A RIPON care home has celebrated the first anniversary of achieving Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status with a special party for residents, staff, and guests.
Sycamore Hall Care Home, on Kearsley Road, Ripon, marked the milestone with the official unveiling of a “Veteran Friendly Care Home” plaque outside the main entrance.
The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Barbara Brodigan, in front of residents, staff and members of the local veteran community.
Guests included Paul Graham, secretary of the Royal British Legion in Ripon, Royal Engineers veteran Mike O’Reilley, and Jules Walker, VFF support project officer for Royal Star & Garter.
The celebration was also attended by Sycamore Hall’s own elderly veterans and veteran champions, including residents Peter Holdsworth, aged 76, and Ian Newby, aged 88.
Paul Graham said: “It’s great to have more veteran friendly homes which have a full understanding of the needs that veterans can have, especially those who have seen combat.
“Trust is incredibly important to veterans and the trust that those caring for them have understanding of their experiences goes a long way.”
Mike O’Reilley added: “Ripon has always been a military town at heart. Many people came for service and stayed here because of the community spirit. It’s great to see Sycamore Hall embracing and building on that spirit with their veteran work.”
Since achieving VFF status in 2025, the care home has organised a wide range of activities to support their elderly veterans.
These have included veteran friendly coffee mornings with members of the Royal British Legion, a performance by singer Katen Clegg to celebrate Armed Forces Week, and a visit from Regimental Sergeant Major Darren Pearce from The British Army’s 21 Engineer Regiment for cream tea and conversation with residents.
Residents have also enjoyed trips to Ripon to see knitted poppy displays created by the Ripon Community Poppy Project, a visit to The Ripon Inn to view a knitted tank, a fun day at Newby Hall organised by The Not Forgotten Association, and a Remembrance service led by members of Holy Trinity Church, Ripon.
Ewelina Sosnowska, home manager of Sycamore Hall Care Home, said: “It is great to have the support of the veteran community. The VFF has taken a lot of work from our fantastic team, especially Kay, Jill and those who supported the project. It means a lot to the residents, especially those who are veterans.
“We were delighted to see such a great turnout for the celebration and we look forward to welcoming more veterans to Sycamore Hall, assured that we can give them the understanding and support they deserve.”
The Veteran Friendly Framework was launched in 2023 to tackle loneliness and isolation and improve health and wellbeing outcomes for more than 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England.
The initiative is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and the Royal British Legion, alongside the NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance, with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.