Llys Yr Efail celebrates 30 years of housing
Tenants enjoyed a day of festivities at Llys Yr Efail as the sheltered housing scheme celebrated 30 years of housing, social care and health.
Llys Yr Efail first opened its doors in 1988, and a plaque was unveiled by the Rt Hon Michael Foot, the then MP for Blaenau Gwent.
Tenants and members of the local community were invited to celebrate at the scheme on Friday 9th February and were treated to cake and music. Attendees included Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith and Local Blaenau Gwent Assembly Member, Alun Davies.
Alun said: “Providing safe, secure and quality homes for older residents, allowing them to remain living independently within the community for as long as possible is vital. It has been a pleasure to mark this important anniversary for Llys Yr Efail and to join in celebrations with staff and residents.”
Sheltered housing is worth celebrating because it provides important preventative services, preventing hospital admissions, residential care admissions, and allows people to live independently for longer. It saves money for health and social care and benefits individuals, communities and taxpayers through prevention. Sheltered housing provides a fantastic resource for people in a community, and helps develop older people’s social networks. Llys Yr Efail is an example of this success.
Mrs Margaret Myland, a tenant at Llys Yr Efail explains: “This place is very special and is a wonderful home to all that live here. I have gained some brilliant friends and there is always somebody to talk to. For me, it is even more special because my parents also lived here. They were one of the first tenants to move in. So this celebration holds a lot of memories.”
Llys Yr Efail was one of the first older persons scheme to be built by Linc, then known as Shaw (Secondary Housing Association for Wales). It has operated successfully for the past 30 years; in that time, it has had just three scheme managers. Denise Long is the current manager and has run the scheme since 2010.
Check out photo's from the day on our twitter page @Linc_Cymru!