Residents and supporters celebrated the end of a two-year redevelopment of the Pilgrims’ Friend Society’s (PFS) care site in Evington, Leicester with a tape cutting ceremony and a service at Wycliffe United Reformed Church on 7 October.
The church was packed for the thanksgiving service. Roger Hitchings, retired pastor of East Leake Evangelical Church, spoke on building spiritual strength throughout life so that old age could be enjoyed whatever your circumstances; that ‘as your days, so shall your strength be’ (Deuteronomy 33.25).
Remodelled
In 1953 when the site was first built on, there were 14 bungalows and a care home, providing places for around 42 older people. Now the remodelled site has places for nearly 100 older people.
The bungalows have been replaced with Pilgrim Gardens, an assisted-living complex with 31 individual apartments. It has been awarded three major design and building honours, including best ‘Housing Project of the Year’. Judges said they liked the spaciousness of the design and the good balance of privacy and community on the site. They also commended the calm ‘Japanese inspired’ courtyard garden between the care home and the housing complex. It is being visited by teams of specialists, including care sector investors.
