Speaker Evening

At the last speakers evening of this Rotary year, Pamela McLachlan and Gillian Smith of Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC) presented the ambitious plan to  build a new day care and respite centre at Ferrymuir. Gillian began by outlining QCCC's present activities, currently run from The Haven, including day care for people over 65 with long term health conditions, a memory cafe for dementia sufferers, lunch clubs and a supper club for older people and a befriending service run by volunteers. Over 70 volunteers are currently involved in the organisation and with new recruits it is hoped to expand the service to include garden tidying and patient transport services.

Pamela McLachlan, a board member and leader on the Ferrymuir project then explained that, thanks to Queensferry District Community Council and funds from the Evans Family Trust, a site has been acquired between Frankie and Benny's and the new housing development. Architects Aitken Turnbull have designed a two storey facility to maximise the site and provide bedrooms for respite care patients on the ground floor and day care facilities on the first floor including a secure roof terrace with views towards the bridges. There will also be a commercial kitchen to supply day and respite care users as well as future catering requirements. Interiors will be welcoming and friendly with much natural light. The benefits this centre will bring include offering local respite care, previously not available in Queensferry, improvement to clients' wellbeing by being closer to family and friends,  new employment and volunteering opportunities and opportunities for local schools to develop inter-generational involvement. Naturally considerable costs are entailed in any such project. 40% of the £1.1 million required is in place and intensive fundraising is already underway including sponsorship, making a donation and sponsoring a brick. It is expected that once the centre is up and running, it will be self-sustainable. Pamela and Gillian's talk gave rise to many questions from the floor and the club will look forward to further news as the project develops.