Innovative Housing and Care Experts to Host Sports Themed AGM

A SPECIALIST housing and care provider is putting a sporting twist on its annual general meeting by hosting various events from powerchair football to wheelchair basketball to promote the importance of health and wellbeing.

Edinburgh-based Blackwood Homes and Care has earned a reputation for its highly creative and engaging yearly showcases, which feature life-changing technology and innovative displays.

This year’s AGM will be no different and has been designed to encourage tenants to try new activities by providing them with the opportunity to trial the various sports first hand.

The event will take place on Tuesday 19 September at the National Sports Training Centre in Largs, North Ayrshire. The centre is the first UK residential sports centre of its kind, designed specifically to be inclusive for users of all physical and sensory ability.

As well as sports such as basketball, football, dance and archery, attendees will also be treated to a speech from Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League captain, Graeme Stewart, and have the chance to experience virtual reality with Google cardboard.

Blackwood Chief Executive, Fanchea Kelly, said: “We always strive to create an ‘AGM with a difference’ and we’re delighted to deliver unique and ambitious events with over 100 tenants attending each year.

“We have had great success over the past three years, with our highly interactive events featuring everything from bionic arms and robot exoskeletons to the construction of a full scale, walk-through replica of our now launched Blackwood House.

“This year’s event is all about letting our customers try out something new and have the opportunity to meet people and make new friends.

“The sports centre at Largs is an ideal setting for this. They’ve really thought of everything. All the fitness suites have been adapted so that anyone can use them and it provides a terrific venue for people of all ability levels to enjoy physical activity.”

A team from Euan’s Guide, a charity which provides disabled access reviews, will have a stall at the AGM to offer advice to attendees while the dining room area will be used as a space for those who don’t wish to participate in the sports.

An award will also be presented to 86-year-old, Esther Cox, for her outstanding work in her local community of Greenock where she organises social events, looks after vulnerable relatives and runs errands for fellow residents.

Fanchea continued: “It’s going to be a really fun-filled day. After the speech from Rugby League captain Graeme Stewart, we’ll have a demo and trials from the Scottish under-23 basketball team and opportunities for attendees to get to grips with the gym.

“Then the South Ayrshire Tigers will have a penalty shoot-out before archery and dance later on, while there’ll also be the chance to view our brilliant new site in Dundee through virtual reality with Google cardboard.

“Plus, Nardini’s ice cream have arranged for everyone that turns up to be given a tub of ice cream, and free ice cream is always a good thing.”