Michelle McManus hosts ‘music festival’ AGM

Blackwood customers treated to an AGM with a difference

AN innovative housing and care specialist hosted an annual general meeting with a difference – by turning it into a music festival hosted by Scottish star Michelle McManus.

Blackwood hosted its ‘Fest in the West’ AGM at its Belses Gardens development in Glasgow on Tuesday, September 17, inviting along its customers from across Scotland.

The festival was hosted by Pop Idol winner Michelle, who entered the UK singles chart at number one in with her debut song ‘All This Time’ after becoming a firm favourite with Simon Cowell on the show.

Guests were treated to a fun-filled day in which Michelle sang some of her best-known hits before spending time mingling and talking with customers. Other festival attractions were enjoyed with a range of acts on the ‘Main Stage’ and around the development from caricature artists and therapets, to bubble entertainers, face painters and a silent disco.

Michelle said: “Its’ a real honour for me to be Blackwood’s host for the day. I think the whole set up and ethos is just fantastic.

“I love the fact that there’s such a sense of community as well which I think is really, really important, it’s great that people can live independently and also have a strong togetherness.

“I only live up the road so it’s brilliant to come along today and see Blackwood’s great work in action.”

At this year’s festival AGM, Blackwood customers wrote oversized fake cheques to explore how they would spend £5,000 to live more independently.

Blackwood displayed its innovative house of the future, the Blackwood House, after it built a replica version across three shipping containers, so it can be showcased around the country.

The house was on show at the recent Chartered Institute of Housing Conference in Manchester and features design aspects such as rise and fall surfaces and integration with Blackwood’s CleverCogs system – an interactive software that allows people to live as independently as possible and stay in touch with friends and family.

Blackwood Chair, Max Brown, said: “We want all our Blackwood developments to have a real sense of community and what better way than by getting everyone together from across the country for a really fun and engaging day.

“We like to think a little outside the box when it comes to our AGMs and make sure it’s a day that our customers can really enjoy and share their opinions and ideas.”

The housing specialists have a reputation for creative AGMs, with this year’s event building on the success of a sports-themed day two years ago and last year’s AGM which included a stand-up routine from Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley, the Lost Voice Guy.

Max added: “We have over 100 customers attending every year and it’s important to us that everyone has a great time year after year.

“Engagement with customers is vital to us to ensure we continue to develop innovative ideas that support independent living.

“It’s a brilliant day and one I always look forward to – not everyone says this about AGMs I know – with everyone trying new things and meeting friends.”

Since it was founded by Dr Margaret Blackwood in 1972, Blackwood has been a pioneer in design and technology, constantly innovating to transform the lives of its customers, helping them to live as independently as possible.

Blackwood’s aim is to do whatever it takes to help people have control over their lives in accommodation that meets their needs. It has an outstanding record of adapting properties from entire renovations to minor adaptations which are incredibly liberating to those involved.