Minstead Lodge residents excited about upcoming move
Rory, Emily, Jason and Florrie playing monopoly at Minstead Lodge
18 July 2023
There is a buzz of excitement in the air at Minstead Lodge, as the residents get ready to move to their new home in Lyndhurst.
The move has been in the pipeline for quite some time, as we waited for permission from the Care Quality Commission and made improvements to the residents’ new home.
The new home is a former bed and breakfast, within easy walking distance of Lyndhurst’s shops and the open forest with its stunning scenery.
The residents are looking forward to having a more modern home, with en-suite bathrooms and its own private garden.
Rory, who has been living in residential for the last few years is very excited to move to his new bedroom. He has been visiting the new house over the last few weeks to get to know his space, as well as choosing the colour of his walls – red, to represent his favourite football team! (Go Saints!)
Rory also says: ‘I’ve been packing films and packing my PS4 and games’.
Nick supporting Jason in Minstead Lodge
Like Rory, Iesha is also getting ready to move to her new home. Iesha is ‘over the moon’ to be moving, but also recognises that she is nervous about the change.
The opportunity to live independent lives, to make your own decisions and choices about your daily lives is something that we often take for granted, and is often something that people with learning disabilities can only dream of. Changing this is something that Minstead Trust includes in our values, leading people with learning disabilities to live more independent, happier and healthier lives. This new home will enable the residents to continue to live their lives in the way they want and choose to.
Moving to Lyndhurst will provide these opportunities to people like Rory and Iesha, who will be able to safely join the local community.
Rory is very excited about this – he is eyeing up a job in the local Costa!
Iesha is looking forward to visiting Bolton’s Bench, perhaps independently, as she says: ‘Bolton’s bench is my favourite place in the whole world.’
Florrie in room at Minstead Lodge
The house has been recently converted by our maintenance team, which includes Royce, someone we support at the Trust. Royce has been helping the team on a Thursday, and has been digging out trenches in the gardens, saying ‘that was good fun it was’. Royce has also been helping to take the wooden floors up and removing the nails to reuse the wood
Royce says ‘I like all of it. I like the new skills I can use, more bodies are quicker, I have learnt all different skills and I can help out mum at the house.’
Brand new en-suite bathrooms have been fitted for each resident so they can truly have their own space to thrive in.
Back at Minstead Lodge, Iesha has been organising her belongings, she says ‘I’m a bit worried not everything is going to fit, but luckily we’ve got the staff to help us’.
The house will have 24 hour professional care, and Iesha likes this, saying her favourite thing about living in residential is ‘Staff, encouraging us, helping us with what to do.’
She has chosen to paint her room purple!
The moving date is getting closer, boxes are getting fuller, and we can spy a BBQ ready to be set up!
We will bring you another update, and some photos, after moving date.
Minstead Lodge residents chatting in kitchen