The Big Meallmore Kick Off raised £2,482 for Age Scotland in a single month, taking the total our colleagues and residents have raised over the past eight months beyond £8,000. The push came from a match ball, a mascot called Roary and 2,430 minutes of movement.
The Big Meallmore Kick Off brought together more than 1,500 residents and colleagues from all 27 of our care homes across Scotland. Inspired by Scotland reaching the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, every home took on 90 minutes of movement with the Meallmore Match Ball, and raised £2,482 for Age Scotland over a month.
A match ball that travelled the length of Scotland
The ball started at Greenan Manor Care Home in Ayr and finished at Redwoods Care Home in Alness, passing from home to home the length and breadth of the country, with Roary along for the journey.
The target was simple and slightly daunting: one pound per minute, per care home. The homes beat it.
Participants ranged in age from two to 103. Every movement counted towards the 90 minutes, whether that was walking, dancing, stretching, singing, passing a ball, waving a flag or cheering on the person next to you. Each home shaped its own activity around the people living there, which is exactly how life in our homes is meant to work.
Whole communities joined in
What made the month was how many people outside our homes turned up for it.
- Greenock Morton u16s Regional Football Team, who visit Kincaid House in Greenock regularly, completed their 90 minutes for the home.
- Fyrish Gymnastics in Alness put on a gymnastics display for residents at Redwoods and stayed for the party.
- Children from Glenbrae Nursery joined Roary and Kincaid House residents for flags, balloons and a good deal of noise.
- Crimond House in Aberdeenshire ran a full sports day.
- The team and residents at Kynnaird House in Fraserburgh put together a cheerleading routine.
- Mearns House in Newton Mearns held a tartan parade through the halls before Scotland played Brazil.
There were daily prizes for best dressed team, most active team, best activity and best community event, which did no harm at all to the competitive spirit between homes. Bouncy castles and trips to the park both made an appearance.
Why Age Scotland
Age Scotland supports older people across the country through its helpline, friendship calls, community groups, wellbeing programmes and campaigning work. It is work that sits close to ours: helping older people feel valued, connected and supported.
The £2,482 from the Big Kick Off adds to funds raised through the rest of 2026, including colleagues taking on The Kelpies Experience at Helix Park in Falkirk and a Christmas donation, bringing the total past £8,000.
“This is an incredible result from our colleagues and residents; going the extra mile, as always. The Meallmore Big Kick Off did more than raise money for an important cause, it promoted connection, laughter, wellbeing, inclusion and created moments that residents, colleagues and the local communities could enjoy together.”
— Cillian Hennessey, CEO of Meallmore
“We are genuinely in awe of the dedication, commitment and creativity that staff, residents and their families have shown in raising such a large amount of money for Age Scotland. Their generosity will help us continue supporting older people who turn to us for advice, information, friendship and practical help.”
— Katherine Crawford, Chief Executive at Age Scotland
More than a fundraiser
Money aside, the month did the things that matter day to day in a care home: movement, company, laughter and a shared reason to get involved. Residents who do not usually join group activities waved flags. Families came in. Nurseries, football teams and gymnastics clubs came through the door.
Meaningful activity is not an add-on to good care, it is part of it, and it is one of the things we talk about most in our guides for families weighing up a move.
Earlier this year Meallmore was named in the Top 20 Large Care Home Groups in the UK for the first time. We currently operate 27 homes across Scotland: 21 for older people, five for adults with mental health needs and one for adults with learning or physical disability, with three further homes in development in Aberdeen City, Broughty Ferry and Clarkston.
Come and see a home for yourself
If a month like this is the sort of place you want for someone you love, the best thing you can do is visit. You can find a Meallmore home near you, read about life here in residents' own words, or get in touch and we will arrange a look round at a time that suits.
Colleagues who fancy working somewhere that shuts the corridor for a tartan parade can see what it looked like from the inside in our Great Places to Work feature.
