Your chance to shine a 'beacon' care home

"We’d love to have more trustees join us from Oban itself. Not many people realise we are a charity," said trust chairman Bob Cornish whose mother was a resident in the home for over 11 years.

Five of the six trustees have had a parent who lives at the home. The sixth has experience of running her own care homes.

"We all felt so strongly about the level of care that was given to our loved ones that we wanted to make sure it carries on for others. We are all very much a family here - us, the residents, the staff and our volunteers," said Bob.

When so many other care homes are closing or facing closure because of challenging times, North Argyll House is standing proud - free of debt and with a determination that with the help of the community it will remain.

Newest trustee Maggie Croft said she became "a daughter again" after her mum came to live at North Argyll House. After years of caring and organising care to keep her mother at home as long as possible, it was an "emotional time" deciding a care home was the next step. "I remember us arriving and parking up, the door opened and a member of staff came out and said welcome home. I slept well for the first time in four years that night. I knew mum was in the best place, I felt reassured. I was able to become a daughter again, I got that relationship back and we were able to enjoy quality time together again.

"North Argyll House is a treasure that we have to protect for Oban, it’s an incredible asset providing a crucial service and helping keep older people near their family and friends."