Purpose-built Community Offers Learning and Social Opportunities

Location: Southwark, London

Issue: To give older people the chance to live together in a mutually supportive community.

Action: A survey of 500 older local people found they wanted the opportunity to try out new interests and activities and to learn and mix with other older people.

The Peabody Trust housing association's Darwin Court was developed to offer 76 new-build flats for people over 50, with community facilities including a health care suite, swimming pool, multi-purpose training suite and restaurant.

Outcome: All the flats have been let; 40 tenants have support needs met through funding from the Supporting People programme. There is a full-time support worker and tenants have access to 24-hour help via the housing association's central control.

Peabody Trust is working in partnership with both voluntary and statutory providers to offer a range of healthy living and education activities for older people.

Organisations Involved: Peabody Trust

Contact: Sue Causton
Telephone: 020 7922 5790
Email: SueC@peabody.org.uk