STAFF in the Abbeyfield Society’s Old Vicarage sheltered housing scheme in Wellington were praised this week for going above and beyond the call of duty to re-open a dining room for residents for the first time in three years.

The Mayor of Wellington, Cllr Mark Lithgow, cut a ribbon on Wednesday to formally declare the dining room open as residents sat down for a cooked lunch together for the first time since Covid-19 struck in 2020.

Abbeyfield regional operations manager Stewart Comport said sheltered housing manager Becks South and her team realised the house’s dining room was no longer fit for purpose as its ability to cater for the building became limited.

Mr Comport said: “They completely turned it around, and the new design was based on the results of a consultation with the residents on how they wanted their new dining room to look.

“The team all worked tirelessly to reshape the room’s layout before ordering new furniture and rolling up their sleeves to paint and redecorate it.

“The dining room is now a fantastic facility that all residents at the Old Vicarage can use by coming together for a sit-down meal with friends and neighbours.”

The Old Vicarage provides accommodation and meals for individuals aged 55 and older, and aims to alleviate feelings of loneliness and social isolation for its 30 residents.

To help with this, Abbeyfield puts on a varied programme of activities and events, shared mealtime experiences, and creates a family-like atmosphere, as well as engaging with the community in Wellington.