Supporting our customers to live independently is a huge part of the work we do here at Magna, so for Starts at Home Day, we visited St Martin’s House Extra Care scheme in Gillingham to speak to some of our customers and find out more about their stories.
Watch the video below:
St Martin’s House is a new Extra Care scheme with 55 one and two-bedroom apartments designed with accessibility and independent living in mind from the ground up, allowing us to provide care which is tailored to each of our customers’ needs.
The scheme features lots of shared communal spaces, both indoors and out, and smart living solutions in every apartment to enable our customers and colleagues to stay connected.
We spoke to a few of our customers who shared their stories on why they moved to St Martin’s House and how the community and support from the care staff has made a positive difference in their lives. We were really touched by how much the scheme has made a difference to all our customers, and how they’re starting to feel like a real part of the community.
Sarah Davies, Operations Manager at Magna, oversees our sheltered housing teams and played a huge role in bringing St Martin’s House from concept to reality. She said:
“Extra care housing empowers older and vulnerable individuals to live independently with dignity, while having access to tailored support and great accommodation when needed. It’s not just about providing a place to live - it’s about creating a safe, inclusive community where wellbeing, choice, and quality of life come first."
We also spoke to some of the care staff from Care Dorset who work at the scheme around the clock to help support our customers, who shared how St Martin’s House is fitting into the local community and what activities customers are getting up to.
Finally, we spoke to some of our leadership team and executive board to find out more about the building and its history, and how we’ve worked closely in partnership with Dorset Council and others to bring much needed affordable housing to the area.
There are still some spaces left at St Martin’s House, and we can’t wait to welcome more customers into their new homes. You can learn more about the scheme and how to register your interest here.
