Meallmore Wins Triple at Scottish Care Home Awards

In a year of outstanding achievements across the care sector, Meallmore has once again demonstrated why it is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading providers of high quality care. At the Scottish Care Home Awards 2025, Meallmore celebrated multiple award wins across key categories and a prestigious individual award for lifelong sector leadership. These achievements highlight Meallmore’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and person centered care within Scotland’s care home sector.

This article explores the nominations, the winners, and what these successes mean for families seeking the best care homes in Scotland.

A Year of Recognition for Scotland’s Best Care Providers

The Scottish Care Home Awards remain one of the most significant events in the national care calendar. Each year they honour excellence in care, recognising outstanding individuals, innovative services, and homes that go above and beyond for their residents. Awards cover a broad spectrum including meaningful activity, innovation, training, resident experience, staff development, and leadership.

For Meallmore, 2025 was an exceptional year with four major recognitions that shine a light on the organisation’s high standards and dedication to improving the lives of residents across Scotland.

The Awards That Reflect Meallmore’s Excellence

Training, Learning and Staff Development Award Win – The Academy of Care Kitchen Excellence

Great care depends on great people. Meallmore’s nomination for its Academy of Care Kitchen Excellence highlights its investment in its workforce, particularly in hospitality and catering roles which play a vital part in residents’ daily experience.
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The programme equips teams with skills in nutrition, food quality, culinary creativity and hospitality. It also demonstrates Meallmore’s commitment to career development and raising professional standards across all roles within its homes.

Care Innovation Award Win – St Modans Care Home

Innovation in care is increasingly important as Scotland’s population ages and the needs of residents evolve.

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St Modans Care Home was nominated for its sensory room and dedication to transforming dementia and complex care through thoughtful design, evidence based approaches and creative therapeutic environments.

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With the home recently achieving a Grade 6 from the Care Inspectorate, this nomination reflects not only excellent practice but sustained improvement and ambition.

Strategic Contribution Award Win – Mary Preston, Chief Operating Officer

The highlight of the night was the recognition of Meallmore’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Preston, who received the Strategic Contribution Award.

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With more than 40 years of service in health and social care, Mary has influenced policy, strengthened standards and championed professional development. Her work since joining Meallmore in 2011, combined with her leadership as Chair of Scottish Care from 2019, have made her one of the sector’s most respected leaders.

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Her award reinforces the significance of Meallmore’s leadership, vision, and advocacy for high quality care across Scotland.

Meaningful Activity Nomination– Airthrey Care Home

Meaningful activity is a cornerstone of person centered care. It supports wellbeing, independence, mental stimulation and a sense of purpose. Airthrey Care Home was nominated for its outstanding approach to resident engagement, offering tailored activities that are fun, inclusive, and individually designed to support each person’s life story and preferences. This nomination reinforces Meallmore’s belief that great care is about creating full, connected, life affirming days.

Why These Awards Matter to Families

Awards are more than achievements for a display cabinet. They provide reassurance to families, residents and professionals by demonstrating:

• Independent validation of quality
• A provider’s commitment to continuous improvement
• High performing teams and consistent standards
• A culture of learning, wellbeing and innovation
• A strong reputation within the care sector

Families researching care often search for trusted providers with excellent staff, positive inspection grades, innovative approaches and wellbeing focused services. Meallmore’s recognitions provide clear evidence that these values are at the heart of the organisation.

Spotlight on Mary Preston: A Career of Impact

Mary Preston’s award for Strategic Contribution reflects a lifetime dedicated to care. Her leadership within Meallmore and across Scotland has shaped the evolution of modern care homes, guided professional standards, and influenced national strategy.

During her time at Meallmore, Mary has advanced operational quality, strengthened leadership pathways, developed professional frameworks, and supported homes to achieve consistently high outcomes.
Her deep understanding of the sector, empathy, and commitment to continuous improvement has helped shape Meallmore into one of Scotland’s most trusted care providers.

Innovation in Practice Across Meallmore Homes

Activities that Transform Lives

At Airthrey, meaningful activity goes beyond traditional entertainment. Residents experience sensory engagement, intergenerational events, memory projects, community involvement and lifestyle based routines. The home embodies Meallmore’s belief that happiness and connection are key components of health.

Training Excellence and Workforce Development

The Academy of Care Kitchen Excellence offers structured training that enhances nutrition, dining experience and culinary creativity. This programme supports better dining experiences, resident choice, and the professional growth of colleagues. It is paving the way for future recruitment and retention across the sector.

Sensory Design and Future Focused Care

St Modans has become an example of how design can change outcomes. Their sensory room and holistic approach create a sanctuary for people with dementia or complex needs, helping them to feel safer, calmer and more connected. This is the future of specialist care environments.

What Sets Meallmore Apart in Scotland’s Care Sector

Meallmore’s recognitions reflect deeper principles that define the organisation:

• Person centered care is the foundation of every home
• Homes are active parts of their communities
• Lifestyle, dignity and wellbeing are as essential as clinical excellence
• Staff development is prioritised across all disciplines
• Homes continuously evolve through innovation and evidence based care
• Leadership drives consistent, high quality standards
• Residents are empowered to live meaningful, fulfilling lives

Families searching for care homes in Scotland often want more than just a care provider. They want a service that feels compassionate, trustworthy and future focused. Meallmore consistently demonstrates these qualities.

Looking Forward: What These Achievements Mean for the Future

These award wins are not the end point but a reflection of Meallmore’s ongoing trajectory. The organisation continues to expand advanced training, strengthen resident engagement, invest in specialist environments, build new homes, and support strong operational leadership.

As the demand for residential, nursing and dementia care continues to grow, Meallmore remains focused on sustainable, quality driven growth. This ensures that residents, families and professionals have continued confidence in the organisation’s capacity to deliver exceptional care.

Meallmore: A Provider Families Can Trust

Here are the reasons families continue to choose Meallmore:

• Strong national reputation paired with local community focus
• Award winning approaches to activity, innovation and staff development
• Full spectrum of care including nursing, dementia, residential and respite
• Beautiful, modern environments that support independence and enjoyment
• A culture of kindness and teamwork
• A leadership team with decades of experience
• Homes designed around dignity, choice, and connection

For families seeking safety, comfort and meaningful life experiences, Meallmore offers a home where people are truly valued.

The Scottish Care Home Awards 2025 highlight the depth of passion, skill and dedication within Meallmore. These recognitions celebrate not only the teams and leaders who contribute every day, but also the residents who inspire the work.

What matters most is what happens after the awards ceremony. In Meallmore’s homes, the real celebration happens daily - in conversations, shared memories, support, smiles and moments that make every day meaningful.

Meallmore’s success this year is evidence of a provider that strives for excellence and works tirelessly to deliver the best care in Scotland.