Fighting social housing stigma: meet Lorna
From the outside, the Limelight centre might not appear to be anything out of the ordinary.
A health and wellbeing hub offering a range of services – you’d be forgiven for dismissing it as just another modern building. Go through the doors, however, and there lies something very special. Nestled in the centre of Old Trafford, this popular, award-winning space has become the beating heart of the local community, with facilities including a salon, restaurant, library and nursery.
Limelight is also home to someone else special – Lorna, 63, a much-loved social housing resident and inspirational member of the community.
Lorna’s life was turned upside down after her husband passed away from lung cancer in 2017. She moved to Limelight whilst learning how to navigate life without her husband and through her devastating grief.
Remarkably, it wasn’t long before she was channelling her pain into something positive and inspiring - as she resolved to do something to help others in a similar situation.
With the help of the centre, she set up a grief support group – a place that became a lifeline for people dealing with the death of a loved one.
“After losing Paul, I found that people didn’t know what to say, because they were afraid of hurting my feelings. Whilst I was fortunate to have my daughters, grief can cause feelings of loneliness, with many left to fend for themselves.
I decided to set up a bereavement group for residents and members of the community. Attendees found they had so much in common and spoke about everything from their own losses to grief in general during the 12-week sessions.
To see people learn they’re not alone and that they didn’t have to suffer in silence was amazing.”
Before life at Limelight, Lorna was a nurse for almost 20 years – working night shifts so that she could juggle her career with raising three daughters.
“I always wanted to be a nurse. As soon as I finished college, I studied nursing and eventually ended up working in the hospital I was born in.
I got to experience every unit apart from coronary care, but no matter where I worked, my favourite part was always spending time with patients.
“I chose to work night shifts as I didn’t want my daughters to grow up as latchkey children. It was tough and tiring, but I don’t regret it at all.
It meant I could be there in the morning when they were getting ready for school and in the evenings before they went to bed.”
Lorna went on to work at an educational charity, Fill in the Gap, supporting children who were excluded from school by offering them a place to learn, grow, connect with others and be inspired.
“Kids need to be given a chance and an opportunity; not be told they are stupid and will amount to nothing. Teaching children from underprivileged backgrounds maths and English boosted their self-esteem and gave them confidence in their ability to achieve.
And taking them on trips out to go abseiling and horse rising helped them see a world outside of the their neighbourhood and the four walls they lived in.”
For Lorna, Limelight is a place of comfort and of belonging, where the faces are familiar, the routines settled, and residents look out for one another.
“Having this community right on my doorstep has changed my life. The difference between living at Limelight and living in the tiny bungalow I moved from is huge.
When I leave my apartment, I bump into other residents, many of whom have become friends, and have friendly exchanges. All of this adds to my sense of wellbeing and combats the loneliness of living alone”, said Lorna.
"We have a residents’ lounge where residents can get together and socialise and access to a library, restaurant, opticians, pharmacy and doctors’ surgery.
We also have a hair and beauty salon, which has become a hub where residents can come to have a chat with the beautician and hairdresser. It’s a hugely positive and life enhancing place to live.
On Christmas Eve 2022, I had the inspiration to throw a New Years Eve party. I stuck an invite next to the lift, so that everyone knew they were welcome to join. There was music and nibbles, and everyone had a great time.”, Lorna continued.
Aside from her community work, Lorna is known for her love of cats. L&Q’s pet policy meant she could have a feline friend again – and now Lorna is rarely seen without Hazel perched on the arm of her wheelchair.
“I adore cats and have had one by my side since the age of 6. When I moved here, I had to let a very precious cat go. For me, after suffering with grief and depression - it was the difference between having a pet and going on antidepressants. Hazel is amazing and has brought me so much pleasure.”