Dunning care facility releases charity calendar

The fundraising phenomenon of the Calendar Girls story has inspired residents at a Strathearn care centre to create their own version – but without the saucy shots.

Residents of Kippen House Care Centre, Muckart Road, Dunning, have used photographs featuring their memorable moments of 2016 to create the calendar for this year.

The project has been a labour of love for manager, Jean Beggs, who prepared, bound, printed and laminated the batch herself. The calendars cost £5 to raise funds for the home’s comfort fund to provide extra treats and outings for residents.

Seventeen have already been sold and more will be printed on demand.

The pictures were chosen from a selection taken of the home’s regular activities and outings and include snaps of a St Patrick’s Day commemoration, a party to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, a trip to Blackpool, the Christmas celebrations and one resident’s helicopter flight as a birthday treat.

There is also a picture capturing residents’ participation in Perth and Kinross Going for Gold games, where they won silver and bronze awards.

Residents designed their own tee- shirts and posters to take part in the annual event which encourages people in care to keep fit and active while having fun with sports and games. Jean said: “Our residents loved the idea of creating a calendar highlighting their own special times.

“The pictures we chose show just a small selection of what we do.”

She said the idea was inspired by the Calendar Girls story of a group of friends from the Women’s Institute who hit on the idea of raising funds for charity by baring all or nearly all for their calendar, which normally featured landscapes or flowers.

Jean continued: “Putting our own calendar together took many hours and gave me a few headaches, but it was worth it in the end. We’ll probably do the same next year – and we’ll definitely be keeping our clothes on.”

Kippen House specialises in mental health care for adults and elderly residents who are encouraged to keep physically and mentally active with daily in-house activities from darts, pool, whist and music to crosswords, board games, golf and bowls.