Residents of Tamar Court in East Belfast were joined by their families and representatives from Choice last week as they celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the sheltered living scheme.
First opened in 1983, Tamar Court is home to 24 one-bedroom apartments, designed to provide independent living for those aged 60 and over with support available when needed.
The celebration was put on hold as the finishing touches were applied by contractors as part of a refurbishment project. Work was comprehensive and included fitting a new kitchen for the communal area and upgraded communal doors throughout the scheme. Full interior redecoration was also completed to include painting, carpets and blinds.
Catriona McCann, Area Manager at Choice said,
“We wanted to hold off on the celebration until the refurbishment project was complete and staff and tenants are delighted with the final result and tell me it was well worth the wait.
“Reaching the 40th anniversary is a milestone to be proud of and at Choice, we are committed to developing not only quality and affordable housing, but sustainable and cohesive communities. Tamar Court is very important to the community it serves, and the tenants it is home to. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say it is wonderful to bring those associated with Tamar Court together, to mark such a very important milestone.”
Ken McCallum first moved to Tamar Court in June 2006 and as the scheme’s longest standing tenant he was invited to cut the celebratory cake to mark the occasion.
Like his Tamar Court peers, Ken keeps a busy social calendar due to the wide range of events that are organised with help from staff, with coffee and games mornings complemented by various in-the-community initiatives. These include around a dozen-or-so attending the Monday Lunch Club at Connswater Community Centre where they enjoy a two-course meal followed by bingo games.
Tenants also take advantage of cookery classes at the nearby Dee Street Community Centre and the weekly discounted food parcels that are sold by East Belfast Network’s ‘Social Supermarket’.
Catriona added: “Tamar Court is more than just a housing scheme, it is a thriving community, and that sense of togetherness is at the heart of everything staff and tenants do.”
