This summer our Independent Living scheme Halberg House in Pontefract celebrated a remarkable milestone.
The scheme marked 50 years since it first opened its doors in 1975. The Jubilee event took place in the communal lounge, where colleagues and customers enjoyed a spread of cakes and refreshments provided by the Independent Living Team.
The event gave our customers, colleagues and invited guests the chance to share memories and stories of their lives at Halberg House. This included Wendy, a current resident who was also the very first Warden.
Wendy, 82, began working at the scheme on the day it opened when she was 32 years old. She lived on-site and provided care and support to residents every day.
She said: “In my day, I lived in the house, that was where the office was. When the buzzer went in the house I’d run straight down to the office, so it was hard work.
“Now you see they can clock off because someone else will take over. It didn’t really work like that in my day because our whole life was here.”
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 would 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.
Read more about Wendy and Wanda's memories of Halberg House
“For a lot of people, that is what keeps them going. That is the sort of thing that keeps them sharp and keeps them alive.”
Wendy’s friend Wanda, 75, joined Halberg House in 1989 to take on the role of 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.
“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.”
This year also marks 10 years since Halberg House underwent extensive modernisation. With 54 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments, the scheme offers safe, comfortable and accessible homes for people aged 60 and over.
Each apartment is fitted with modern features including wetrooms, kitchens and a Care Link emergency system that provides round-the-clock support. The scheme also benefits from district heating, secure entry and CCTV, helping residents feel safe and supported.
Find out more about independent living with Vico Homes.
The event at Halberg House highlighted the continued importance of independent living schemes. We back the Starts at Home campaign, which champions the right of every person to have a safe, secure and supportive place to call home.
Without the stable foundation of a home like this, many people will face an uncertain future.
The government’s research tells us that across the country we should be building more than 28,000 new supported homes a year until 2040.
To learn more, visit the Starts at Home website. You can hear more from Wendy and Wanda here.