An Inverness nursing home without the luxury of its own minibus largely relies on taxis to ensure its residents can enjoy days out and about.
It is hoping success in the P&J’s minibus competition will change all that.
Linda Philip, manager of the city’s Southside Nursing Home, would love to be able to take more people out on a regular basis.
“It’s very important to ensure our residents have the best quality of life possible, “she said, “providing them with as many opportunities to try new experiences and reconnect with their age group.
“We don’t currently have the luxury of our own minibus.
“We’ve got 32 residents and they go out; they go shopping to the local garden centre, to the Floral Hall. But we have to get taxis and sometimes that can be difficult with a high wheelchair to get a taxi that’s suitable.
“With a minibus we could take a number of residents out at the same time. They could go to Dingwall, to Nairn, on proper days out, or a proper afternoon’s shopping in town. It would make a big difference.
“Winning this minibus would improve our residents’ quality of life, helping them get out within the community.”
She added: “We have 32 residents and they require different needs. They suffer from a wide range of health conditions and relying on taxis isn’t perfect. Not all of our residents have the ability to use a normal car due to their health conditions.”