Sandbank group wins national award in memory of co-founder

When former Sandbank resident Christina Oliver moved to the town 30 years ago she commented to her husband Arthur that there’s quite a number of older people here and there’s no club.

The duo started Sandbank Seniors group five years later. The group will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this September and Arthur continues to chair the group in his wife’s memory.

Irma MacDonald, club member, said:

“The club would be nothing without Arthur. He is an excellent chairman and knows where to apply for grants. We just couldn’t do without him.”

Christina MacDonald, club member said:

“I have been a widow for a very long time and it gets you out and meeting people. You are socialising and interacting and I enjoy it very much.”

The 50 strong member group works to tackle loneliness and isolation among Sandbank’s older people by providing subsidised travel to the meetups which focus on: exercise, healthy eating and technology. The group continues to encourage older people living alone who may be grieving a loss or new to the area to join the group and make new friendships.

Sandbank Seniors’ efforts to lift others out of loneliness and isolation were recently noticed by Age Scotland, the leading national charity for older people when they awarded the group with Member Group of the Year during their national conference last week (20 March) in Glasgow.

Honouring Arthur and the group’s efforts, Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive said:

“Arthur and Christina’s passion and care for the older people in their community is apparent in the Sandbank Seniors group that they co-founded 25 years ago. Christina was a former nurse and cared about the health and welfare of her community’s older people. Her legacy continues in the exercise and healthy eating options provided by the group to its 50-strong members, which Arthur continues to chair and champion.

Groups like Sandbank Seniors are pillars in our nation, offering much-needed friendship and connection to older people who find themselves socially isolated or lonely.”

Upon receiving the award, Arthur said:

“On behalf of my wife, I’m really, really chuffed that this has happened. She started off as a student nurse and worked her way right up to matron and got to the top. I like to think that she started this club off and now we’ve managed to get to the top as well.”

Age Scotland offers a free community group service connecting people who want to try new activities or groups in their area. To find out more information about the Sandbank Seniors or to speak to a Community Connecting volunteer phone the free helpline 0800 12 44 222.

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Notes to editor

Award video: Sandbank Seniors Member Group of the Year Award winner