Guest Speaker Zoe Walker

Rotary club of Stirling  meeting of 29/1/16

President Peter Mehta welcomed members and our speaker Zoe Walker.
Sandy Farquharson reported on his visit to the Girl Guides. He found a very enthusiastic group keen to tell him how they intend  to use our recent donation to them. Last call for members wishing to attend the MacRobert on Thursday 3rd March to see Acorn Antiques, please contact Margaret Sutton.
Our speaker,Zoe Walker, director of operations at William Simpson home in Plean, thanked us for our recent donation, which will go towards the creation of a sensory garden. The home was established in 1831 by Francis Simpson in memory of his son who had been lost at sea. Initially for indigent men of advanced age ,particularly ex servicemen, more recently it's clients have been drawn from men suffering from alcohol related brain damage or mental illness. The original Trust conditions were very restrictive, but in 2010, by Act of Parliament, the scope of it's activities was widened, allowing it to respond to modern day needs.
Women , and a younger age group were to be admitted, the oldest building abandoned, and a large new unit constructed.  William Simpson's is one of a very few units in Scotland able to care for this group, and demand always exceeds supply.  In general their lives are at a low point, often physically unwell, lonely, unhappy, often angry, with no family ,and no useful contact with the world around them.  The main aim of their care is to make contact with them, improve their physical state and help them relate to those around them in a safe and non threatening environment .
In almost all cases this will be their final home.
Zoe finished by answering our questions ,and it was clear that her thought provoking talk had been of great interest.   The Vote of Thanks was given by Alan Skilling.
Next week  Speaker's host Philip Allison, Visitor's host David Paterson.
For further information. www.stirling.rotary1010.org

Ian Richardson