South Somerset Homes building partner Connaught hosts Christmas party for residents at sheltered scheme
19 December 2006

South Somerset Homes has this week completed planned maintenance work at their sheltered housing scheme in Yeovil. The scheme at Pearson House in Yeovil, which is owned and managed by South Somerset Homes, has had improvement works carried out to the residents’ flats and scheme as a whole.

To celebrate the improvements and to thank the residents Connaught’s Mandy Fielding, tenant liaison officer and Gary Sherman, site manager organised a party and a bus tour around Yeovil for the residents to see the Christmas lights. Gary dressed as Santa and Mandy as ‘Mary Christmas’!

Pictured here is Mamie Hall (resident) and dressed up as Father Christmas is Gary Sherman (site manager, Connaught)

The works have been undertaken as part of the 5 year decent homes programme and were carried out by South Somerset Homes' building contractor, Connaught. The works included installing new kitchens, new lever taps in the bathrooms and an electrical upgrade. In addition the communal lounge and the staircases have also had new windows installed.

Connaught took 26 of the residents out on a bus tour of Yeovil to see the Christmas lights. The Bakers bus was decorated inside with festive tinsel and Christmas music was played. The bus was also a disabled bus meaning that that several of the wheelchair residents were able to join in. The residents then returned to the sheltered scheme and were gathered in the lounge to enjoy sherry, soft drinks, sausage rolls and mince pies all provided by Connaught. All donations for the cost of the bus trip and refreshments were made from Connaught, and their sub-contractors: Western Flooring, Studley Roofing, Pen Mill Scaffolding, N&O Decorators, H&R Carpenters and SEC.

Pictured here are twins Ivy Gill and Doreen Purchase and in the centre is Darrell Lock (area partnering surveyor, South Somerset Homes) and Gary Sherman (site manager, Connaught)

A presentation of flowers was made to Kate Hillier, scheme manager at Pearson House, June A’Court, cleaner at Pearson House, to Mary Hopkins, a resident of the scheme who kept the workmen going with cups of tea and to Rosemary Leaf, tenant representative who helped with customer satisfaction forms. Plus a tin of sweets was presented to the residents and care team at Pearson House.

Kate Hillier , Scheme Manager at Pearson House said, “ We all had an absolutely lovely evening; the residents especially enjoyed themselves. We are really thrilled with the improvements that have been made to our scheme and thank Connaught for the wonderful party.

Pictured here from left to right is Mandy Fielding tenant liaison officer, Connaught), Rosemary Leaf (tenant representative and board member, South Somerset Homes), Gary Sherman (site manager, Connaught), Kate Hillier (scheme manager, Pearson House sheltered scheme) and Mary Hopkins (resident)