His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire opens our new extension

People’s housing and support needs can change. When our Malvern care home was originally built, it was designed for people with different support requirements. As the people we support got older, they became less mobile and getting around their home became more difficult. Also the layout of the house meant that they had less room for socialising, events and activities with their housemates and guests.

So we were proud to host Mrs Beatrice Grant, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, as she officially opened our new extension and celebrated with the people we support over an afternoon tea. The Lord-Lieutenant, who attended with FitzRoy Patron Andrew Grant,  also took the opportunity to chat with Angela Murphy, our Chief Executive and Anna Galliford, our retired CEO as well as current and former staff members.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we have been able to build a large extension that gives the people we support much more flexibility and freedom with what they are able to do in their own home. The new extension is a light and airy flexible space for hobbies, socialising or just enjoy quiet time.

At FitzRoy, we enable people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues to thrive, living more independently at home and at the heart of their communities. Our living environment goes hand in hand with living happy and healthy lives, so when we reviewed how Malvern met the needs of the people we support there, we found that while the garden provided therapeutic and learning opportunities, the shared spaces in the house felt restrictive and prevented people from doing more of what they enjoy.

Thanks to our supporters,  they now have a large, inviting room that fits in with the personalities and aspirations of the people we support. The room can is used for everything from arts and dancing to therapeutic sessions and relaxation.

Cheryl would keenly watch staff at they prepared food in the kitchen, but there was limited room for her to participate. Now, the extra space in the extension provides a great location for Cheryl to develop her baking skills. It’s sparked her curiosity and given her an appreciation of how she can make food for everyone to enjoy.

The support staff have focused on creating events and workshops that give a chance to understand current events, learn about different cultures and celebrate together. For example, we hosted a Chinese New Year event which sparked interest in the traditions around the festival. We were able to play music and make crafts, generating a shared sense of learning and creativity.

The extension has also been instrumental in enabling us to celebrate birthdays and special occasions with a much bigger splash than had previously been possible.