Although not an Extra Care resident, Dee has become a key member of the scheme’s local community and has formed a strong friendship with Angie, who lives with Housing 21. 

Dee first started visiting the Extra Care scheme about seven years ago to join in with the on-site craft activities, which is where she met Angie, who moved in about four years later. 

The pair instantly hit it off and now regularly volunteer together at the scheme, helping to support the running of the craft club, hosting coffee mornings and managing the on-site bar. 

“The volunteering helps me out greatly and my friendship with Angie means to the world to me; she’s like a sister to me,” said Dee.  

“I love her to bits,” added Angie. 

“This is a friendship that I really want to carry on and look forward to every day.” 

With Angie describing the two of them as “always together”, she and Dee have  two have provided support to each other in times of need, including the loss of Dee’s husband and Angie’s ongoing health conditions.  

At times, this means Angie may be unable to join her friends downstairs but she is always eager to return and remains in close contact with Dee throughout.  

“When I’m ill, I have to stay in bed but I cant wait [to get back out] because I know what’s waiting for me as soon as I’m well again,” she said.  

“When I can come down, I want a life and this place has managed to give me a life on my good days. I love it. Everyone is friendly. The team is great and I love that I don’t have to leave the building because everything is here. It’s just a lovely place to live.” 

With Angie enjoying the benefits of having everything under one roof, Dee appreciates the impact that the Extra Care scheme has had on herself and the wider community. 

“If this wasn’t here and I hadn’t got these people around me I would go into depression and I wouldn’t have a social life,” she said.  

“People here are like my family; I’ve got a good rapport and good banter with them.  

“On days where I feel really down, they tend to pick me up and we have a good laugh before I go back home. Sometimes it’s late when I leave here but I feel lifted when I’ve been with other people rather than sitting at home on my own. 

“I’ve got my own family around me and they always say ‘you’re never at home’. But why would I sit at home when I could be with friends and what I could call my other family?”