Port of Leith Housing Association is celebrating landmark anniversaries of not one but two sheltered housing developments which have played a big part of life in Leith for 25 years and 30 years respectively. Continue reading Two major milestones for sheltered housing in Leith
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has welcomed more residents into its St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex on Ferry Road.
As part of a £1.6 million project, eight one bedroom flats were completed by Glasgow-based construction specialists, CCG, earlier in the summer. A sun lounge and guest bedroom, plus additional landscaping – including allotment plots for the residents to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers – have also been created
The heating system and bathrooms have also been upgraded in the original 35-bedroom development which was built in 1983.
Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager at PoLHA, said: “Our St Nicholas Court development has always been a popular choice for people seeking sheltered housing, so we’re thrilled to be able to give more people the opportunity to live here.
“We’re all really enjoying welcoming our eight new residents into these fantastic flats and hope that they make many happy memories in their new homes.”
New tenant Frances McPherson said: “I previously lived in a flat in Lorne Street for 50 years, but my husband has COPD and the stairs were proving difficult. We are delighted with our new home as it’s lovely and bright and requires no decorating. Plus, our four-year-old granddaughter is looking forward to sleepovers.”
Another new tenant Jane Kelly said: “It is lovely living here. It’s a big change as I lived in my last home for 51 years. I’m getting used to the open plan living layout and I’ve had my granddaughter across who has helped me make it feel like home with photographs and ornaments.”
Calum Murray, Director at CCG, said: “Over recent years CCG has become more and more active in the region of Edinburgh with a broad range of contracts ranging from new build housing to upgrade and renewal. We have worked with Port of Leith Housing Association on many of these contracts and we were delighted to continue this partnership with St Nicholas Court.
“The new residents across the development will benefit from savings on their energy bills thanks to the upgrades to their heating and the installation of solar PV on the roof as well as the enhanced accessibility brought by the new landscaping.”
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Two of Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) sheltered housing complexes have raised over £2,000 at their summer fayres.
St Nicholas Court, on Ferry Road, and Hermitage Court had an array of stalls, including a raffle, tombola, home baking, bric-a-brac and books. The funds raised will go towards supporting activities for all tenants to enjoy, such as day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.
Maureen Tait, PoLHA’s Sheltered Housing Services Manager, said: “Our summer fayres are fast approaching their 20th anniversary and have always attracted a good turnout. We’re very fortunate to have the support from the local community, and our tenants and their family and friends as they know how important the activities are in getting our tenants out and about.”
Pictured: May Vanhagen, Michelle Vanhagen, Bertha Glancy and John Ross
‘Bill and Ben’ tackle the tatties!
A group of green-fingered sheltered housing residents have taken to growing their own fruit and vegetables. Seven residents at Port of Leith Housing Association’s St Nicholas Court, on Ferry Road, have become the ‘Dottery Diggers’!
The purpose of the initiative was to get residents active outdoors, gain new skills and grow their own fresh produce which can be used for meals.
The Diggers fundraise to buy their tools, seeds and pots and have already grown tomatoes, strawberries and onions. Two of the residents – John Ross and Bill Smith – have been in charge of growing potatoes.
Maureen Tait, PoLHA’s Sheltered Housing Services Manager, said: “Our residents embrace new initiatives and I’m delighted the fruits of their labour are going down a treat.
“We’ve not had a brilliant summer weather-wise, but through rain or shine, the budding gardeners have been out tending to their produce. The most difficult vegetables to grow have been potatoes, but John and Bill have worked hard and even earned themselves the nickname of Bill and Ben!”
Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised over £1,400 at its summer fayre held last Saturday (2 Aug) – despite the deluge!
Based on Leith’s Ferry Road, the complex has been open for 25 years and has 45 residents.
All funds raised will go towards supporting activities for them to enjoy including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.
The complexes had an array of stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books and toys.
Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager who manages the St Nicholas Court complex, said: “This was our 17th summer fayre and we were delighted to raise £1,400 despite the heavy rain. We’re lucky to have the support of the local community as all fundraising proceeds go towards getting our residents out and about, which they thoroughly enjoy.”
SIZZLING SUMMER FAYRE AT SHELTERED HOUSING COMPLEX
Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex is hosting its annual summer fayre next Saturday (2 August).
The complex, on Ferry Road, will have stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books, DVDS and toys. There will also be a BBQ and face painting for children.
Admission is 50p and all funds raised will support activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.
Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager manages the complex. She said: “This is our 17th summer fayre and it’s one of the highlights on our social calendar. Many of the residents really enjoy it as they get to interact with the local community and we’re hoping this great weather we’ve been experiencing continues.
“We normally raise over £1000 at our summer fayres and we’ll be looking to achieve the same, if not more, this time as the money goes towards enjoyable and interactive social activities for the residents.”
The summer fayre will run from 12pm to 2pm at St Nicholas Court on 74 Ferry Road.
Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised over £450 at its eggstra-special Easter-themed lunch last week.
The complex, on Leith’s Ferry Road, had an array of stalls including a raffle, home baking and ceramic painting.
There was also an Easter egg hunt, which was won by residents Ian and May Vanhagen (pictured) who donated their chocolate egg to the new Teen Cancer Unit at the Western General Hospital.
Maureen Tait Senior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA manages the complex. She said: “Our fundraiser was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and visitors and we’re delighted to have raised over £450, which will go towards activities and days out.”
All funds raised will go towards supporting activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.
Port of Leith Housing Association’s St Nicholas Court residents are hosting their annual Summer Fayre this Saturday (27 July) from 12pm and 2pm at their sheltered housing complex on Ferry Road.
The fayre is an integral part of the social calendar, which has been celebrated for over 15 years, and the money raised goes towards day trips and activities for the elderly residents toenjoy.
Some of the attractions include face painting for children, live music, barbeque, refreshments, book stall, tombola stall and raffle prizes – entry is just 50p.
Maureen TaitSenior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, said: “Our Summer Fayre is one of the main highlights in our social calendar for our residents as it’s such a wonderful, fun-filled day. Lots of planning goes into the event and the residents really get on board. It is a very important event to us as it helps to raise vital money for our social fund. It means that we can organise day trips, keep-fit classes and other treats for our residents.”
Saint Nick’s celebrate Saint Nick!
Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised £1500 at its Christmas fayre held last Saturday (1 Dec). All funds raised will go towards supporting activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.
The complex, on Leith’s Ferry Road, had an array of stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books and toys. There was also the opportunity to buy gifts hand-made by the residents, including decorations, necklaces, knitting and aprons.
Maureen Tait Senior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, manages the complex. She said: “The annual Christmas fayre is always great fun for the staff and residents and a great chance for us to interact and have a good time with the local community. We’re delighted to have raised £1500 and are grateful to the all those people who came along to support us. Many of our residents are young at heart and really enjoy getting out and about on trips and this fundraising event helps make it happen for them.”
Pictured: St. Nicholas resident Frances Veitch displays festive treats
OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY
Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!
The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.
Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.
Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team! He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”
Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).
Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.” Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!
The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”
Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.
Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”
The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!
