Southwood Court – Basildon
The sheltered apartments at Basildon offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere to all who walk through its doors. This wonderful facility under the management of our trained warden Mrs Margaret Duff, is a home away from home for our residents.
Margaret, along with her husband Bob (responsible for maintenance) has been at Basildon for the last 25 years. She is ably assisted by 2 assistants who work weekdays and weekends, respectively.
The Apartments
The apartments are situated about 10 minutes from Basildon itself and there is a bus stop close by, for buses which can take residents into the town. Many residents are still very mobile and own cars and there are regular trips to the local frozen food shop to stock up on supplies. The doctor’s surgery is around the corner.
All 40 apartments are well laid out and maintained to a high standard. All have kitchen and ensuite facilities so residents are very much self-sufficient. Some of the apartments overlook the garden and have a balcony or patio area. The gardens are maintained but many residents are keen gardeners and in the summer months many like to show off their skills with pots and containers bursting with colour.
On the communal lawn/terrace there are tables and chairs and a barbeque, where many social events are held, weather permitting. The house itself has a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, lounge, conservatory and a snooker room which doubles up as a painting room. Additionally, there is an internet room which is equipped with two pcs and is often used by those wishing to play cards.
The Social Life
There is an active social club which Margaret runs in conjunction with the residents. There are lots of outings to various local attractions as well as in house events such as the Christmas party. There are social events once a month and something special is always arranged for Easter / Halloween etc. Thursday afternoon plays host to Cinema Club and the residents choose the movie which they would like to watch together. Thursday and Saturday nights are given over to Bingo or the card game Hoy. These are arranged at the request of the residents and there is no obligation to attend although such events are very well supported.
Our trustee Brian Skerritt has been a regular visitor for the last 17 years and says ‘Yes, I like Basildon, it’s a really great place with a real family atmosphere. The residents are a nice bunch and I always enjoy going there.’