About Bield
For 50 years we've been developing Housing and other Services to enable Scotland's older people to live the life they want. Our brand promise is 'Free to be' - it sums up our firm belief that older people should have the freedom to make their own choices and be free to live as independently as possible. It is a promise which thanks to the experience, dedication and passion of our staff and volunteers we are uniquely placed to bring to life.
Bield is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity. As an organisation we are one of the largest providers of housing and support services for older people in Scotland with just over 5400 properties and a range of services our customers extend far and wide. The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) considers Bield to be an organisation that is systemically important, due to the size of our turnover, and as such we have medium engagement with the Regulator.
We have been providing housing, care and support for older people in Scotland since 1971. We employ around 720 permanent employees, 225 casual workers and have a network of over 170 dedicated volunteers who give their time to help make sure, along with our staff, that our customers receive an excellent quality of service.
Our housing developments offer a range of options designed to meet the varying needs of older people. Although the majority of our homes are socially rented, we also offer options where older people can part own their property and benefit from reduced rent through shared ownership and shared equity options. We have a small number of amenity and general needs properties suitable for people under the age of 60.
Bield also manages a number of private retirement developments on behalf of owners across Scotland. Our Owner Services team has over 30 years’ experience in this area. We are the second largest provider of services to private retirement owner-occupiers in Scotland.
We also provide a limited range of home and day care services in the local community which help and support people to stay in their own homes.
At Bield we are always looking for ways to help our customers to live as independently as possible. Our range of Bield Response 24 monitoring services ensures that we can do that. The staff members at Bield Response 24 are trained to handle emergency calls and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. We are fully compliant with the Code of Practice of the Telecare Services Association. We provide these services to our own customers, individuals and other landlords.
We work in partnership with a number of organisations including local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and other housing and care organisations. Our close relationships include a partnership with Hanover (Scotland) and Trust Housing Associations, collaborating to strengthen our position within the sector, share best practice or to achieve cost savings and better customer services through, for example, joint procurement and joint allocations through the Home For You system.
Customers are involved in our decision-making process through our Partnership and Owners’ forums. We have set up a tenant-led scrutiny group called the Bield Improvement Group to review any part of Bield’s activity and make recommendations for improvements direct to the Board of Management.
Finally, we have, for many years, run a successful volunteer development programme, allowing us to benefit from the support of committed and enthusiastic volunteers across Scotland in areas such as befriending, running social activities and IT support to our tenants.
Our Vision
A Scotland where people of all ages are respected, can make their own choices and are able to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Our Mission
To improve the quality of life of older people by offering a diverse range of housing, care and other services
Our Values
- Caring: We have a passion for supporting and caring for each other.
- Honesty: We are open, fair and just and act with integrity.
- Equality & Diversity: We advance equality and celebrate diversity.
- Dignity: We treat individuals with respect.
- Inclusion: We involve our people in what we do because their opinions matter.
- Ambition: We want to be the best at what we do and we want our people to realise their full potential.
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