The Haven in Wulfstan Way, Cambridge, is a £1.27 million scheme aimed at encouraging independent living.

The development consists of eight one-bedroom self-contained flats with a communal lounge and garden for older people (aged 65 plus) with mental health problems.

Developed, owned and managed by King Street Housing Society, working in partnership with Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership Trust, the site also includes two general needs two-bed bungalows. bpha acted as King Street’s development agents, with land provided by the City Council and grant funding from the Housing Corporation.

Support is provided round the clock by Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship), 365 days a year, with sleep-in accommodation provided for staff. This contract is with Cambridgeshire County Council but the revenue source is from the closure of a ward at Fulbourn Hospital.

The location of The Haven is ideal for independent living. A bus service to the city centre and Addenbrookes hospital goes along Wulfstan Way and there are parks, a GP practice, a pub, churches and a full range of shops in the immediate vicinity.

The need for this facility was identified by the Mental Health Trust in 2003. The Trust’s long-term strategy involved the closure of long-stay wards at Fulbourn and the development of group homes within a community setting. King Street worked in partnership with bpha, the Trust and the City Council to make the project happen.

The benefits

Since moving into their new homes in the summer of 2005, all of the residents have shown improvements in their mental health and general well-being. One resident had lived in Fulbourn Hosp for 40 years prior to moving to Wulfstan Way.

Each flat is self-contained and comprises a bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a living/dining/kitchen room. Residents have their own letterbox and doorbell, and all of the flats look out onto the communal garden.

The scheme is fully integrated into the local community. King Street worked hard to consult local residents about the scheme and to dispel any fears about mental illness. All of the residents are able to come and go as they please and make full use of local facilities.