A North Yorkshire care home has marked its commitment to supporting former military personnel one year after becoming officially recognised under a veterans’ scheme.
Sycamore Hall Care Home on Kearsley Road in Ripon celebrated its first anniversary as a “Veteran Friendly” care home with a special event attended by residents, staff, and members of the local veteran community.
A commemorative plaque, installed outside the main entrance, was formally unveiled by the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Barbara Brodigan.
Ewelina Sosnowska, home manager at Sycamore Hall, 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."
Guests at the event 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 home’s own elderly veterans and veteran champions also attended, including 76-year-old Peter Holdsworth and 88-year-old Ian Newby.
Since achieving Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status in 2025, Sycamore Hall has introduced a variety of activities tailored for its veteran residents.
These have included regular coffee mornings with Royal British Legion members, a special performance by singer Katen Clegg during Armed Forces Week, and a visit from Regimental Sergeant Major Darren Pearce of the British Army’s 21 Engineer Regiment, who joined residents for cream tea and conversation.
Residents have also enjoyed outings to see the knitted poppy displays created by the Ripon Community Poppy Project, a trip 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 in Ripon.
Mr 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.
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"Trust is incredibly important to veterans and the trust that those caring for them have understanding of their experiences goes a long way."
Mr O’Reilley said: "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."
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