Wishing Big at Forbes House
We’ve been celebrating a new creative collaboration at Enhance Healthcare: Forbes House has been giving residents the opportunity to share their hopes and dreams, and watch them come to life with their brand-new wishing trees.
Staff at the purpose-built home recently partnered with local community group Ucan to create handmade wishing trees for each of the home’s four newly redesigned units. Built over several weeks by members of Ucan, the bespoke trees now stand proudly in Coast, Shore, Bay and Ocean, each offering a space for residents to write and display their personal wishes.
The idea behind the project was simple: to give residents a way to express the things they’ve always wanted to do or revisit, whether big, small or wonderfully unexpected. Forbes House approached Ucan, a local social enterprise, whose mission is to empower a range of individuals to achieve independence by equipping them with practical skills to lead fulfilling lives. With values so closely aligned to Forbes House, and Enhance Healthcare, the partnership made perfect sense, and the team set off with a focus on creating something that would genuinely impact people day-to-day.
When the trees were completed, management, staff, and residents all came together to welcome the Ucan team for an official unveiling ceremony. The residents were absolutely delighted with their wishing trees, and the Ucan team revealed each one to thunderous applause. For both residents and staff, it was a special event that celebrated imagination and connection in the community.
Already, the trees have sparked some brilliant ideas: one resident hopes to visit Celtic Park for a stadium tour; another dreams of seeing Daniel O’Donnell perform; and in true Forbes House fashion, there’s even been a cheeky request for belly dancers. It’s great to see how this idea has been encouraging conversations and getting residents into the mood for some fun!
Staff say they’re also excited to see what other wishes appear in the coming weeks. While the home has always encouraged residents to share suggestions and tailor activities to their interests, the wishing trees offer a visual, shared space to express a request, one that may inspire others to step forward when they see wishes coming true around them.
Projects like this show how deeply rooted the values of independence and reablement are at Forbes, and across all of Enhance Healthcare. By working hand-in-hand with the local community, and listening closely to the people who live in our homes, the team continues to create opportunities that feel personal, meaningful, and full of possibility. For the residents of Forbes House, every wish on the tree is a reminder that they're not only cared for, but encouraged to dream, and supported to take the next step towards making those dreams a reality.
