The Army Benevolent Fund Supports Erskine’s Veterans

Erskine is thrilled to share that the Army Benevolent Fund has continued their outstanding support of our Army beneficiaries with a significant grant of £150,000. This will directly support our provision of enhanced care services to Army Veterans and their spouses living at The Erskine Home, Bishopton. We are incredibly grateful to the Fund for their fantastic regular support of Erskine’s Army community and our team thanks the Trustees for this latest generous grant.

The Erskine Home, Bishopton has now provided outstanding care services to elderly Veterans and their spouses for twenty-five years. Our Home delivers expert residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care for up to 180 residents living with life-limiting conditions. We are proud that our Home’s dedicated and highly-skilled staff offer a unique range of on-site enhanced care services which help our residents enjoy the highest quality of life alongside like-minded people.

At this time, about 60% of Erskine’s residents are Army beneficiaries. One of our Home’s Army Veterans is Ian Drever. Ian was born in Orkney in 1934 and proudly calls himself an Orcadian. Ian completed his National Service in the Army at a young age, serving in Hong Kong. Following his Service, he studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and became a General Practitioner – he is still affectionately known as Dr Ian! Ian moved to The Erskine Home, Bishopton several months ago and has become a very popular resident, throwing himself wholeheartedly into our Home’s activities and events. For example, he recently enjoyed the party at our Home’s VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations and attended a visit from Celtic FC to get his photo taken with last season’s trophies.

We are proud to support Dr Ian at our Home with a sector-leading standard of care and support, ensuring that he and his fellow Army beneficiaries can enjoy their best possible futures together. This is only possible thanks to Erskine’s generous and loyal supporters like the Army Benevolent Fund.

Erskine’s Chief Executive, Ian Cumming MBE: “We are delighted that the Army Benevolent Fund has continued their incredible generosity towards Erskine’s Army beneficiaries and I would like to sincerely thank the Trustees for this grant and their incredible long-term support. Our hardworking and compassionate team at The Erskine Home, Bishopton provides vital care services to many Army Veterans and spouses. It is hugely important that all of our Home’s residents can benefit from a high quality of life and our Home’s enhanced care services and vibrant community spirit certainly support this. As we continue to develop our services, Erskine can only maintain our high standards of care delivery thanks to our wonderful supporters. We are very proud to support such a large community of Army beneficiaries and this will continue with the terrific generosity of the Army Benevolent Fund – thank you all so much.”

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added: “We are delighted to award our long-standing partner, Erskine, with a significant grant to help former soldiers who are residents in its care homes in Scotland. The Army Benevolent Fund is here to provide lifelong support for those who have served their country. Thanks to Erskine’s expert care, Army veterans resident in the charity’s homes are able to live with independence and dignity in their final years.”

The Army Benevolent Fund is the Army’s national charity, helping soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. The ABF stands at the forefront of support for the Army family. As one of the largest funders in the sector, the ABF awards grants to individuals and families, and funds leading organisations to ensure that help is there for Army beneficiaries when they need it. For more information on their work, please visit https://armybenevolentfund.org/.