Lissett Homes & Age Concern Eden

May 6, 2008

Care Lodge Legacy Becomes a Reality - Lowthwaite Lodge

Age Concern Eden in the Lake District were recently left a generous legacy by the late Mrs Sybil Terry of Matterdale who specified that the legacy be used for a holiday home to benefit the elderly, those with special needs and their carers.

Age Concern approached Peter and Annette Thomas, Park Managers of Thanet Well Park, (now owned by North Dales LLP) near Greystoke, Penrith, on the fringes of the Lake District. Age Concern explained that they were exploring the possibility of purchasing a wheelchair accessible, self-catering Leisure Lodge primarily for the benefit of people with special needs and their carers. Following discussions Peter and Annette recommended Lissett Homes as the manufacturer who could best meet Age Concern Eden's requirements, as Lissett's reputation for quality and flexibility when accommodating customer's specific needs was second to none.

A meeting was arranged between Valerie Brook, Chief Officer of Age Concern and David Bowman, Sales Director of Lissett Homes. The meeting took place on the park where they could discuss their requirements and where they were able to view the location of the lodge. Valerie explained, "The lodge was to provide those engaged in the daily care of older adults or those with serious health or mobility problems, with a retreat that would allow them to refresh and relax in peace and tranquillity." Also the lodge needed to be fully accessible by those in care.

Following the meeting on the park, Age Concern were convinced that Lisset Homes were the perfect manufacturers for their retreat and after a preliminary drawing and specification, Age Concern Eden visited the Lissett factory at Pocklington, on the outskirts of York to finalise the design and specification of the lodge. The lodge would measure 45ft x 20ft and would be based on Lissett's popular Utopia Leisure Home and was to be known as 'Louthwaite Lodge'.

At the factory Valerie Brook, Sophia Schutts, Jean Cain, Doreen Jones and Dennis Maughan of Age Concern Eden and Park Managers Peter and Annette Thomas met with David who gave them a full tour of the Lissett production facility before introducing them to Design Director Chris Close. Chris discussed with them the finer points of their design and made all the alterations in real time. He then produced a complete 3D walk through of Louthwaite Lodge for them to explore and for them to make final alterations until everyone was happy with the finished design and layout.

Special features of the lodge include:

• Wider entrances and hallways
• Large rooms to allow full access and mobility of a wheelchair
• A fully tiled wet/shower room, equipped with grab rails
• Ensuite bathroom with shower over bath for use by carers
• Adjustable height shower head
• Open plan kitchen designed for use by both carers and those being cared for
• Panoramic windows and French Doors
• Fire and TV both built into the front of the home - to make the most of the available space and not to detract from the stunning views

The Park came up with the idea of an external storage facility to allow electric wheelchairs to be kept and charged in order not to compromise the space in the lodge. This storage facility was eventually built on the side of the lodge using the same stone that makes up the walling of the park.

Once the lodge design was complete everyone was invited to the Furniture and Fixtures Display Room, where the décor and fixtures and fittings were to be chosen. Lissett prides itself on the fact they give customers the opportunity to tailor their homes to their individual tastes and offers a very comprehensive range of kitchens, bedroom furniture, carpets, vinyl flooring, and soft furnishings. Age Concern Eden had complete control over how Lowthwaite Lodge would look and feel inside, with a little expert guidance from David along the way. By the end of the day the full specification for the home was complete and Age Concern left the Lissett factory eager and excited to see the completed lodge.

The home was officially opened by the Rt Rev George L Hacker, President of Age Concern Cumbria at 2.15pm on Wednesday 13th June 2007, in the presence of Valerie Brook (Chief Officer Age Concern Eden), Phil Morgan (previous owner of the park), David Bowman (Lissett Homes) and many other people associated with Age Concern Eden. Invited guests were allowed an opportunity to look around the home and Louthwhaite Lodge met with everyone's approval and without exception opinion was that not only was this a wonderful retreat in an idyllic location on the fringes of the Lake District that carers would enjoy for years to come, but that it was a most fitting way to use the generous legacy left by Mrs Sybil Terry.