Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan McKay will officially open and dedicate a new 35 bed home for older people built at a cost of £1.9m by Oaklee Housing Association and run by the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness on Belfast's Forthriver Road (at its junction with Forthriver Crescent) this Friday 4 June at 11.15am. A short service will take place between 11.15 and 11.45 so photos and interviews are best done after this.
The new home retains the name Corkey House, the same name as the original home on nearby Ballygomartin Road which no longer fulfilled necessary regulations and was faced with closure in 1999. However, due to the huge desire from residents, the house committee and local community that the home should stay open and was needed in the West Belfast area, further discussions were held with the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust. This resulted in the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness forming a partnership with Oaklee Housing Association to build and run the new enlarged home.
"When we announced that Corkey was to close we were amazed at the strength of opinion that wanted the home to remain open," says Linda Wray, Residential Services Manager of the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness. "But while many would have wanted simply to carry out the renovations to the old home this would only have been a short term solution. Working alongside local church and community leaders we were able to acquire a nearby site and negotiate appropriate funding for this new home."
"The Presbyterian Board of Social Witness one of our key partners, and the move from the old to the new Corkey House has helped to cement this partnership, as well as helping to re-generate the Forthriver estate in the city," added Jim White, Chairman of Oaklee Housing Association. "We could not have done this without the funding support provided by the Department for Social Development, and the backing of the NI Housing Executive.
"This is indeed a flagship of what can be achieved in partnership, and Oaklee is very pleased to be associated with the excellent care provided by the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness and the obvious benefits to our community."
Naturally the residents were sad to leave familiar surroundings but all the Corkey community have now moved to the new home which has accommodation for 35 residents, 14 more than the old home, with ensuite rooms, spacious sitting and dining areas and up to date care facilities.
Corkey House is one of the many residential facilities run throughout Ireland by the Presbyterian Church's Board of Social Witness which would, at any particular time, have about 250 residents.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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