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Avondale Residential Care Home brings comfort to its vulnerable residents - by Hannah Stewart
The Society of St James are one of our fantastic SEIF investees and are changing lives in Southampton through their hard work.
On 14 July the Society of St James, Southampton’s largest homelessness charity, held an opening ceremony to celebrate the amazing transformation that has taken place at Avondale Residential Care Home thanks to the investment of the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
Walking in to Avondale on that sunny afternoon, it felt like a different building. The old kitchen has been turned into a comfortable new bedroom with en-suite bathroom. An extension now houses a large, beautifully designed and fully equipped commercial kitchen. The day room, which was dark and cramped before, has been extended and fitted with skylights, creating a light, airy space.
The Society of St James bought Avondale back in 2007. We had recognized that many older people with a history of homelessness were unable to find a place in a care home due to their mental health problems, addiction issues, behavioural difficulties, and in some cases criminal records. Among those who did get a space in a care home, many were then evicted because the home was unable to meet their complex needs. We wanted to provide a home for life for these people, and make sure that they didn’t have to return to living on the streets.
Avondale is now home to a real mixture of people. Some have general elderly care needs, while others need more specialist care due to mental health problems and alcohol dependency. At the opening ceremony, it was clear that all of Avondale’s residents and staff were thrilled by the new-look building. But the transformation which SEIF’s investment has made possible is more than just aesthetic.
The improvements have made Avondale a more comfortable and welcoming home for our residents. We have already been able to move a lady who is blind into the new bedroom, and having her own en-suite has made things so much easier for her. The renovations will also help to ensure the long-term financial viability of Avondale as a social enterprise. The new bedroom and improved facilities will give us the potential to generate more income in the form of care fees.
This means that, because of SEIF’s investment, we will be able to continue providing a home for Southampton’s most vulnerable older people in the years to come. We also hope that Avondale will inspire others to set up similar care homes across the country, ensuring that everyone, no matter how difficult their background, can spend their final years in a secure, supportive and happy home.
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