Festive cheer at sheltered accommodation Christmas lunch

Christmas came early for 100 residents of L&Q’s sheltered accommodation schemes in Bexley and Greenwich who enjoyed a festive get-together.

The event, at Our Lady of Angels, Bexley Road, Erith, on Wednesday 11 December, was a cracker and included a three-course sit-down meal followed by entertainment and dancing.

Residents tucked into a traditional Christmas turkey feast with all the trimmings funded by a £3,000 donation by partner Wates Group, who also paid for the hall hire of £1,050, with the meal prepared by AB Catering. L&Q’s Resident Support team also assisted on the day.

Wates Group is one of ten partners working with L&Q on its Major Works Investment Programme. This will see L&Q invest around £3bn over 15 years to improve the safety, comfort, and environmental performance of residents’ homes.

Beyond improving homes, the partnership includes social value commitments to create a lasting impact in the communities where L&Q operates.

Mark Newstead, Director of Major Programmes at L&Q, said:

“Christmas is a time for giving and thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wates Group and its subcontractors, we have been able to invite our older residents to enjoy some festive cheer.

“As we continue to invest in our homes, we’re proud to work with so many partners who share our commitment to making an impact in the communities we serve.

"For some of the attendees, this may be the only Christmas celebration they get this year. It’s great that our colleagues and partners are helping to tackle isolation and loneliness and build connections between our older residents.”

Balbir Randhawa, Resident Support Lead at L&Q, said:

“The atmosphere in the hall and the happy faces of our residents said it all. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved and for the funding that made this event possible. This shows that when we work together, we can achieve amazing things for our residents.”

Dovile Catterick, Social Value Manager at Wates Group, said:

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our partners at L&Q, alongside BDG Contracts and Go Green for helping to make this special day happen.

"The joy and laughter from the residents who attended truly made this a day to remember. Together we made unforgettable memories and brought a little extra joy to the holiday season.”

Earlier in the year, as a further demonstration of their commitment to social value Wates and L&Q joined forces to spruce up a sheltered housing scheme in Plumstead.