A lorry-driving Scots gran has worked every day for the last 20 years in a bid to see her dream of building a care home for the elderly in her tiny village become a reality. Rosemary Stevenson, 88, and a team of volunteers – the youngest being 67 – have raised £1.5million towards the cost of a care home with a dementia unit.
But they’ve found themselves in a race against time to complete the project as the spiralling price of materials is preventing construction. It means they need another half a million to finish it off.
Despite the hurdles, Rosemary and the team are determined the facility will eventually be built so residents of Ballantrae in Ayrshire can stay near their families and spend the rest of their lives in the village. Their charity, Ballantrae Rural Initiative Care in the Community (BRICC), recently received national recognition, scooping the Helping it Happen communities awards for the contribution it’s making in the area.
Farmer’s widow Rosemary said: “It is fantastic how far we have come – but there is a long way to go. We’ll accept any help we’re offered to make sure we reach our goal. This is a whole community thing, not just me. It would be amazing if people out there realise how wonderful this care facility would be, and help us to finally make it a reality.”
It was 20 years ago that Rosemary recognised the village could not provide the level of support to the ageing community to allow them to remain there. She helped raise thousands of pounds to convert two Victorian houses into a centre where pensioners can enjoy a bubbling social life. A thrift shop next door enables BRICC to raise funds by selling community donations.
Volunteers provide an assortment of goods including furniture and walking aids at little or no charge to the elderly. And the shop has a care agency which employs about 30 people who work within a 15-mile radius to provide support to those needing help in their homes.
Seventeen years ago, Rosemary, who works seven days a week and drives a 7.5-ton lorry to collect furniture from homes to sell at the shop, was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth. The main aim for BRICC has always been to build a 12-bed nursing facility from scratch.
Volunteer Audrey Houston, 67, said: “Winning the Helping it Happen award at the start of the month was a great boost for us, and wonderful to see the project receive recognition. This has been a lifetime commitment for Rosemary, and although it’s getting harder and harder to raise the last of the money we need for the care facility, we’re determined to get over the finish line.”
●To help BRICC, contact [email protected]
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