Making Memories with Summer Holidays at Wallacetown Gardens
Many of us will be looking forward to our upcoming summer holidays, our chance to unwind, explore new places, and try something different.
Likewise, for our young adults living at Wallacetown Gardens in Ayr — our purpose-built Enhance Healthcare home supporting people with additional needs and disabilities — summer holidays are a way of encouraging exiting new experiences.
Over the past year, the team at Wallacetown has made something remarkable happen; three resident-led holidays to destinations across the UK — Oban, Edinburgh, and most recently, sunny Blackpool.
These trips were designed with residents from the very beginning and the planning started long before the suitcases were packed. Residents sat down with staff to talk about the kind of holidays they dreamed of, where they wanted to go, what they wanted to do, and how they imagined spending their days. Whether it was beach walks, bingo, sightseeing or just relaxing in a hot tub, the trips were shaped by the people who would experience them.
“It was really important that these weren’t just holidays arranged for our residents,” says Deputy Manager Sean McGill. “We were there to support, but all the choices were theirs.”
The first trip to Oban, set the tone for the summer. Residents explored the coast, enjoyed scenic walks, and relaxed in hot tubs in the evening. In Edinburgh and Musselburgh, they had bingo nights, pamper evenings, movie sessions, shopping trips and a visit to the botanic gardens. In Blackpool, residents enjoyed a packed schedule: from the arcades and Madame Tussauds to beachfront strolls and, for one resident, a lifelong dream come true - a trip to the top of Blackpool Tower.
“When she finally did it, we were all a bit emotional,” Sean recalls. “It meant so much to her.”
Behind the scenes, these trips are a huge undertaking. With staff providing 24-hour support, every detail must be carefully planned ensuring medication management, accessibility, contingency planning, and making sure each resident’s individual needs are fully supported. At Wallacetown, the team embraced this challenge wholeheartedly, giving residents the opportunity to live life to the fullest.
“It’s a lot of work,” Sean says, “but seeing our residents smiling, confident, and relaxed in a new environment, that’s what it’s all about.”
This initiative reflects everything Enhance Healthcare is about: supporting independence, enabling choice, and creating genuinely meaningful experiences for the people who live in our homes. The team at Wallacetown Gardens have shown what’s possible when staff are empowered to think creatively and go the extra mile. With careful planning, dedication, and a shared belief in person-centred care, they’ve helped residents experience new places, build confidence, and create lasting memories.
Planning for the next trip is already underway, and we can’t wait to see where they end up next!
