Mayor Pat Allen, alongside members of the local community attended an event on 14 October to mark the official opening of the HCA funded Ing Royde development by Abbeyfield patron, the Rt Hon Baroness Brenda Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde.
The redevelopment has 30 apartments, including some for couples, offering residents the freedom to live in their own self-contained home but with the reassurance of 24-hour on-site support, including communal meals if desired.
To provide extra support and entertainment to residents at Ing Royde, Abbeyfield is looking for volunteers and would like to hear from anyone who can spare even a few hours a month.
Gwyneth Carter, housing care manager at Ing Royde, said: “This is a great opportunity for someone looking to do something with their free time. At Ing Royde our residents would love to welcome volunteers into the house. There are so many ways that people can do their bit, from sitting and chatting with our residents to helping out with activities. Other Abbeyfield houses have enjoyed fantastic volunteer support for almost 60 years and now we need more local people to get involved in Halifax.”
Abbeyfield Halifax has strong local connections having been in the area for nearly 15 years. The redevelopment was completed last year, supported by a £1.7 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Abdul A Ravat, area manager for the HCA, said: “We are delighted to see the completion of Ing Royde and that the residents are enjoying living in their homes. This together with the range of personal care and support and facilities offered by The Abbeyfield Society is making a real difference to the lives of older residents.
"The HCA is also grateful to The Abbeyfield Society for ensuring that £1,712,434 of its recycled capital resources has been utilized to create this much-needed facility in the Halifax area.”