A Hat Trick of Homes!

Since last November Fremantle has opened, not one, not two, but three brand new homes (Part of Project Care in Buckinghamshire) Icknield Court, Princes Risborough in November 2008, The Heights at Downley, High Wycombe in April 2009 and Carey Lodge, Wing in June 2009. On Friday 4th September the residents at each home enjoyed grand ’House Warming Parties’ to celebrate their lovely new homes. Thankfully, after a week of very wet weather, the afternoon was fine and the residents were able to enjoy their parties in the gardens, as hoped for.

"It has been a very busy time for everyone involved since Icknield Court opened last November. Opening a new home and settling in 70 or 75 residents and all the staff is no mean feat. Each opening has to be handled with great planning and precision but also with immense sensitivity; all credit must go to the home managers, operations managers and all the staff involved for making these home openings a tremendous success. With three new homes opened since November ’08 everyone has been so busy that we have only just had time to organise ’Opening Parties’ for the residents," commented Chief Executive, Carole Sawyers.

Each home had a band to entertain them, a ’trad’ jazz band at Carey Lodge, an Irish folk group at Icknield Court and a Steel Band at The Heights. Residents at each home had selected the kind of food for lunch and tea which they considered to be "fit for a party". Additionally, at Carey Lodge, Wing, there was also an ’official’ opening by Hugh Carey, who the home is named after. Mr Carey was involved in getting Project Care off the ground when he was a County Councillor in Buckinghamshire.

About Project Care
Project Care is the name of the scheme to redevelop Fremantle’s services for older people and people with learning disabilities throughout Buckinghamshire. It is a partnership between The Fremantle Trust, Buckinghamshire County Council and Housing Solutions Group. Project Care initiative means that Fremantle will be able to upgrade all of its current residential care services in Buckinghamshire, bringing modern, high quality, "fit for purpose" accommodation to local residents who find they need to move into a formal care setting.

The project is now well underway; the first new home (Lewin House), built by contractor Castle Oak Care Partnership Ltd, opened in Aylesbury, November 2007. This is primarily a care home with nursing for 70 older people; however there is also a separate eight person unit for people with learning disabilities. A second home, Icknield Court was opened in November 2008 in Princes Risborough; residents from old Icknield Court in Risborough and Maple Court in Chesham moved in. The third home, The Heights at Downley, High Wycombe was opened at Easter 2009 and residents from Sir Aubrey Ward, Marlow and Cherry Garth, Holmer Green moved in. The Heights is primarily a nursing and dementia care home, but has a separate learning disability wing attached which has 8 permanent places and 7 respite places. The fourth new home, Carey Court, which brings the project to its half way point, opened in June. Building work is currently underway in Marlow on the site of the old Sir Aubrey Ward home.

A development of 16-individual apartments, supported living scheme, Beechlands Court, opened in June 2008 in High Wycombe, for people with learning disabilities. Apart from this, several more supported living houses and apartment blocks for people with learning disabilities are also underway in both Buckingham and Aylesbury; residents have moved into temporary accommodation whilst the sites of their original homes are redeveloped. These services should open later this year.

The Partners in Project Care are:
The Fremantle Trust, a registered charity which specialises in providing care for older people and people with learning disabilities. Fremantle will manage and provide care at all the new Project Care locations.
Housing Solutions, a not for profit housing association, which is investing £50 million in Project Care building new care homes for older people, as well as new self-contained flats and shared houses for people with learning disabilities, alongside new affordable housing.
Buckinghamshire County Council is the commissioning authority and pays for elderly care in the county.
Homes for Older People in Buckinghamshire
Aylesbury : Burnham : Wing : Wendover : Great Missenden : Farnham Common : Chalfont St Peter : Princes Risborough : Marlow
Extra Care Services
Lady Elizabeth House, Maidenhead
Homes for Older People in North London
Brunswick Park : Finchley : Edgware : Cricklewood : Harrow : Learning Disability Services
Milton Keynes : Buckingham : Aylesbury : Hazlemere : High Wycombe : Chesham : Gerrards Cross : Little Chalfont : Bedford : Bromham : Carlton : Oakley : Sharnbrook

For more information please contact:
Claire Gajeckyj, Marketing Manager on 01296 737366
Woodley House, 64-65 Rabans Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8RS
email: claire.gajeckyj@fremantletrust.org