Yesterday an official Open Day was held to celebrate Turning Point Scotland’s new Hera Grange housing in Dumfries, which provides care and support services to tenants enabling them to be part of the community.

Hera Grange, which boasts 11 bungalows, a staff and resident activity hub as well as integrated carezapp technology, was developed in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership and Loreburn Housing Association. 

The community is named in memory of Dumfries local, Lance Corporal Joseph McFarlane Pool, who was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan in 2010.  Lance Corporal Pool rescued a mistreated puppy during his tour of Afghanistan and his relatives and friends later brought the puppy, named Hera, back to the UK.  His parents, Roddy and Stella attended the Open Day alongside family members of residents, as a memorial bench was unveiled in the garden.  Hera Grange residents enjoyed a community picnic with their families and staff after the official celebrations concluded.

Turning Point Scotland, Head of Dumfries and Galloway, Sharon McMullan said: ‘‘It is wonderful to be here to recognise the tremendous amount of work, resources and dedication of our development partners and staff who made Hera Grange a reality. We hope to see similar projects replicated across the region. Residents moved into their new homes in January and since then, it has been a pleasure to see this new community, and our staff, benefit from this modern housing.”

‘‘The concept of Hera Grange was developed by our service managers across Dumfries and Galloway to provide a long-term solution to the challenges of providing social care, both now and in the future, in a rural area. It is the largest site to use assistive technology carezapp, monitoring the wellbeing of residents. This modern facility allows people with complex disability to be afforded quality housing with their own tenancy.’’

Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Social Work Committee Andy Ferguson said: “It is encouraging to see this new development and hopefully we will see more like this in the future across D&G. This development is a result of the positive collaboration between Dumfries and Galloway Council through the Health and Social Care Partnership, Turning Point Scotland and Loreburn Housing Association.’’

Vice Chair of the D&G Social Work Committee, Iain Howie, said: “This is a great project, providing people with the degree of independence they need to live in their own houses and we wish residents good luck in their new homes.”

Graham Robertson, Head of Development at Loreburn Housing Association commented: “Hera Grange continues our commitment to building high quality homes with a range of specialist design features that can aid independent living, and which help to address the region’s housing and social care challenges.