Perfect name for new dementia housing scheme

Clanmil Housing and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust recently approached pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School and members of the West Belfast 50+ Forum in search of an original name for a new supported housing development for older people living with dementia.

Work is well underway on the construction of the new scheme on the site of the former Grovetree House residential home on Cullingtree Road, just off the Grosvenor Road.

The project is a partnership between Clanmil Housing and the Belfast Trust and will provide 30 contemporary, high quality self-contained apartments for older people living with dementia in a supported living environment.

Young and old have put on their thinking caps, tested their imaginations and come up with innovative suggestions for an appropriate name that reflects the area’s history and the type of service and support provided at the new facility.

After much deliberation a judging panel made up of representatives from Clanmil, the Trust, and the local community have decided that when completed this Autumn the new housing scheme will be called Cullingtree Meadows, bringing together ideas suggested by Caragh McBride and Caitlin Albarando.

Caragh and Caitlin who are in P7 at St Joseph’s were presented with gift vouchers at a special school assembly on 7 June by Elma Greer from Age Friendly Belfast who kindly sponsored the competition prizes. Runner up Conor Dougan, also a pupil at the school, received a prize too.

Colette Moore, Clanmil’s Group Director of Housing said;
“Cullingtree Meadows is our third supported living scheme in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and we’re delighted to be providing another wonderful facility for older people with dementia. We’re very excited that Cullingtree Meadows will soon be finished and ready to welcome new tenants to their apartments.

“The new scheme will help people with dementia continue to lead full, active and meaningful lives within the community and we’re delighted by the interest that the children and 50+ Forum members have shown in the development. The standard and range of names suggested has been really impressive!

“Congratulations to Caragh and Caitlin who have together come up with the perfect name.”

A spokesperson for Belfast Trust said:

“‘It has been such a rewarding experience working with the local community including the pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School around the development of the a scheme that recognises and values the benefits of supported living for people with dementia. Being involved with the community has left us in no doubt that the people with dementia who will live in Cullingtree Meadows, will be welcomed and fully integrated into this supportive, caring community.

“The Belfast Trust warmly extends its congratulations to Caragh, Caitlin and Conor. Thank you to everyone at St Joseph’s Primary School and the West Belfast 50+ Forum for taking part.

“The competition was part of an ongoing Dementia Friendly Community initiative in West Belfast, chaired by Danny Power from the Divis Joint Development Committee and led by local community representatives in partnership with the Age Friendly Belfast, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Together NI, Dementia NI, Clanmil Housing and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

“As we move towards opening the new scheme in the autumn of 2017, we look forward to strengthening these partnerships and supporting the development of a Dementia Friendly Community in West Belfast.”