Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

    • sheltered housing

    York Place celebrates 40 years!

    Tenant Ann Chamberlin and Michael Newey at York Place Dereham 40th anniversary celebration

    Tenants at York Place in Dereham recently celebrated their sheltered housing scheme’s 40th birthday.

    The scheme’s longest-standing resident, Ann Chamberlain (94), who moved into York Place in 1988, cut a special birthday cake with Michael Newey, Chief Executive.

    Addressing tenants and members who gathered to celebrate over pizza, Michael Newey said:

    Back in 1982, York Place was ahead of its time.  Building a scheme so close to the town centre, just off the High Street, was quite unusual.

    But there is a model here for living, not just in terms of sheltered housing.  As towns have to reinvent themselves, bringing people back living in town centres seems such a sensible idea.  There is a model here that other communities in Norfolk and further afield could really learn from.

    Michael Newey, Chief Executive, Broadland Housing Association

    Tenant Ann Chamberlain said that York Place was a great place to live. 

    It has a proper sense of community. We are one big happy family.  It’s nice and near the town centre – I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

    Ann Chamberlain, York Place’s longest-standing tenant

    Broadland built York Place, which is situated right in the town centre off Becclesgate, in the early 1980s.

    The scheme offers independent living for the over-55s.  In 2018 it was expanded to add 6 new flats, 2 shared ownership bungalows and a new landscaped communal garden.  It now has 53 one-bedroom flats and bungalows.

    There is a lively social programme at York Place, with an active social club, coffee mornings, bingo and games evenings, and regular activities and outings.

    Find out more about York Place.

    Samford Court tenants plant Jubilee rose

    Samford Court tenants plant Jubilee rose

    Tenants at our Samford Court sheltered housing scheme have planted a ‘Queen Elizabeth’ rose in the communal garden to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

    Tenants plant rose at Samford Court to celebrate Queen's Jubilee

    As part of the celebrations, tenants enjoyed a special cream tea provided by the Rural Coffee Caravan, which regularly visits the scheme at Worlingham, near Beccles.

    Broadland tenant Colin Probert and Rural Coffee Caravan community engagement officer Annette Dunning planted the rose, just outside the scheme’s communal lounge.

    Coming together to celebrate

    The event was the first time that all the tenants had come together since lockdown. Scheme Manager Dawn Lambert called the gathering a “big step forward”.

    The pandemic and lockdown has been such a difficult time for our tenants, as at many sheltered schemes, so it was lovely for them finally to be able to come together in the sunshine to celebrate the Jubilee.

    With a beautiful rose bush planted as a lasting memento of the occasion, this has been the perfect way to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

    The Queen Elizabeth rose, which is a pale pink colour, was supplied by Barnby Garden Centre in Beccles.

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