David’s Dream Day at Paradise
David’s Dream Day at Paradise - Supporting David to visit Celtic Park.
At Renaissance Care, truly personalised care begins with taking the time to understand each resident - not only their care needs, but the people, passions and memories that make them who they are. The team at Berelands brings this approach to life every day, recognising the powerful difference that meaningful relationships and personal experiences can make to a resident’s happiness, wellbeing and sense of purpose.
For David, one passion has always been particularly important: Celtic Football Club.
Since moving to Berelands in February, David has formed a wonderful friendship with a member of our team who shares his love of football. Their daily chats may begin with the previous evening’s results, but it is never long before the conversation turns to Celtic.
David 'Buzzing' with his outing to Paradise.
These regular conversations are an important part of life at Berelands. They help our team build genuine relationships with residents, discover what brings them happiness and identify personal goals that can give them something meaningful to look forward to.
During one of their chats, David mentioned that it had been a long time since he had visited Celtic Park. His colleague promised they would arrange a visit when the opportunity arose - and, following conversations with Celtic FC and David’s family, a stadium tour was booked for Tuesday 25 August.
Counting down the days
The date was carefully marked on the 2026 calendar in David’s room, surrounded by his much-loved Celtic memorabilia. From then on, each passing day was crossed off as David counted down to his visit to Paradise.
Having something so personal and exciting to anticipate brought real happiness to David. He was “buzzing” when he learned the trip had been arranged, and his family shared in his excitement.
When the big morning finally arrived, David could hardly wait to get going. He asked the care team to help him put on his Celtic top and hat, making sure he was dressed for the occasion before leaving Berelands.
The happiness and anticipation surrounding the trip were clear to everyone - and that joy is exactly why experiences like this matter.
A very special welcome
After arriving at Celtic Park, David spent time taking in the surroundings and posing for photographs. He was also shown a commemorative brick belonging to the colleague accompanying him, located at the Lisbon Lions Stand.
Inside the stadium, they were welcomed by tour guide Ricky, who began by taking them into the boardroom and trophy room. David listened to stories about Celtic’s history and had the opportunity to see the Scottish Premiership trophy, the Scottish Cup and the European Cup won by the Lisbon Lions in 1967.
The tour then continued into the first-team dressing room, where David saw the players’ shirts and took part in a quiz about the different nationalities within the squad. Combining their knowledge, David and his fellow Celtic fan proudly answered every question correctly.
The most memorable moment came when David travelled down the famous Celtic Park tunnel while The Celtic Song played around him. Reaching pitchside, he paused to take in the atmosphere and admire the stadium before sitting in the dugout and imagining himself as Celtic manager Martin O’Neill.
Although one section of the usual tour was not wheelchair accessible, another guide, Martin, accompanied David along the side of the pitch. Before leaving, David was even given the very special opportunity to touch the hallowed turf.
The day ended with some retail therapy in the Celtic Superstore, where David treated himself to two new Celtic T-shirts.
More than a day out
David returned to Berelands full of stories and thanked the team for arranging such a wonderful day. Celtic’s 5–1 defeat to LASK later that evening may not have been the result he wanted - but nothing could take away from the happiness of returning to Paradise.
For David, this was much more than a stadium tour. It was a chance to reconnect with something that has brought him joy throughout his life, share that passion with someone close to him and create new memories around a familiar and much-loved part of his identity.
Supporting residents to achieve personal goals can have an incredibly positive effect on their wellbeing. The anticipation gives them something exciting to focus on, while the experience itself can lift their mood, build confidence and create a renewed sense of purpose. Afterwards, the photographs, conversations and happy memories allow that feeling to continue long beyond the day itself.
These experiences also strengthen the bonds between residents, their families and our teams. By listening to the small details shared during everyday conversations, we can understand what truly matters to each person and find meaningful ways to bring more happiness into their lives.
At Berelands, personalised care is about helping residents continue to enjoy the interests, relationships and experiences that make life meaningful. Every resident’s goal will look different - and that is exactly what makes each one so special.
For David, it meant returning to Paradise for a day filled with football, friendship and unforgettable memories.
