Residents and guests at our over 55s scheme, Bowles Lodge, enjoyed a celebratory coffee morning to mark Starts at Home Day and a big birthday!
Celebrations were also in store for Amy Chamberlain, Bowles Lodge's oldest resident, who turned 99 yesterday.
Starts at Home Day sees housing associations across the UK celebrate supported housing, and the positive impact it has on people's lives. Bowles Lodge, West Kent's extra care scheme, offers independent living with a dedicated housing management team and on-site care services.
Volunteers from Age UK Tunbridge Wells - who run a coffee morning at Bowles Lodge every Friday - created a party atmosphere which includes a 1920s themed quiz, a sing-along of residents' favorite tunes and plenty of delicious home-made cakes.
A beautiful birthday cake was presented to Amy, who moved to Bowles Lodge with her daughter Beryl. Beryl told us,
"Living here has given us the chance to be together, with help and support there if we need it."
Guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr James Scholes and his wife Mrs Scholes, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst Cllr Patrick Thompson, and representatives from Galliford Try and Kent County Council. Guests chatted with residents and were taken on a tour of the facilities; including a lounge, restaurant, gym, bar, hairdressing salon and beautifully landscaped garden.
One resident, Daphne, summed it up her experience of moving into the scheme by saying,
"You think about going into a home and think there will be so many restrictions. But there are none- we are all mates together and there is so much going on. You can do precisely what you want, it's wonderful."