ITV Borders visit Charnwood Lodge!

Charnwood Lodge Care Home in Dumfries was featured on ITV Border Lookaround News yesterday evening, when journalist Fiona McIlwraith visited tireless volunteer, Archie Potts.

Charnwood Lodge is a specialist care home, which supports 60 older people with age-related needs, including dementia.  The feature, which was broadcast at 6pm yesterday evening, focusses on how Archie’s work in the home has had a positive impact on the lives of the people supported at Charnwood Lodge, and how he has no intentions of slowing down just yet.

ITV’s coverage of Archie and Charnwood Lodge comes off the back of his incredible success at the Scottish Care Awards, where he received the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award – an accolade created especially for him!

The feature also included interviews with people supported at Charnwood Lodge, and Service Manager Denise Malone, who also happens to be Archie’s daughter!

She says: “He doesn’t do it for the recognition but I think the recognition is lovely for him, to show him we do appreciate the work he does at Community Integrated Care.”

As well as his work in maintaining the service, Archie is also a much loved character within the service. Adored by staff and residents alike, many appreciate that they can talk about local history and their childhoods with someone who shares their interests.

Bill, who attends Charnwood Lodge’s day care service, says: “He’s a wee bit older than me but he’s not that far! It’s good to be able to talk about things in the past with him.”

When asked if he intended on slowing down any time soon, Archie said: “The residents get so much pleasure out of my work – they can go out and walk around the gardens on a sunny day and they love that. I enjoy it so much and that’s what keeps me going.”

You can watch the full feature here: http://bit.ly/archiepotts