THE Mayor of Dursley is set to plant a tree at one of the town’s care homes to mark the 25th anniversary of a not-for-profit care provider.

The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) first started providing nursing and residential care in 1992 when it took over responsibility for 16 homes from Lincolnshire County Council.

Today, the trust operates 70 care homes and 14 extra care housing schemes across Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

Two care homes in each region will be ‘Planting a Tree for the Jubilee’, in Gloucestershire these are Henlow Court in Dursley and Jubilee Lodge in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Dan Hayes, chief executive of OSJCT, said: “Twenty five years ago we assumed responsibility for 16 care homes in Lincolnshire with a focus on supporting the sick, aged and infirm through the provision of serviced, residential facilities or in community care.

“Even though a lot has changed in the last 25 years, our commitment to delivering the best possible care and support for our residents and their families has not and I am extremely proud of the 4,500 people who work so hard to care for our residents.

“The trust has grown significantly since 1992 and we have developed many new ways of providing care and support for residents, especially for those with dementia.

“I am sure the next quarter of a century will see us continue to develop and innovate and we will remain just as focused on caring for the older people in our communities as we were 25 years ago.”

Mayor of Dursley Cllr Neil Grecian will plant a silver birch at Henlow Lodge on Monday, May 1 at 2.45pm followed be a tea party, lunch and bouncy castle.