MS Argyll Snowdrop Centre

It was Burns Night last week. If you’re not from Scotland, Burns Night is when the nation gets together and decides to honour its most famous poet by shouting poetry at a haggis, then ceremonially stabbing it, wearing tartan whether it suits you or not, and calling a turnip something else. Our Camerado friends in Scotland didn't hold back with the celebrations. Camerados in Lochgilphead, Stonehaven and Cumnock had more than a wee do! The custard creams were replaced with clootie dumplings (they weren’t, but let’s not ruin a good story), the highland fling was attempted, and mountains of tatties and neeps* were peeled (we think by one guy in Ayrshire who started last October), and then scoffed alongside the haggis for a perfect Burns night supper. All of this was done alongside the blissful sound of the bagpipes. Camerados in Stonehaven came together and wrote their own poem about their Public Living Room. And in Lochgilphead, Karen McCurry wrote one in the local dialect to perform in their Burns-themed Public Living Room last Monday! #WeAreCamerados

Burns night was last night, and somewhere between the haggis and the custard creams, this happened. @karmacc16 from our Lochgilphead #PublicLivingRoom has written this Burns-inspired poem about Camerados, and we loved it so much we turned it into a video. Well Done Karen! #WeAreCamerados

A very lovely tea cosy made for the @Camerados_org December Challenge by one of our Camerados. Thanks Isobel!

Can you imagine a Public Living Room in every neighbourhood? If you feel able to, we'd love you to support our crowdfunder to give others a chance to create these spaces and learn about our principles. Chip in here: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/camerados-an… #Longing4Belonging #WeAreCamerados

Our hearts are with the family and our local community after the tragic loss of one of neighbours yesterday. Our usual activities are paused today but same as yesterday we are here with tea, toast, or just a place to be for any resident affected.

Christmas can be a tough time for some, that’s why we love to wear our Camerados jumpers throughout December, a reminder to look out for each other all year round. People are not just for Christmas. #BeMoreHuman #WeAreCamerados

Stop what you’re doing, our November newsletter has dropped, and it’s bursting with Camerados goodness. We’re talking cosy pop-ups, musical mornings, neighbours connecting for the first time, and hot water bottles making winter a bit warmer for everyone. If that’s not worth a cuppa break, we don’t know what is. 👉 Dive in: mailchi.mp/camerados.org/…

Thank you @COPEScotland for creating this booklet on Digital Connectivity in Rural and Island Communities. We have a bundle of them in the Centre in Lochgilphead for anyone or any organisation who would like to receive a copy.

Interested in finding out what the Camerados movement have learned over the past 10 years? Then please do come along this Thursday. @COPEScotland @abhscp @WeAreWithYou

Got to love a Camerados Christmas jumper. 😁 We live in ours during December. Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for some. Look out for each other. #TheAnswerToOurProblensAreEachOther #BeMoreHuman #PeopleAreNotJustForChristmas

Thank you @COPEScotland for sharing another resource with us. We will share throughout our networks.

Celebrating Friendship during Book Week Scotland by enjoying discussions about ‘Friends and Purpose’ with our community members age 6mths to 90 yrs alongside our special guest author of the book Maff Potts. @BookWeekScot @Booktrust @CreativeScots @Camerados_org @COPEScotland

Thank You @BookWeekScot for funding a truly wonderful evening with @Camerados_org founder and our guest author Maff Potts. A beautiful gathering in our Centre to discuss Friends and Purpose. @COPEScotland @Booktrust @CreativeScots #WeAreCamerados #BeMoreHuman

Delighted to receive @BookWeekScot funding to host an evening with @Camerados_org founder the brilliant Maff Potts. This is an in person event in Lochgilphead if coming please let us know for numbers @Booktrust @CreativeScots @COPEScotland @abhscp @ArdrishaigPS @WeAreWithYou

If you are involved in networks or collaboration these resources may be a helpful tool to reflect on and use vhscotland.org.uk/wp-content/upl… Thank you @VHSComms for helping us to share these resources. They are all free to download

@Camerados_org Love that sometimes organised, sometimes chaos before we pop up a living room and then wait to see if anyone joins for a cuppa, a biscuit and maybe a chat. It’s a good feeling. Even better knowing that around the world, other folks are doing the same. Never more needed. 💛

Behind the scenes at Camerados: the van's packed to the roof again, beanbags, sofas, fairy lights, and all the bits that make a Public Living Room feel warm and inviting. It often feels like playing real-life Tetris. One person sees chaos, another sees a challenge, and somehow, between us, it all fits. We all see things differently, and that's the magic: different brains, different ways, all finding a way forward together. It's not about being perfect or getting it right. It's about mucking in, lending a hand, and figuring it out as we go. And of course, there's always the promise of a brew at the end. ☕💛 #WeAreCamerados

⸻ Huge thanks to Janice & Jo @agescotland for today’s engaging “Supporting Older People to Age Well” session. Staff, volunteers & supporters from many orgs came together to share & learn about hydration, nutrition, brain health, activity & connection 💚 @JaniceAgeScot

A fun & inspiring morning with Janice & Jo from @agescotland 🎉 We celebrated members completing the #Take5ToAgeWell challenge 💚 So proud of everyone supporting each other’s health & wellbeing! This afternoon: session for volunteers & staff (1:15–4:30). @JaniceAgeScot

Thank you @FyneHomes for the kind delivery of a bundle of cosy blankets to give out to our community members. Very much appreciated. #coorie #kindness #community #winterwellbeing