Meallmore Raises £2,500 for Age Scotland at Kelpies

At Meallmore, we are proud to share that eight of our colleagues have raised over £2,500 for Age Scotland after taking on The Kelpies Experience at Helix Park in Falkirk.

The challenge saw Karen MacDonald, Jodi Gleeson, Mark Kelly, Cameron King, Steven Welch, Charles Simpson, Lisa Calley and Improvement Jeche from across Meallmore's Care Homes in Edinburgh, Leven and Rosyth put on their helmets and step inside one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks for a fundraising challenge they will not forget in a hurry.

Taking place inside The Kelpies, the aerial experience involves climbing through a series of obstacles inside the sculptures, reaching the horse’s mouth, and then making the journey back down by abseil or Quick Flight descent.

Our colleagues took on the challenge to raise vital funds for Age Scotland, a national charity dedicated to supporting older people across Scotland.

Supporting older people across Scotland

As one of Scotland’s leading care home providers, supporting older people is at the heart of what we do every day. Across our care homes in Scotland, our colleagues support residents to live with dignity, independence, comfort and connection. Whether through nursing care, dementia care, residential care, respite care, adult specialist care or palliative care, our focus is always on helping people feel safe, valued and at home.

That is why Age Scotland is such an important charity for us to support.

The charity works to help older people across Scotland feel connected, informed and supported. Its services include a national helpline, friendship calls, community groups, wellbeing programmes and campaigning work that gives older people a stronger voice.

By taking on The Kelpies Experience, our colleagues helped raise funds for a cause that closely reflects our own commitment to care, companionship and community.

Taking on The Kelpies Experience in Falkirk

The Kelpies are among Scotland’s most recognised landmarks, standing proudly at Helix Park in Falkirk.

For our team, the experience was a chance to do something completely different while raising money for a brilliant cause. It was also a real test of courage, with colleagues climbing high inside the sculptures before taking on the descent back down.

The challenge was not just about heights. It was about teamwork, encouragement and pushing through nerves together.

There were plenty of laughs along the way, but also a few moments where our colleagues had to take a deep breath and remind themselves why they were doing it.

Our colleagues who took part

Eight Meallmore colleagues took part in the challenge:

Karen MacDonald
Jodi Gleeson
Mark Kelly
Cameron King
Steven Welch
Charles Simpson
Lisa Calley
Improvement Jeche

Together, they raised over £2,500 for Age Scotland.

We are incredibly proud of every one of them for stepping outside their comfort zones and representing Meallmore with such courage, humour and team spirit.

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone”

Karen MacDonald, HR Business Partner at Meallmore, said the experience was both terrifying and unforgettable.

She said:

“I was absolutely terrified before taking on The Kelpies Experience. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I’m so glad I did it. There was a real moment of having to talk myself into it, take a deep breath and just go for it - and once I did, it was amazing.

“Conquering that fear alongside Meallmore colleagues made the experience even more special. That’s what makes Meallmore such a brilliant place to be part of. We support each other, we encourage each other, and every so often we find ourselves doing something completely out of the ordinary for a really important cause.

“To share that experience with colleagues, have such a laugh, and raise an incredible amount of money for Age Scotland made it a day I’ll never forget. I’m really proud to have been part of it.”

A cause close to our hearts

At Meallmore, our vision is to become Scotland’s most trusted care provider, consistently delivering excellent care in great places to live and work.

That means creating environments where residents feel known, supported and connected, but it also means playing an active role in the wider communities around our homes.

Fundraising, community partnerships and meaningful local activity are all an important part of life at Meallmore. Across the group, our colleagues regularly take part in charity events, local initiatives and resident-led activities that help bring people together.

The Kelpies Experience was a brilliant example of this in action. It brought colleagues together from different parts of the organisation to support a national charity working to improve the lives of older people across Scotland.

A proud moment for Meallmore

Cillian Hennessey, CEO of Meallmore, said:

“At Meallmore, supporting older people is at the heart of what we do every day, so Age Scotland is a cause we’re always keen to champion and support wherever we can.

“This was a brilliant effort by our eight brave colleagues to raise awareness and funds to help Age Scotland continue making a meaningful difference to older people’s lives.

“Well done to all of them for taking on the challenge. They made us very proud with every step, climb and abseil!”

Age Scotland thanks our fundraisers

Katherine Crawford, CEO of Age Scotland, said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to the adventurous fundraisers from Meallmore who braved the Kelpies for older people in Scotland. The climb and drop to the bottom is no mean feat!

“Their dedication to raising such an impressive amount of money is really impressive and it will go a long way to helping us meet the demand for our services.

“We’re proud to work together and have their support.”

Meallmore care homes near Falkirk

The challenge took place in Falkirk, close to several Meallmore homes in our Central East region.

This includes Airthrey Care Home in Airth, near Falkirk, where our team provides personalised nursing care for older people, including those living with dementia and other health conditions.

We also operate Ivybank House Care Home in Falkirk, one of our homes supporting people with specialist care needs.

By taking on The Kelpies Experience in Falkirk, our colleagues helped raise awareness of Age Scotland’s work while also celebrating the strong Meallmore presence across the area.

Great places to live and work

This challenge was a fantastic reminder of the people behind Meallmore.

Care is built on people, and our colleagues make a difference every day through their kindness, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile.

Sometimes that means supporting residents inside our homes. Sometimes it means helping families through important decisions. And sometimes, apparently, it means climbing inside a giant horse’s head in Falkirk for charity.

At the heart of it all is the same purpose: supporting people, creating connection and making a positive difference.

For anyone interested in joining our team, current opportunities are available through Meallmore careers.

About Meallmore

Founded in 1987, Meallmore is one of Scotland’s leading care home providers.

We operate care homes across Scotland, providing nursing care, dementia care, residential care, respite care, palliative care and specialist adult care.

Our focus is on delivering excellent care in great places to live and work, with a commitment to dignity, independence, wellbeing and meaningful daily life.

As we continue to grow, we remain proud to support residents, families, colleagues and local communities across Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Meallmore raise for Age Scotland?

Meallmore colleagues raised over £2,500 for Age Scotland through The Kelpies Experience fundraising challenge at Helix Park in Falkirk.

Who took part in The Kelpies Experience for Meallmore?

The eight Meallmore colleagues who took part were Karen MacDonald, Jodi Gleeson, Mark Kelly, Cameron King, Steven Welch, Charles Simpson, Lisa Calley and Improvement Jeche.

Where did the Meallmore charity challenge take place?

The challenge took place at The Kelpies in Helix Park, Falkirk, one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks.

What charity did Meallmore support?

The Meallmore team raised funds for Age Scotland, a national charity supporting older people across Scotland.

Does Meallmore operate care homes near Falkirk?

Yes. Meallmore operates care homes in and around Falkirk, including Airthrey Care Home in Airth and Ivybank House Care Home in Falkirk.

Where can I find Meallmore care homes in Scotland?

You can find Meallmore care homes across Scotland by visiting our care homes page.