Abbeyfield and Homes England celebrate 70 years at Riverhill

Innovation in resident engagement

During her tour of the building, Pat Ritchie met with resident Renee to discuss the impact of the Alertacall system. This self-service platform, which was installed in all resident rooms last year, allows for streamlined communication, important reminders, and daily updates. The implementation of this technology was made possible through the flexibility of Homes England funding. By utilising recycled grants, we have been able to improve resident independence and modernise existing homes.

Shaping the future of later living

Beyond the celebrations, the visit hosted a high-level roundtable discussion. Pat Ritchie and Dilys Jones from Homes England joined our leadership team to discuss the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP). Launched in late 2025, this ten-year government plan is essential to meeting the national target of 1.5 million new homes. The conversation at Riverhill focused on several primary areas including strategies to accelerate the delivery of specialised housing for older people and the necessity of maintaining existing social housing stock.

A commitment to community

Reflecting on her visit, Pat Ritchie praised the atmosphere at Riverhill, noting how the scheme serves as a model for supportive communities. The event underscored our ongoing mission at Abbeyfield Living Society to ensure that as the population ages, older people have access to safe, high-quality, and socially connected places to call home.

Pat Ritchie CBE, Chair of Homes England said: “It was a pleasure to visit Riverhill as part of Abbeyfield’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Hearing directly from residents about their experience of living there and seeing the difference it has made to their daily lives was genuinely inspiring. Riverhill is a clear example of the positive role older people’s housing can play in creating a strong and supportive community.”

Riverhill Manager, Dhanif Paramban, added, "It was an honour to host Pat’s visit to Riverhill, and we were delighted to give her the opportunity to see first-hand what we are all about and the care, warmth and community spirit that make Abbeyfield so special.

"We were proud to welcome Pat and Dilys for this important celebration, and their visit brought great joy to our residents. Many residents proudly said that Pat Ritchie is our neighbour, and the time they took to speak with residents individually made the occasion truly special and memorable for our whole community."

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