HAFOD Care Association welcomed the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, to their new Extra Care scheme – Golau Caredig – in Barry.

The £7.2 million development provides affordable independent living accommodation for older people in the form of 42 purpose-built one and two bedroom flats.

Individual care and support is provided for the tenants via an in-house domiciliary care and tenant support service.

The Commissioner chatted to residents and was joined by senior offices of the Vale of Glamorgan, Cllr Stuart Egan, Vale of Glamorgan Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services and colleagues from Reach who provide the domiciliary care.

Scheme manager Miles Utting, from Hafod Care, said: “We are very proud of our new facility and are already seeing the huge difference that living here is making to our tenants lives. We want Golau Caredig to be very much part of the local community and were very pleased to be able to showcase the scheme to our visitors."

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, said: “It was wonderful to visit the Golau Caredig extra care facility and meet with the tenants.

“The Independent living accommodation in Barry has a restaurant, hairdressers, launderette and several communal areas, and provides support that allows the residents to stay healthy, active and independent.

“As well as giving older people the opportunity to make new friends as part of this new community, it also allows them to go shopping, attend appointments and meet existing friends and family in nearby Barry town centre, reducing the risks of them becoming lonely and isolated.

“Many of the residents have now been living at the site for over five months, and it was great to chat with them about how they have settled in and the many benefits of living in such a great environment.”

Cllr Stuart Egan, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “Golau Caredig provides high quality accommodation where residents can live safely with flexible levels of support. The iconic building provides a standard of living for older people that was previously lacking in Barry and the response from both its residents and the wider community has justly been hugely positive.”

The scheme has been shortlisted for a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors 2015 awards, the winners will be announced on May 14. These showcase the achievements of the most inspirational regional initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.