To mark the National Housing Federation’s ‘Starts at Home’ Day, we spoke with John Fry, a resident of Tamar Court in Weston-super-Mare, who shared how moving into supported housing has been the start of a new chapter for him and his wife, Alison.
After Alison suffered a fall and began struggling with stairs in their previous home, John knew they needed a change. He says: “We decided to buy a Shared Ownership apartment at Tamar Court following my wife's fall. Afterwards she struggled with stairs and there were no lifts where we were living then. When we saw Tamar Court being built, we realised it was perfect for us. We applied and were lucky enough to move into our perfect home.”
For John, one of the biggest benefits of living in supported housing is the strong sense of community. “There’s such a warm, welcoming atmosphere here. There’s lots of lovely people to socialise with. I enjoy relaxing in the foyer, because it’s a beautiful sunny room where there’s always someone to chat with. Occasionally, I even play the piano there.”
John also appreciates the social activities and outings organised by Tamar Court. “I don’t drive anymore, so the trips to museums like Oakham Treasures or to Clark’s Village for the shopping have been wonderful.
“I enjoy getting involved in the activities here. Sometimes, children from local primary schools join us for art sessions. In fact, through these connections, I became a governor of the primary school next door – I visit them on special occasions, like Remembrance Day, and show the children my General Service Medal, which they find fascinating.”
Although John and Alison haven’t needed to use the care services at Tamar Court yet, knowing that help is readily available is a great comfort. “It’s reassuring to know that care is available if we need it. My wife has Alzheimer’s, and I’ve had a stroke, so having that safety net is invaluable. For now, just knowing that if we press the beeper, someone will come is very comforting.”