Ayrshire Independent Living Network (AILN) celebrated their self-directed support assistants at a Burns themed event.

On Tuesday, January 23 at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, personal assistants associated with AILN from South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, and North Ayrshire attended the event, along with Ayrshire College who provided nail treatments and hand and arm massages.

Aileen Campbell, the Minister for Public Health and Sport was also in attendance.

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Gillian McBain, Development Coordinator for AILN, said: “The event was really good – it was a big success. The Minister attended and the Personal Assistant Network, and Centre Stage were there to perform a number of Scottish songs – we had a Burns theme so everyone who came along worn a bit of tartan.

“The point of the day was that we are a charity set up to get free information and advice to those across the three Ayrshire authorities about self-directed support.

“It is for anyone who needs support or needs assistance, for example, someone with dementia or someone with a physical condition that limits them to a chair – anyone who needs any kind of support to get through the day.

“And this event was to celebrate what the personal assistants do and how much they are valued – the work that they do allows people to be part of their community and get involved in things that, me and you, often take for granted.

Aileen Campbell, the Minister for Public Health and Sport, added: “We are committed to making Self-directed Support a reality for everyone and we are grateful for the work of organisations like the Ayrshire Independent Living Network.

“We will invest almost £9 million in 2018-21 in third sector organisations helping people exercise choice and control over their social care support.”