Community Connections

Regular activities are as follows:

• Daily visits by scheme managers
• Afternoon voluntary gatherings in the lounge and garden
• Weekly coffee mornings in the lounge
• Weekly seated exercises in the church hall (facilitated by St Nicholas)
• Monthly soup afternoon in the church hall (facilitated by St Nicholas)
• Outings on coach and CHA minibus
• Monthly Evening Service and Christian fellowship

Key events so far this year have included:

• Easter Sunday afternoon tea with Southmore CourtWe were invited by Southmore Court to join in their lovely afternoon tea where friendships were formed between tenants from both houses
• Coronation Celebration – arts afternoon and lunch – on scheme. In April we celebrated the King Charles’ coronation starting with decoration and bunting-making over teas/coffees and cakes. Then in May we joined the nation in the coronation festivities with a heaty meal downed with teas, coffee and assorted cakes.
• Just because we could and had some sunshine, we had a ploughman’s lunch in May with tenants from Southmore attending.  They stayed late and had wine in the garden, watching the sun set, which reinforced the growing friendships across the houses and communities.
• In July – on what seemed like the only sunny day of the month - we held our annual Barbeque where over a hundred family friends, staff and supporters from our community attended.  We took the opportunity to cut a cake in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Cedarmore Housing Association (CHA). Sir Bob Neil (MP for Chislehurst) and Roy Kemp (Chairman of CHA) jointly toasted the organisation and cut the cake.
• In addition to these events, tenants have gone on coach trips to Windsor, Surrey Hills, Easbourne, etc. Sometimes the minibus has driven them to the coach station and other times they have travelled on the minibus on days out like the church at Tudeley church in Tonbridge, the Mayfield Lavendar farm, Hall Place, Biggin Hill, etc.
• One of our tenants turned nine-five in July and invited her neighbours for afternoon tea which was tremendously enjoyed by all who attended.
• Our monthly services continue receive the support of the various ministers, members of the management team and in recent times, our new chaplain. The evenings are always reflective, enriching, refreshing and joyous for all who attend.

The desire to get together and go on outings seem to be on the increase and tenant- led activities have been superb as a result. We thank God for the strength and the means to match these desires.  

Planned Maintenance/Improvements/Repairs:

In January we had our lounge redecorated with the electricity and wiring all brought up to date to meet current national regulations. A new air conditioning unit was also installed in anticipation of the hot summers ahead.  The new colours - mossy stone for the feature wall and drifting cloud for the rest of the room – enhanced by a smart bookcase replacing the old work top shelving - brought a warm freshness to the lounge.  Following all these works, six brand new Cranborne high back chairs were purchased to replace a few of the old and creaky ones.

Since January there has also been a rollout of kitchen extraction fans for nine flats and upgrade of electrical wiring and plugs for seven flats. Check for electrical safety, PA testing, water safety and fire safety checks continue to be carried out on the scheme.

Our garden, plants and green spaces continue to be the envy of our neighbours and all who come to visit or view Cedarmore Court. This is made possible by our able, patient, and skilled gardener who does not seem intimidated by the size of this vast space.

Our targeted repairs for individual with changing needs that emerge from their support plan reviews. In addition to which tenants continue to enjoy the rapid response to request for repairs of various leaks, maintenance and replacement of white goods, oven and hob repairs and replacement as well as toilet seat changes.  Not to mention the frosty glass in the patio doors and window which seem to all occur at once requiring the window man to measure up and replace.  

Every repair, maintenance and improvement to a property and garden on the scheme is aimed towards improving tenants’ life and well-being. Our services team, gardener and various contractors continue to support scheme managers to achieve those goals.

Tenant update and Well-being

One of our tenants went to be with the Lord in February after a long illness, and in March the flat was occupied by our newest tenant to the scheme. Since January, one of our tenants was taken into hospital on several occasions due to frequent falls and he sadly passed away this month.

Other tenants who have been in hospital for various ailments and incidences are beginning to see improvements due to diagnosis and effective treatment thereafter. Tenants at Cedarmore Court are generally well and continue to be spirited in various forums.

Although we provide support when required or requested, most of our tenants live independently and keep to routines that enable them to carry on with their chosen life patterns.  We facilitate their days by ensuring their safety, security and safeguarding, their choices, with the involvement of their families and named next of kin, without interfering or taking over.  

Our gratitude in all of this is firstly to the Lord for giving breath for life and daily mercies.  We also thank our management team for the support through listening to staff and tenant views to effect change for the better. Our roles as scheme managers (Anna and I) is greatly complemented by the relief managers, contractors, engineers, tenant participation and family interests.

We are also grateful to the emergency services (although they’re not here) for fire, ambulance whenever we’ve called on them.  Not forgetting the social care team for the continued support to tenants when they are assigned to them on discharge from hospital.

Thank You.

Sybil Darko

Scheme Manager