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Scottish Veterans Commissioner visits Erskine

Charlie Wallace, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, last week visited the Erskine Veterans Village in Bishopton, meeting with Chief Executive Ian Cumming MBE.

Mr Wallace was given a tour of The Erskine Home, one of the charity’s four care homes, before spending time with Veterans at Erskine’s Reid Macewen Activity Centre which has just celebrated being open for one year. 104 Veterans are now registered at the day centre with activities including woodwork, art, holistic therapy and IT.

Ian Cumming said: “We were really pleased to have an opportunity to demonstrate to the Veterans Commissioner exactly how Erskine, as a charity, remains responsive to Scotland’s Veterans’ changing support needs. Erskine Homes are iconic for delivering compassionate nursing, respite and end of life care to Scottish Veterans. However, we also take great pride in delivering tailored training, recreational activities, therapeutic support as well as a range of high quality single and family accommodation. Our residents, tenants and activity centre Veterans were delighted to meet the Commissioner to explain the personal challenges they have faced after military service.”

Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Charlie Wallace, said: “Having been appointed as Scottish Veterans Commissioner in late 2018, this is my first visit to the Erskine Village and it’s remarkable to see first-hand the level of support and services it provides to our Armed Forces community.

“A veteran myself, when you leave the Forces you miss that sense of comradeship and Erskine Village is a first-class example of how that community sense is replicated where like-minded people can access support services as well as social activities. It’s encouraging to see that the charity extends its support and care packages to veterans’ families thus ensuring Scotland is a nation that wholly supports its military personnel.”