Abbeyfield Scotland, the charity that provides independent living with support for older people across Scotland, held a reopening celebration at its house in Garngaber Avenue in Lenzie.

Provost Una Walker and other dignitaries, residents, local volunteers, neighbours and families all joined the Abbeyfield Scotland team to officially reopen the house following an extensive refurbishment and modernisation programme of around £500,000.

The investment in the house, which is home to 10 residents, includes a new extension which contains a platform lift for access to the upper floors, increased room sizes and brand new en-suites which have been carefully designed in a contemporary style to suit older people’s needs. The programme was sensitively carried out to reflect the lovely character of the Victorian house.

Before the house joined the Abbeyfield Scotland portfolio in 2008, the local community led by the then Provost Janet ‘Jenny’ Coutts, raised funds to buy the house with the intention to provide much needed supported accommodation in Lenzie for older people. The late Mrs Coutts along with other volunteers in the community including local historian and former librarian Alice MacKenzie, who still lives in Garngaber Road and who was also at the reopening celebration, held fund raising events to not only purchase the house but also for the upkeep of the house. Many members of the original volunteer committee are still actively involved in the house which is held in high regard in the community.

Commenting on the re-opening, Niall Patterson, chief executive of Abbeyfield Scotland, said: “We are extremely proud of the achievements here in Abbeyfield House, Lenzie. The facilities now available in the house are a sign of the commitment we have to ensuring that our residents have an environment which is not only practical and modern but homely.

“I want to thank the residents and the staff for their patience during the refurbishment programme and to the building team who have worked extremely hard to get the project delivered. We are seeking to invest in other houses across Scotland to modernise the service for our residents.”

@ScotAbbeyfield