The initiative, now it its fourth year, calls upon local people to hand in items to support local charity The Larder, Portlethen, which was born out of the pandemic and provides food and essential items such as toiletries, cleaning items and baby essentials to those in need in Portlethen and the surrounding areas.  

Last year’s efforts raised a generous number of items which were donated by homeowners, the Brio team, and supporters from the local community and businesses.  Morag Macindoe, General Manager at Landale Court, explained: “The reverse advent calendar is one of our much-loved traditions here at Landale Court and the support we receive from homeowners and locals in the area is truly heartwarming.  

“We work so hard to give back, finding things The Larder really needs – items such as tinned fruit and breakfast cereal, to shower gel and selection box treats. Each year the local community exceed our expectations with their generosity – adding just one extra item to your shopping list really does make a huge difference at this time of year.” 

A calendar of suggested items is on display at Landale Court which includes teabags, evaporated milk, toothpaste, handwash and much more. Locals are encouraged to call in to find out how they can help but any non-perishable food items and toiletries are appreciated.  

Morag continues: “Any donation is gratefully received. We’ve started our collection already and are thankful to those who’ve already donated – it really does make a huge difference during what can be a very hard time of year for so many. We’re running our collection right up to Christmas Eve and look forward to seeing local faces old and new. Our team are ready to give a warm welcome at Landale Court to all the kind-hearted people in our community.” 

Once the team at Landale Court has finalised their collection of donations, the items will be delivered to The Larder, where the charity will then distribute the goods to those in dire need this festive season.  

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge. 

Phase 2 also brings further stunning properties, including a 3-bedroom unique detached home which is the largest Brio style to date boasting 1259sqft of floor space.  

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.

Inspired by the hit Netflix adaptation of Osman’s bestselling novels, Brio residents at the award-winning Landale Court development in Aberdeenshire have embraced the spirit of sleuthing made famous by Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim and Joyce – portrayed on screen by Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie.

In fact, Brio developments in Chapelton (Aberdeenshire), Stow-on-the-Wold (Cotswolds) and Hackbridge (London) boast their very own namesake sleuths with aptly named residents Elizabeth and Joyce getting into character, while others across the country are embracing similar traits – and having great fun with development-wide Thursday Murder Club-themed events and activities.

Elizabeth Peers, a resident at Brio’s Landale Court development in Chapelton, Aberdeenshire, is also loving embracing all things Thursday Murder Club and shared: “I, alongside my friends here, have always been an advocate of vibrant retirement villages but now more people know what ‘Coopers Chase’ is I’m guessing we’ll have lots more visitors wanting to join our wonderful community! There’s a touching line spoken by Ben Kingsley’s character Ibrahim about the joy of places like Landale Court where he explains that you can close the door when you want to be alone, but if you open it, there will always be someone there. Retirement is often perceived as an isolated or lonely period of life – especially if you have lost friends and partners – but being part of a community in our later years removes any of those worries and it’s just wonderful living here.”

Lesley Joyce, a resident at Brio’s Button House development in Hackbridge shared: “Many of us have loved reading the book during our book-club sessions and we’ve a red-carpet film showing planned and our very own murder mystery night – it’s all very exciting! And just like my namesake Joyce, I too adore cakes and have had lots of fun dishing out huge slices to fellow residents and visitors just as she does!”

There are numerous events and activities on the horizon for everyone across the trio of Brio developments – many being headed up by Sadie Birch, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Brio. She explains: “I’m thrilled Thursday Murder Club is proving such a nationwide success. We’re all huge fans here at Brio but the film digs deeper into the importance of companionship and friendship in later years – which is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“To build on that we’ve ordered in stockpiles of Richard Osman’s books for those residents yet to get the TMC bug! And we’re organising our very own murder mystery events across all three developments. We’re also going to be hosting red carpet events where we screen the film for all the residents to enjoy – everyone will be getting dressed up in their glad rags and sampling more of our very own Joyce’s cake of course! Thanks to Coopers Chase, our amazing developments are receiving more attention than ever and we’re all loving it!”

Brio Retirement Living provides independent, luxury living in Aberdeenshire, the Cotswolds and London, Brio has revolutionised modern retirement for its 55year and 65year plus communities, that have the opportunity to rent, buy or part buy/rent the properties.

For further information on Brio Retirement Living please visit www.brioretirement.co.uk.

AS AWARD WINNING LANDALE COURT HOMEOWNERS RAISE FUNDS FOR DEMENTIA SCOTLAND

Following a tennis themed charity challenge, homeowners, their grandchildren and team members at Brio Retirement Living’s award winning Landale Court development in Aberdeenshire are celebrating their success in raising much-needed funds for Dementia Scotland.

Working alongside their colleagues and residents at Brio’s two further developments in The Cotswolds and London, who were also raising funds for the charity, a total of almost £200 has been raised so far. Inspired by the famous Wimbledon tournament, the young-at-heart retirees took part in competitive games of swing ball and tennis ball keep-ups each day throughout the tournament and beyond, concluding at the end of July. Pimms, strawberry tarts and jam and cream scones were also on the menu at Brio’s onsite Slate & Grain brasseries for all to enjoy.

Everyone who took part purchased a tennis ball for £5 – and all donations will go to charities Dementia Scotland and Dementia UK. The team has also set up a JustGiving page where people can continue to make their donations here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/briolc

Jess Nicoll, Brio’s National Sales & Marketing Manager, shared: “We’ve all really enjoyed the tennis challenge. Our homeowners love to come up with creative ideas to raise money for charity and it’s been a delight to welcome lots of grandchildren to join in too. Donations from our three developments at Landale Court in Chapelton, Beechwood Park in Stow-on-the-Wold and Button House in Hackbridge are being collected and we’re thrilled to be able to help so many worthy causes throughout the year.”

Dementia Scotland is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Its nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, life-changing support and advice to anyone affected by dementia.

Brio Retirement Living provides independent, luxury living in Aberdeenshire, the Cotswolds and London, Brio has revolutionised modern retirement for its 55year and 65year plus communities, that have the opportunity to rent, buy or part buy/rent the properties.

For further information on Brio Retirement Living please visit www.brioretirement.co.uk.

The time capsule project was the brainchild of Landale Court resident Alan Reid who, alongside deputy general manager Charlotte Kouri, has spent the last few months planning the event. Together, the team gathered an array of items including; local Chapelton newsletters, a Brio Retirement Living newsletter, a Brio employee name badge, an iPhone, a Slate & Grain restaurant menu, a local newspaper, a handwritten letter from one of the residents granddaughters about life in 2025, items from Landale Court’s 80^th VE memorial day, recent coins and stamps, a current property price list, tickets from the local cinema plus much more memorabilia from 2025.

Charlotte Kouri explained: “We’ve been thinking about making a time capsule for a while now and Alan kindly took the lead on turning it into a reality. We encased all the items safely in the capsule and the burial took place at our weekly coffee morning. We invited families from the local area, staff, homeowners and I felt honoured to say a few words at the ceremony. It created a lovely piece of history for us all to enjoy and for those who uncover it in years to come.”

The burial took place in the quiet garden area of the Landale Court development, which can be visited and enjoyed by all – the team also installed a plaque which was inscribed with the wording ‘On the 29th of July 2025, staff, residents and members of the Chapelton community joined together for the burial of Landale Courts first time capsule.’

Charlotte concluded: “Once the ceremony had taken place, we all gathered for refreshments and had lots of chats about who would uncover the capsule and in what year – some of the children suggested it’d be their own great-grandchildren in 2100! Whatever happens, we hope the people who find it enjoy what they uncover and that our actions inspire them to do the same. It’s been a lot of fun for everyone involved.”

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Landale Court is currently recruiting part-time housekeepers to join its team. Applications are being welcomed now, and for more information on the roles available please contact Morag Macindoe, general manager, via email at morag.macindoe@brioretirement.co.uk

Landale Court, including the wider area of Chapelton, is a thriving place to live, work and play, and the development has been named in Glassdoor’s Best Places to work list, and placed 101st out of 500 companies in the Financial Times UK’s Best Employers 2025 list, with Brio Retirement Living a Real Living Wage Employer.

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.

Always keen to stay active, the young at heart retirees based in Chapelton in Aberdeenshire, are competing alongside their grandchildren in games of swing ball and tennis ball keep-ups each day throughout the famous Wimbledon tournament and beyond, concluding at the end of July.

Brio developments in The Cotswolds and London are also fundraising for Dementia UK and everyone taking part has purchased a tennis ball for £5 – all donations from Landale Court will go to charity Dementia Scotland and the team has also set up a JustGiving page where people can also donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/briolc

The Slate & Grain brasserie based onsite at Landale Court is also supporting the tennis challenges by serving Pimm’s and strawberry tarts as part of their specials. Jess Nicoll, Brio’s National Sales & Marketing Manager, shared: “Our homeowners are always doing such creative activities and often complete fundraising challenges, so we thought this a fun way to combine everyone’s passions during tennis season. Donations from our three developments at Landale Court in Chapelton, Beechwood Park in Stow-on-the-Wold and Button House in Hackbridge will be added up at the end of July and we can’t wait to share our success stories.

“We always like to add a little bit of healthy competition to our challenges, so we’ll also be awarding a winner at each development with a tennis themed afternoon tea for four people at our onsite Slate and Grain brasseries. Let play commence!”

Those keen to follow the tennis fun can do so via the Brio Instagram account here  https://www.instagram.com/brioretirement/

Dementia Scotland is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Its nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, life-changing support and advice to anyone affected by dementia.

Brio Retirement Living provides independent, luxury living in Aberdeenshire, the Cotswolds and London, Brio has revolutionised modern retirement for its 55year and 65year plus communities, that have the opportunity to rent, buy or part buy/rent the properties.

For further information on Brio Retirement Living please visit www.brioretirement.co.uk

In a landmark collaboration, Places for People is leveraging its supply chain to support the completion of new facilities at Black Bull Close in Dunbar. This ambitious development will revitalise historic buildings to house a state-of-the-art support centre, including a training kitchen, office spaces, multipurpose rooms, and the surrounding Backlands community garden. These facilities will expand The Ridge’s ability to provide essential services and skills training to the local community.

Trainees, apprentices, and local secondary school pupils will benefit directly from the project, gaining valuable experience in trades such as stonemasonry and joinery – skills critical for preserving Scotland’s heritage buildings and addressing housing sector demands. Additionally, the Backlands garden will continue to serve as a hub for training, sustainability, and wellbeing, offering gardening opportunities to trainees, volunteers, and individuals supported by The Ridge’s various programmes. The garden includes a kitchen garden, where produce is used for cookery classes or sold back to the Community.

Through its supply chain, Places for People has provided practical support to bring this vision to life. Among them are Novus Property Solutions who through their charitable partnership with Places for People provided over £40,000 of materials and skills across multiple disciplines. Elsewhere, Cablecom supplied free-of-charge luminaires valued at £3,258.00 – a donation that came thanks to collaborations with Scott Coppola Electrical Distributors Ltd and other manufacturers.

Marcus Hulme, Places Impact Director at Places for People, commented:
“At Places for People, our mission goes far beyond building houses – it’s about creating opportunities, enriching lives, and fostering thriving communities.

“We are truly honoured to collaborate with The Ridge and our exceptional supply chain on this transformative project. Together, we are supporting their inspiring mission to make a lasting impact on people and places, offering critical lifelines to those who need them most. We are proud to champion their vision for the new support centre, which will undoubtedly bring enduring benefits to Dunbar and its surrounding areas.”

The Ridge, founded in 2012, works to support disadvantaged individuals across Dunbar and East Linton by equipping them with skills, qualifications, and work experience while providing holistic support such as housing advice, debt counselling, mental health services, and employability training. The charity has grown significantly in recent years, now encompassing The Ridge SCIO and its social enterprise subsidiary, The Ridge Foundations CIC.

Katie Wood, Managing Director of the organisation added:
“We are deeply grateful to Places for People for their invaluable support in helping us expand our services. We’re dedicated to delivering solutions for the community, within the community – whether that’s through skills training, work experience, or holistic support for individuals facing complex challenges.

“The redevelopment of Black Bull Close marks a significant milestone in our journey, enabling us to offer even more tailored services and opportunities. Having a partner like Places for People, who share our values and vision, is truly inspiring.”

The Ridge’s work encompasses a wide range of initiatives aimed at helping individuals build sustainable futures, from supporting those impacted by the criminal justice system to providing budget-friendly cooking courses, food and clothing banks, and tailored advice in collaboration with statutory agencies and local groups.

Places for People has a long-standing presence in Scotland, with notable projects including The Engine Yard in Edinburgh – a sensitive regeneration of historic industrial buildings – and the coastal development at Chapelton. These initiatives reflect its commitment to sustainable development and community enrichment.

The team and residents at the award-winning Landale Court in Chapelton have been busy collecting chocolate eggs on the run up to Easter, and their impressive pile of goodies has now been delivered to The Larder Portlethen.

An egg-ceptional number of Easter eggs have kindly been donated by the Landale Court team, residents and caring locals – all in time to make Easter weekend a little happier for those in need.

Morga Macindoe, General Manager at Landale Court, shared: “We’re always looking at ways we can give back to our lovely community and we were touched by the number of local people who popped in to add their donation to our collection. There are many families and individuals who deserve a treat at this time of year, and we hope our donations bring a smile this Bank Holiday weekend.

“Our team and residents would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who got involved and we wish everyone a very happy Easter.”

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Recently launched Phase 2 also brings a 3-bedroom unique detached home which is the largest Brio style to date boasting 1259sqft of floor space.

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.

Donations of Easter eggs are being welcomed by the team and can be dropped off at the Landale Court reception desk, which is located at 19 Landale Court, Chapelton, Stonehaven. The cut-off date for donations is the evening of Wednesday 16^th April and then all kind offerings will be delivered to The Larder Portlethen in time to make Easter weekend a little happier for those in need.

Morga Macindoe, General Manager at Landale Court, shared: “We’re always looking at ways we can give back to our lovely community and we’re hoping to receive an influx of Easter goodies to share amongst those who deserve a treat at this time of year. We donate foodbank items throughout the year but thought this a great way for the community to help with treat items that can be found reasonably priced in local supermarkets.

“There are lots of individuals and families in the area that this collection will hopefully bring a smile to. Our residents have already started collecting and we’ll be donating a big pile of eggs from the team here at Landale Court too. We hope to welcome many more over the coming days and would like to say a huge thank you in advance to those who can help out.”

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Recently launched Phase 2 also brings a 3-bedroom unique detached home which is the largest Brio style to date boasting 1259sqft of floor space.

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.

Award-winning Brio Retirement Living development Landale Court in Chapelton is welcoming those looking for employment to a career open evening on Monday 17^th March from 4pm to 7pm.

A variety of roles are currently on offer including openings for an event coordinating receptionist, and a part time kitchen assistant role within the popular onsite Slate and Grain brasserie, plus a variety of housekeeping and food and beverage roles are to be advertised in the coming weeks. The team will also be sharing information about other roles which are on the horizon at Landale Court as the vibrant development grows.

Morag Macindoe, General Manager at Landale Court, shared: “We’re on the cusp of a very exciting time at Landale Court and would love to meet those keen to join our friendly team. Our development, including the wider area of Chapelton, is a thriving place to live, work and play, and it’s not just our team that agrees – only last month we were thrilled to be named in Glassdoor’s Best Places to work list, and then just last week we were placed 101st out of 500 companies in the Financial Times UK’s Best Employers 2025 list! It’s a very exciting time to work here!”

No appointments are necessary, and anyone interested in a role at Landale Court can turn up between 4pm and 7pm and will receive a warm welcome from the team.

Morag concluded: “Another bonus of working for our parent company Places for People is that it’s a Real Living Wage Employer. There are many more benefits on offer too which we’re looking forward to sharing on the evening. We look forward to welcoming those interested in joining our friendly community and meeting our future colleagues.”

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Recently launched Phase 2 also brings a 3-bedroom unique detached home which is the largest Brio style to date boasting 1259sqft of floor space.

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.

Andrew Bowie, the Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, spent the morning with staff and residents at the award winning Brio Retirement Living development, Landale Court in Chapelton, Aberdeenshire, to learn more about the vibrant later living community.

Andrew, who was first elected the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in 2017, grew up in Aberdeenshire and lives in the area with his wife, Maddie, daughter, Emily, and their dalmatian Winston.

Andrew was keen to discuss the wide variety of wellbeing offerings at Landale Court including its commitment to mental health through initiatives such as exercise programs, events, green spaces, and nutrition-focused catering by the inhouse Slate and Grain chefs. He was particularly interested in hearing about the Landale Court Men’s Group, due to his ongoing support of the work ‘Men’s sheds’ does across Scotland in tackling issues like loneliness and promoting physical and mental health amongst men, particularly in older generations.

Morag Macindoe, General Manager at Landale Court, shared: “We were thrilled to welcome Andrew to our development here in Chapelton. He knows the area well and it was fantastic to hear his plans in and around Chapelton.

“Andrew was also keen to talk about Social Care Investment and how vibrant communities like ours here at Landale Court promote active lifestyles – potentially alleviating pressures on the care system and the NHS. It was a delight to welcome him, and we look forward to another visit in the not-so-distant future.”

The team from Landale Court enjoyed the session with Andrew where they covered an array of topics that directly affect the community including the growth of Landale Court and Brio’s mission for independent later living. Andrew was given a tour of Landale Court where he viewed the communal facilities including the hobby room, residents lounge and gym. The group discussed the importance of social interaction for older people and the range of customers Landale Court can cater for – from those futureproofing to those needing additional support in their homes. Andrew has watched the growth of Chapelton since 2014 and is a key supporter of the area – he also discussed local excitement to new businesses being opened in the next couple of years in adjacent Geddes Square.

Landale Court is a vibrant 94-home development expertly designed for residents over the age of 55, offering those seeking a fulfilling retirement with an array of facilities including a neighbourhood green, fire pit den, quiet garden as well as The Hub – the social heartbeat of the community filled with a hobby room, club room and the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

Recently launched Phase 2 also brings a 3-bedroom unique detached home which is the largest Brio style to date boasting 1259sqft of floor space.

For more information on Landale Court visit https://www.brioretirement.co.uk/our-communities/landale-court-chapelton/ or phone 01569 730357.