing and dementia care for 40 residents on a 24 hour basis. As with all Erskine Homes, EEH residents benefit from the provision of a wide range of services including: Care • 24-hour nursing care • Care for people living with dementia • Physiotherapy • Speech and language therapy • Dental care • Podiatry Facilities • Wi-Fi available in bedrooms • Extensive grounds landscaped gardens and an allotment Services • Hairdresser • Banking facilities • Library • Chaplaincy Activities • Daily social activities programme with Activity Co-ordinators • Social events and outings

Edinburgh is one of the loneliest cities in the UK for older people, with 11,000 over 60s always or often alone – and these figures are rising. At Vintage Vibes we support and empower older people (our VIPs), helping them to forge new friendships and enjoy life. We match local older people who feel alone with like-minded friendship volunteers to tackle loneliness and host a wide range of regular groups and events. Our fresh, fun approach empowers our VIPs by increasing their confidence, helping them to connect with their community and create lasting friendships that improve their wellbeing and reintroduce fun into their lives! We support older people facing issues ranging from bereavement, lack of confidence, mobility, sudden/ongoing poverty, dementia, mental health challenges, minority groups within their local community, and/or living with a disability. Our intergenerational friendship volunteer project matches local volunteers with lonely/isolated VIPs to form vital lasting friendships and tackle loneliness. These friendships make a real difference, offering companionship, regular chats and trips out together and a genuine friendship which means the world to our VIPs. Our groups take place across a wide range of venues in the city, and within this, we consider public transport access and accessibility to create experiences as engaging and barrier-free as possible for our community. Our themed events are held 3 times a year and are a great opportunity for everyone to come together for a fabulous afternoon of fun, food, friendship and laughter. This includes our annual Christmas lunch! Which sadly for many, will be their only festive meal with company. Food poverty, the lack of enthusiasm for cooking for one (many are widowed or living alone) and feeling down due to loneliness all impacts the wellbeing of older people. The opportunity of a good meal with good company leaves a great many lifted by the experience and more likely to take positive steps towards improving their day to day wellbeing. Food is such a great way to bring people together and our VIPs love the opportunity to share a meal and a good chat. For those who are unable to attend our events due to ill health, we visit them in their home for a chat armed with food, flowers or cards to bring a little cheer and make sure everyone is included, valued and bring a little joy when they are feeling low. Our friendship match, groups and activities are created to meet the ever-increasing number of referrals we receive from concerned family, GPs, and healthcare/community workers for those feeling lonely and isolated. With demand for our support raising, we need funding and new volunteers more than ever to continue to be there and save lives. I could go on, but I think our wonderful VIPs and volunteers do it best! Check out our YouTube channel and socials for videos about our vital work and VIPs and volunteers chatting about their experience with Vintage Vibes!