For Wendy and Wanda, Halberg House is more than just a building, it’s somewhere they called both work and home for many years.
For them it’s filled with memories and stories, it’s a place they brought their families to and a place where they supported so many others. Their stories are at the heart of why housing like this matters and why on this Starts at Home Day, we need to protect its future.
Wendy first arrived at Halberg House in 1975, she was 32 and became the scheme’s first Warden. Today, she has come full circle and lives at Halberg as a resident.
Read more about our golden jubilee celebrations at Halberg House
She said: “I started my life in here, and I ended up here. People used to joke, ‘You’ll end up here forever,’ and I’d say, ‘Don’t be daft.’ But life takes you in different directions and what you need changes.”
Back then, the role of Warden was not just a job, it was a way of life. Wendy lived on-site and was available day and night.
She said: “There were no carers in my day. If anything went wrong, it was me that got the call. It was 24-hour care, every day of the week.
Wanda joined Halberg House in 1989 and also lived on-site during her time as Warden. She said: “I enjoyed every minute I was here. It was hard work because these were people with demanding needs, and we were the ones here for them day-to-day, but it was always rewarding.
She remembered working through the millennium celebrations. She said: “Nobody else wanted to work. They wanted to clock off at the normal time.
“In the end I was responsible that night. We had a New Year’s Eve party, cleaned up at three o'clock and I didn’t clock off until six. I think I lost a stone in weight just by walking around in the first few months of getting the job.”
She said: “I started my life in here, and I ended up here. People used to joke, ‘You’ll end up here forever,’ and I’d say, ‘Don’t be daft.’ But life takes you in different directions and what you need changes.”
Back then, the role of Warden was not just a job, it was a way of life. Wendy lived on-site and was available day and night.
She said: “There were no carers in my day. If anything went wrong, it was me that got the call. It was 24-hour care, every day of the week.
Wanda joined Halberg House in 1989 and also lived on-site during her time as Warden. She said: “I enjoyed every minute I was here. It was hard work because these were people with demanding needs, and we were the ones here for them day-to-day, but it was always rewarding.
She remembered working through the millennium celebrations. She said: “Nobody else wanted to work. They wanted to clock off at the normal time.
“In the end I was responsible that night. We had a New Year’s Eve party, cleaned up at three o'clock and I didn’t clock off until six. I think I lost a stone in weight just by walking around in the first few months of getting the job.”
The role of the Warden brought a whole family to the scheme. Wendy’s son Matt was a baby when they moved in and quickly became part of the community.
She said: “He had this little tractor and trailer that he used to ride around the halls. When he came back to find me, he’d have pockets full of sweets and cakes. The tenants absolutely loved him. They used to dote on him.
“Having us there as a family gave them something. It made every day a little bit different for some people. And for a lot, that is what keeps them going. That is the sort of thing that keeps them sharp and keeps them alive.”
Now retired, Wendy continues to be active in the community. She said: “Even though I live here now, I am trying to be a bit of an organiser. It keeps me going and I do enjoy it.
“I still think I want to be in charge sometimes. People come to me to organise things, and I’ve still got all that knowledge from when I worked here, you just have to shout out a number and I can point in the direction of the door wherever I am.”
Wendy summed up the spirit of Halberg House: “Living in an independent living scheme, you get that sense of community and safety. You have someone there when you need an extra hand, but you’ve also got that freedom to get on with your own life too.
“Sometimes it feels like being in a big hotel, which is lovely.”
Stories like Wendy and Wanda’s show why independent living schemes are so important. Their voices reflect the message of the Starts at Home campaign, which supports the right of every person to have a safe and secure place to call home.
Wanda reflected on how differently applications for places in schemes like Halberg House used to be managed. She said: “There are still people here that were living in Halberg when I was working here which is quite something when you think about it.
"My old next-door neighbour is still here, people call these schemes home for a lot longer than some would think.”
To learn more visit startsathome.org.uk