Adopt a Grandparent, an independent charity seeking to build intergenerational relationships across the globe, has expanded into Scotland through establishing its first office base at Edinburgh’s Napier University’s Entrepreneurship hub and joining forces with a care home.

The strategic office location at Napier University will serve as a central hub, providing access to state-of-the-art meeting and event venues. This official collaboration with the university signifies the charity’s dedication to cultivating meaningful associations within the academic landscape, leveraging the renowned School of Health and Social Care and the School of Applied Sciences.

Nick Fannin, head of entrepreneurship at Edinburgh’s Napier University, said: “Welcoming Adopt a Grandparent to our entrepreneurship hub resonates deeply with our commitment to supporting innovative initiatives and building impactful connections within our community. With a shared commitment to innovation and social impact, the collaboration symbolises our dedication to nurturing and incubating schemes that transcend boundaries and catalyse meaningful change.”

Hillview Advinia Care becomes the first Scottish care home to officially join forces with the charity. With 130 residents and a substantial dementia unit, Hillview Advinia Care epitomises Adopt a Grandparent’s vision of reducing isolation and loneliness among the elderly population.

In celebration of this significant partnership with the care home, a special Adopt a Grandparent fundraiser is planned for this Saturday (9 December) featuring a Christmas Fair and baking sessions. With volunteers as young as five-years-old attending to support the fundraiser and spend quality time with the residents of the dementia unit, the charity is hoping to demonstrate a true example of intergenerational companionship.

Nika Noakes, chief strategy and transformation officer, said: “We are so excited about the prospects that these partnerships bring and are committed to amplifying our impact within the university and the broader community. This collaboration with both the university and Hillview Advinia Care marks a monumental milestone for us as we extend our footprint and impact in Scotland. The support from Tata Consultancy Services further fortifies our commitment to building enduring connections that transcend generations and geographical boundaries.”

For more information about Adopt a Grandparent, visit www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk/, and for more information about Championing Social Care, visit www.championingsocialcare.org.uk/. 

Those who wish to sign up as a volunteer can do so by visiting the website or downloading the free app, which is available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.