Care home residents take on Scotland's basketball team Caledonia Gladiators as part of summer sport scheme

Care home residents have taken on Scotland’s basketball team as part of a new summer sport programme.

Elderly care home residents went head-to-head with Scotland’s professional basketball team the Caledonia Gladiators as the initiative kicks off in Glasgow.

The participants, from Whitecraigs Care Home in Glasgow and Croftbank and Rosepark Care Homes in Uddingston, demonstrated that you’re never too old to try something new as they took on their first challenge of the summer.

They were joined by children as young as four as part of the new Renaissance Care programme called There Aren’t Only Old Ideas, designed to encourage people of all ages across Scotland to engage in a summer of sport.

This summer will see the care home residents work with nurseries, schools and local youth groups as they take on challenges inspired by the sporting events taking place across the world this summer.

As part of the campaign, the residents have teamed up with Scotland’s professional basketball team Caledonia Gladiators, who will provide special coaching to Renaissance Care’s homes across Scotland.

The senior citizens were treated to a training session in the new gym at the team’s Playsport stadium in East Kilbride before heading onto the court for a shooting drill competition.

Professional players, including Patrick Whelan, Ian Dubose, Samantha Roscoe and Kian Omer-Jones, were on hand to provide tips, encouraging the residents to focus on small goals that will help them get fitter.

Over the summer months, players from both the men’s and women’s teams will be dropping in to visit the residents as they support them achieving their goals.

Residents Colin Bulloch, 73, Maureen Carde, 84, and 91-year-old Iain Harris were among those who took part in the training session and had a great time dribbling the ball, shooting and watching the player’s practise session.

Iain said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am a golfer at heart but now that I’ve watched basketball up close, I like what I’m seeing and am looking forward to a summer of summer.”

Tony McDaid, CEO of Caledonia Gladiators, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with the team at Renaissance Care and our players thoroughly enjoyed training the residents, who put them to the test in the shooting drill competition. We’ll be looking at Colin for next season.

“Initiatives such as this demonstrate not only our commitment to engaging with local communities across the country, but also our goal to break down barriers to sport for people of all ages.

“We look forward to working with the homes throughout summer and encouraging more people into basketball and the world of sport.”

Annette Frew, wellbeing lead at Rosepark Care Home, said: “Our residents have been incredibly excited to come along to see the Caledonia Gladiators’ stadium and take on the team. What an incredible experience for them to receive training from professional athletes.

“Wellbeing is key to our care approach and we’re really excited about this new initiative as we enter another fantastic summer of sport.”

Renaissance Care has 17 homes across Scotland in areas including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Lanarkshire.

Caledonia Gladiators are currently competing in the British Basketball League play-offs with games lined up at their Playsport Stadium in East Kilbride on Sunday May 5.

The men are bidding to win for the first time in over 20 years after finishing third in the league this season – their highest finish since 2017.

They take on Newcastle Eagles on Friday night for the second leg of the quarter finals, as they battle to make it to Sunday’s home tie on the back of last week’s 78-97 defeat.

The women’s team are also competing to win the Women’s British Basketball League play-offs for the first time in the club’s history and start their campaign against Durham Palatinates on Sunday.