Erskine has recognised the commitment and dedication of staff and volunteers at an annual Long Service Awards ceremony.

The ceremony held in The Erskine Home in Bishopton, recognised long service to the charity by both staff and volunteers. Chairman Stuart Aitkenhead presented the awards.

Also in attendance was Erskine Chief Executive Ian Cumming who said: “A truly remarkable team of staff, supported by a special team of volunteers, who deliver the vital services required to provide the highest standard of care and support to our Veterans.  I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a large number of people who demonstrate such commitment to Erskine”.

Amongst those members of staff receiving awards was Matthew McDowall (41) who said:

“I was honoured yesterday to receive recognition for my 25 years' service to Erskine. I began my career in 1997 at 16 years old in what was then the Erskine Hospital, now at the age of 41 I look back with great fondness and appreciation for all of the residents I have been privileged to care for and the staff who moulded me into the person I am today.

I started my career in the old Erskine Hospital building as general hospital relief Care Assistant, gaining valuable experience before working in Erskine's first Dementia area.  It was here I developed a lifelong love of Dementia care. Later in The Erskine Home I spent around 14 years in Haig House learning and training to eventually become a Senior Care Assistant, a position I held both there and in Erskine Park Home for nearly six years. Erskine and my amazing colleagues have supported me every step of the way, I feel truly fortunate to work for an organisation that has a career path for Carers and above all values the work of every member of staff. 

But more than that I found a family, I haven't just worked here for 25 years, I have grown up here and shared many important life events with my Erskine family. I passed my driving test, I moved out of my parents' home, relationships came and went and most importantly I shared the arrival of my two sons who are now 13 and 10 years old. Although it is a time to look back and reflect it is also an opportunity to look forward. For the last five years I have been working as a Quality Improvement Assistant where I get to influence and mould the next generation of Care staff, I look forward to sharing all that I have, and continue to learn with them to ensure that our residents always receive the highest standard of care. I can never thank my colleagues both past and present enough for their support, I can only promise to continue sharing all of the good that they have taught me”.

To find out more about Erskine’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @ErskineCharity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity or listen to Erskine Veterans Radio at Erskine.org.uk/radio.  To donate directly to Erskine please visit Erskine.org.uk/donate