This campaign has now closed
Whiteley Village provides some 500 needy elderly people with homes, support and care but the original listed cottages are now nearly a hundred years old and are being modernised at a cost of £34 Million of which some £28 Million is already spent or secured but £6 Million is needed to finish the project. The aim is to meet the needs and aspirations of current and future residents whilst preserving the Village's heritage assets.
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Whiteley Village is arguably the first and biggest retirement village for needy elderly people. It has a cosmopolitan community of over 500 people, who, without our help, would find themselves in very difficult circumstances. At the core of the village are the Arts and Crafts style, Grade II listed cottages. They were built for an age that is long gone and they now need considerable modernisation. Wheelchair access, improved heating and insulation and better all round living space are just some of the important areas to be improved. As well as being declared a Conservation Area, the village requires extra special care in its restoration due to the nature of the repairs to the listed buildings. This, of course, requires a much larger budget to meet these special requirements than it would to modernise standard buildings. There are 9 phases to the project of which 4 have been completed and 3 are funded and scheduled for completion by 2010. The Trust has funded the majority of the £34 Million for this project but needs £6 Million to finish it. Failure to complete the project will leave about 70 properties that will not meet modern standards, that will become progressively more difficult to let and eventually will deprive some 80 elderly people the opportunity to experience the benefits of this outstanding village.