From left: Professor Paddy Grey NUU, Laura O’Dowd Supporting Communities NI, Noel Hynes Director Saliis. Kathleen McCrea - Bernadette Bradley & Dympna Markey tenants at Ardavon with Manager Pauline Tierney. Elaine Taylor: Apex Director of Personnel, Mark Doherty Senior Housing Officer and Mark Toland: Senior Property Services Officer at Apex. Apex wins Best Housing Story at Chartered Institute of Housing Awards 2016.
Members of the public were asked to vote online for the Best Housing Story and Apex’s scheme at Ardavon, in Derry’s Waterside came out as clear winners!
The Story:
Having no family, for decades, Bernadette, Kathleen and Dympna lived in various hospitals and institutions for people with a learning disability. They spent most of their lives in institutional establishments with very little opportunity for independence and no choice as to when and where they were moved. Finally in 1978 they moved from Stradreagh Hospital into a residential care home in Derry /Londonderry.
Although homely, the building was not disability friendly and finally on 1st June 2015, Bernadette, Kathleen and Dympna moved to their new purpose built home, which the three of them decided should be called Ardavon. The new scheme, built and managed by Apex , is set in its own private grounds within easy reach of all local amenities and walking distance to the city centre via the Peace Bridge.
Apex’s supported living service promotes Bernadette, Kathleen and Dympna’s independence by recognising they each have different care and support needs and require encouragement in a variety of ways to do as much as they can for themselves. This may include support to do simple but very important things like making a cup of tea, washing up or putting clothes in the washing machine. Supported living offers Bernadette, Kathleen and Dympna control over their lives, choice on how they spend their time, encouragement to keep active and the opportunity to do things for themselves within their home and the wider community.
Supporting Bernadette, Kathleen and Dympna to lead the life they want has provided them with a great sense of pride and achievement ensuring they see themselves as individuals capable of making a contribution to society and the world they live in.
Pauline Tierney, Apex’s manager said, “The transfer to supported living has transformed lives. It has brought greater opportunities and benefits for tenants who are growing in confidence and keen to develop their independence”.
